Training Day

Still no weather window.  We’ve heard from some of the boats heading their way north and they’re managing to pick their way up there.  I’m still glad we made the decision to stay but it does reinforce the notion that once you go you make do with what you’ve got.  There’s a saying.  You only get to pick the weather for the day you leave.  I see no possibility of leaving today.  The next opportunity looks to be shaping up around Thursday/Friday.  From this far out you never can really tell but things look to be shaping up for a smoother passage than the recent slight opportunity.

The local area forecast was pretty brisk with 20+ knot winds and local squalls predicted.  Not to be perturbed I made the call to go sailing.  Paul is very likely to return to Auckland today to be called back when we get close to a new opportunity.  We’d always talked about the possibility of getting him aboard before we set off to get a feel for the boat.  Saturday was a perfect opportunity.  We motored out of the bay to where the water was a little cleaner and turned on the water maker.  We then raised the sails and started sailing.  The wind was coming straight down the channel so we had to tack our way out.  We started with one reef in the sails and soon had to put in a second as the strong wind forecast was spot on.  Paul got some great experience with the boat which performed fantastically.  Each time we try the new sails out in new conditions we find ourselves surprised.  At one point we were making over 8 knots while regenerating making about 1.5kW of electricity.

Given the wind direction we decided to only go as far as Roberton Island where we had lunch then went ashore for the climb to the top.  Paul was just as stunned by the beauty of the bay from the top of the walk as we were back on December 6th last year.

We didn’t stay long.  We headed back on head sail only.  Making our way up wind this way was pretty slow and took a long tack (and a little motoring) to get around the head land.  After this it was a gentle downwind ride back into Opua Bay.  The port shaft seal drip had resurrected so that required a bit more grease to be applied.  Unfortunately a small occured when accessing the shaft seal.  A stored block which I couldn’t see dropped onto the drip tray I’d made when I opened the hatch smashing the tray.  Now having to contend with a drip, water everywhere and a failed containment system I was less than pleased.  Fortunately I managed to shut the drip down almost immediately.  With Paul’s assistance and ideas we made a Mark II drip tray in short order and after dinner I was able to install it.  I suspect this may become a bit of a recurring theme and is ratchetting up the possibility we’ll replace the seal somewhere in Fiji.

Finally, on the remote chance interest is pointed in this direction I’d like to wish Sam, our youngest son, a Happy 21st Birthday.  Here his birthday was yesterday but it’s today on the east coast USA.  The cruising life has some great highs but being away from family is perhaps the greatest cost.

I’ll now go back to scrutinizing the weather forecasts.  This coming Friday would be an auspicious departure.  It’s Friday the 13th.  Helen and I married on a Friday the 13th just under 25 years ago.