I know this is meant to be a photo of a topical island, or maybe a flying fish landing on the boat in the middle of the ocean. Or maybe a cocktail at a resort in Fiji. Even the top of a mast? A sail? Something sea-like? Anything? Continue reading
Tag: sailing
Seeing Auckland – the best sight ever
We made it! Five days, 90% headwinds, 80% motoring, minus one headsail, two dozen hard boiled eggs, three bags of scroggen and eight little bruises.
I’m about to have a nana nap – night shifts are very tough. Feels worse that jetlag. Dean is running the radar cable and contemplating our prop issues. Our crew, Glenn and Ian (amazing, amazing people) have gone back to Wellington and we’ll be in Auckland until next Monday. We’re doing the offshore medic course over the weekend so I can learn how to sew Dean up and shove a pen in his neck. Then it’s off to Opua (via Waiheke and other gorgeous islands) and leaving for Tonga 2 May.
Here’s a little bit from my journal and photos are below:
Not many people get to see the world from this view. Apart from the a few slithers, the landscape is rugged with no access. Big cliffs fall into the sea with treacherous rocks as toes.
We’re in precious cell phone range and Glenn has just received a text. His text receiver sound is of a door bell. That’s either going to drive me nuts or be comforting.
Soon I’ll be doing my first night shift sailing, ever. Are you kidding me? They’ll find out soon I’m a fake and throw me over board.
I’m faffing around: Sunglasses off, sunglasses on, neck warmer off, can’t find neck warmer, snack, drink, snack, feel sick, do I need to go to the loo again? Where’s Dean? oh god he’s overboard, rearrange snacks box again. Just relax! Relax? I’m in a plastic boat about to go around the bloody east coast a 35 knots headwind. Get me off.
And here are some pics. Only happy, nice calm ones! Will work out how to orientate portrait ones soon.
So much to do when there’s nothing to do
First blog, Palliser Bay, before it all turned icky
Head sail gone, storm jib ready, gennaker flying, boys happy
Glenn contemplating the heavens
Ian just contemplating
Still haven’t proven that sailing is not scary
Always on the lookout for flappy sails
Sigh
Hick’s Bay
One of the first to see the sunrise in the world, on the east coast – note the weird eye look from lack of sleep
The fabulous Ian
Shocker of a hair do
So beautiful
Mercury Islands
There’s a reason why Dean called out dinghy BamBam
Land, land, land
Yes, land…down Auckland harbour at 7am…very surreal and very wonderful
Follow me as I sail from New Zealand to the Pacific Islands!
2 May is the day. We set sail from Opua, Bay of Islands, New Zealand, to Tonga. First, we leave Mana Marina where we’ve been living for two years, on 1 April. Yes, it’s April Fools Day, but we’re not one for superstition (I’m tapping my head and touching wood as I say that).
In fact, we’ve just changed the name of our boat from Pebble Rebel to Pebbles. I did try to get a virgin to pee in the bilge – as our dog peed on the marina lawn I tried to shove a cup under her pee, but all I got was a dribble on the side of the cup. So my Facebook post to The Ledger of the Sea is going to have to be enough.
We’re in manic preparation mode for our trip mode. The Category 1 inspector from Yachting NZ is coming in two hours. Wish us luck.
I’ll be posting as I go. You can also read previous writing from my Boat People column in KapiMana News, and other magazines and newspapers. You can also follow our journey via GPS to see where we are at any time. I’ll put that link up soon.
And you can wish us ‘fair winds and calm seas’ at any time, by leaving a comment.
I suppose there’s always a first time to do things. I’m good at firsts. It’s the seconds I struggle with!
Thanks for joining us. It’s the community around us that has kept us going at times. Sign up to the RSS feed to receive my updates, or follow us via email (on the right).
Arohanui.
Janie
Sailing is Not Scary 