Farewll NZ once again

Our last week in NZ was a social whirl as we got back into the cruiser life. Opua is the hub of cruisers readying for their offshore ventures and at this time of year many coming in across the Tasman from Tasmania in Australia.
Mike and Devalah arrived after a 2 week crossing and it was lovely to see them again. Several single hander’s also arrived, all had stories of climbing 8 metre swells and surfing off waves with no predictable pattern. They were all happy to arrive and confirmed my position which was NEVER to cross the Tasman Sea at those latitudes.
The new anchor chain is on and minor adjustments made to our rig after having sailed from Whangarei with the new forestay. “Cater Bob” the guru from Cater Marine in Opua spliced us new jacklines. He is a former cruiser who arrived from the USA several years ago who had managed a West Marine store there and was snapped up by the owner here. He has the reputation of being able to source any boat parts needed from anywhere in the world earning the respect of all cruisers and the reason a lot of us go up as far as Opua to leave rather than Whangarei. We finally stopped the air leaking into the fuel lines of the generator after many expensive hours were spent by several mechanics and a lift pump being replaced which never did have anything wrong with it---one of the joys of diagnosing obscure issues.
The boat is once again ready for the passage to Noumea. As far as we know the only issue we have not addressed is our broadcasting strength of our SSB as we have not had the time or wherewithal to source out an SSB expert. They are few and far between as the radios are not widely used by anyone other than cruisers and we will live with the frustration this season of not being heard well at various ranges.
On the last trip to Pahia, the closest town to stock up with groceries we arrived to find it was “country western days”—being from Calgary the ultimate wanna be country western town it was fun to see the outfits and listen to the music.
Many enjoyable evenings were spent with new and old friends as we awaited the next weather window. Judy had sent us a sample of music from Eileen Quinn, a Canadian cruiser who has captured the essence of cruising. She explores the joys and frustrations and our newest motto is from one of her songs which says “if it aint broke don’t use it” wise words understood by all of us. This became my plea to Ken the last few days—it seems that you think you are ready and yet one more thing will fail and delay you for yet another week.
The weather looks good and we are stocked up with fresh food, water and fuel for the passage and are as ready as we will ever be. We were farewelled by Devallah, Mike and Doug and several new friends as we cast off.
Once again it is a feeling of sadness as we leave NZ for our third summer—hope there will be yet another one—this one was filled with memories of getting to know Adelyn and Grayson more and enjoying our family and friends in Wellington. It was enriched with the times with Migration and Little Blue and highlighted with successful ventures scalloping and fishing.
Ken had a great, albeit cold visit to Calgary meeting Grace and seeing everyone else there. Our lives are so filled with amazing experiences, friendships and wonderful family we are truly fortunate.
This passage will be with the full moon which is always a delight—it is amazing how much light it casts in the open ocean and night watches always seem easier and friendlier.
We seem to be surrounded by rainbows and I am not sure the significance of those but will take it as a good omen.
I am writing this part of this blog on our first night passage where the winds are a little to much from the west for us to do the rumb line but “easting” is never an issue from NZ as it is always easier to go west later. There is a considerable swell from the weather which is moving off the country but a huge high pressure system is coming from Australia which should give us a great passage. We have winds of 25 knots and are doing 8 knots so we should get north in great time.
The crossing was one of large swells although being behind us makes them bearable and winds from 20-35 knots, also behind us. We have a radio schedule with several other boats also headed to Noumea and the SSB seems to be fine so perhaps is not going to be an issue after all. Ken saw 14 knots on our knot meter as we surfed down a wave—the fastest either of us has ever seen before but as the passage is with the wind and swell we are not stressing the boat or sails. Our previous passages to and from NZ have been much more difficult angles so perhaps we will arrive unscathed!!!!!—wow what a concept!!!
I am now writing this as we await dawn to pass through the fringing reef of New Caledonia where we will then motor for a couple of hours to anchor once again in the lovely harbour of Noumea.
Our passage has been fast with continuous tail winds of 20-30 knots with the only issue being a nasty cross swell at our rear port quarter which rocked and rolled us for the last two nights. We have sailed with our jib alone for almost all of it and the boat has handled well tracking between 5-8knots depending on wind speed.
Another of Eileen Quinn’s songs is “If I killed the captain who is there to know” refers to the thoughts all crew have had on a passage. We had three new issues on this passage, the first was that the newly fixed generator had the fly wheel come loose and flew off, the second was that the key for the starboard engine refused to work and the third was the port engine was no longer spewing water as a line was blocked—all were resolved by my wonderful captain who was at once forgiven all past sins. I am well aware that without his knowledge I would have at this stage no engines and no power left and would be negotiating this pass by sail and somehow dropping the anchor and sail at the same time alone—hmmm!! Hopefully he appreciates that he would have been eating from cans all the way—supplemented by M&M’s---without my expertise and has also banished such unworthy thoughts of his crew!!!!!—hmm maybe I had better get rid of the M&M’s to even the playing field!!
When we were last here we had come from 5 months in Fiji and Vanuatu and appreciated the wonderful French food and pastries, this time having come directly from the world of bakeries will be a little more difficult to justify visiting le patisserie but we will succumb in the knowledge that once we hit Indonesia rice will be the staple of the day!! The diet can begin there.
We are unsure of the regulations of bringing in NZ meat—New Cal, despite the flaunting of all rules by the French sailing community, perhaps why, has the most stringent rules in the South Pacific---so we will stow ours somewhere hidden on the boat—the ridiculous thing is that we would have to go to the butcher and buy NZ meat to replace it anyway!! I did make a massive stew of all of our left over vegs with some chicken so they will not go to waste and we can eat it over the next few days.
The sky is lightening as dawn approaches and the lights on the reef are becoming visible, the mast head light of Blue Penguin, one of the boats we have had our radio sched is just ahead so I will finish this and I will be able to post it at our favourite little coffee shop which has internet—the one which puts whipped cream on the cappuccinos!!!
Till next time----