January - February 2008

New Zealand

By late January we were preparing to sail south. We

were delayed a week trying to find enough crew to make

up 2 watches. With 2 yachtie friends Jim & Martine and

two back packers Derick and Nacho we started sailing

south on the 2nd of Feb. It was an overnight passage

to Great Barrier Island. After anchoring in Port

Fitzroy we were 5 days waiting for a sou’easterly gale

to blow it’s self out and then for a fair wind. During

that time the crew went tramping off to mountain tops,

beaches and hot springs.

 

With fair winds and sunny skies we had the nicest

passage of the sailing season the first 3 days out of

the Barrier. But by the time we got to the Mahia

Peninsula we were met by a wet sou’easter. Spent a

couple of days tacking into rain filled headwinds.

Then the wind shifted to the north. We had a pleasant

over night sail across Hawke Bay to Napier.

 

We arrived just in time for Art Deco Weekend. The town

was filled with vintage cars and people dressed in

1930’s styles. That Saturday the new cruise ship the

“Queen Victoria” docked there. At 294 metres and

90,000 tons she was the largest ship to visit Napier.

 

While in Napier, Christina from Sweden and Augustine

from Argentina, joined the crew.

 

We departed Napier with an easy following sea and had

a fine run down the Wairarapa coast. By the second

afternoon we were closing with Cape Palliser, the

southern most tip of North Island.

 

There were fresh northerly wind predicted by Met

Service. This meant we would not be able to sail

through Cook Strait. So, we reefed the sails, hove to

and tacked off shore to wait for a wind shift. The

next three days were gale force winds at 35 to 40

knots and gusting to 50 knots. The sea was 6 meters

and breaking.

 

We blew out the gaff main just above the first reef

point and so pulled the second reef. The gaff fore

began to show some damage in the leech so we furled

the sail.

 

We were 50 miles south of Cape Palliser after the

fourth day. The wind began to ease and back to the

north west. We waited another day for the wind and sea

to ease until we had nearly calm weather.

 

We fired up the “iron top’sl” and began to motor

toward Cook Strait with a forecast of southerly winds

to help push us through. The next day in Cook Strait

was sunny and calm with a escort of curious albatross

flying around the boat and landing to watch us motor

past. It took all night to stem the current past Cape

Jackson, then with a fair tide we sailed across the

north end of the Marlborough Sounds and through French

Pass by late afternoon.

 

We arrived at Port Nelson at two in the morning and so

anchored 5 miles off shore to wait for berthing

instructions from the slipway crew.

 

Andy and Spunky were waiting on the Marara to catch

dock lines. We had to raft outside Marara until they

could clear space alongside. Not to worry, shore power

is on, the fridge is working and the showers are hot.

 

There was a warm welcome from the people in Port

Nelson and around town. There were many jokes about

being lost at sea and smiling faces saying it is good

to have us back.. All in all it was good to be back

among so many friendly faces.

 

Looking ahead we have 5 weeks to get ready for the

start of the 2008 sailing season. There is a long list

of jobs to be done, it will be a busy time.

 

We plan to be underway for Fiji by the 8th of April.

After a few days in Suva we will be sailing to the

Mamanuthas on the west side of Vite Levu before

sailing for Vanuatu.

 

We plan to arrive in Port Vila the last week in June.

In July we will be working on the water system at

Banam Bay, Malekula. During August and September we

will be working out of Luganville helping with eye

screening and malaria prevention along the west side

of Big Bay on the north coast of Santo.

 

This 2008 sailing season will be the last season

working with Project MARC. Dr. Henk and Nelleke will

be retiring after this year. It has been wonderful

working with them and being able to help people in the

outer islands of Vanuatu.

 

We would like to extend a welcome to any and all who

would like to help us rebuild the water system at

Banam Bay or help our doctors and nurses visit

villages on Santo where the children haven’t seen

white people before. Our rates this year are still

$200 USD per week. Contact us at: alvei@yahoo.com to

reserve a berth this season.

 

Evan Logan – Master schooner Alvei