Special Friends

Akaroa Harbour

Tuesday 18 February 2020

Another lazy start to the day, with the warm morning sun showing promise of the day ahead.

Having said good-bye to a cruise ship yesterday it was now the turn of the Holland America Line’s “Noordam” to drop anchor this morning, with the efficient, tender-boat shuffle, to and from shore starting almost immediately.   

Around 12:00 noon we greeted our guests-for-the-day, long-time friends and Christchurch residents, Andrew and Daphne Hornblow.  I got to know Andrew and Daphne, plus their three children, (Linda, Michael and Doug) way back in 1978 when my first year at nearby Lincoln University coincided with their return to the country for work.  I’d only known them for a short time in Melbourne, but since 1978 we have maintained a strong friendship which we value very much. 

So it was a particular thrill to be able to take them aboard and share the fun of sailing – in their own home waters.

After a brief tour of the ship we up-anchored, headed out and down the harbour, again picking up a following of Hectors Dolphins as an escort from about half way.

Whilst the wind was on the nose, the seas were calm and so we were able to gain a small lift by at least hoisting the mainsail. 

Dean’s magnificent loaf of bread emerged from the oven soon after we’d got under way and was quickly demolished HOT with lashings of butter, cheese, jam, peanut butter and vegemite … not all together you understand …

We called this “first lunch”, because Daphne had come well equipped to feed the 5,000, with rolls, ham, muffins and much more … this would have to wait till second lunch, once we’d made it around the corner, back into Flea Bay; our newest most favorite spot on the coast.

Heading back into Akaroa Harbour in the late afternoon we anticipated that the wind that was on the nose earlier would now be at our tail … but not so.  For some strange reason it was again on our nose, this time blowing out of the harbour.  There hadn’t been a wind change but the elements must have conspired to funnel the nor’easter that way … a trap for young players to be sure.

The dolphins reappeared on our return, and as we passed a tour boat, crowded with fee-paying folk off the cruise liner, I felt a bit naughty pinching all the dolphins, which seemed to make a bee-line for us.  We’d seen so many dolphins, or the same ones many times over, in the past few days, that we were close to giving them each names …  

Back at anchor we uber-dinghied our dear friends ashore for their 1½ hour drive home.  It was then about Sundowner time and on this particular evening, a time to reflect (fondly) on the past 8 days and the sad but inevitable departure, tomorrow morning, of Dean, Sandy and Samantha.  Two bottles of champagne appeared from the fridge, along with an array of nibbles and snacks, which were all consumed in the cockpit as the sun once more did its thing, disappearing over the nearby hills.   

We had contemplated going ashore for dinner, to celebrate the end of this sailing leg, but by 7:30pm our focus was more on making our own dinner aboard. 

Discussion with Carsten soon turned to particular Australian and New Zealand turns of phrase, which naturally led to asking whether he had seen the film “The Castle”.  The answer being no, we promptly fired up the wall-mounted, saloon DVD flat screen and set it playing.  We felt it was our civic duty to share the origins of such terms as … “tell ‘im he’s dream’n” … “that’s goin straight to the pool room” and “what do ya call that darl?” … among many others.

Our initial concerns that the film might not translate to the German context, were allayed, when Carsten quickly fell about in fits of laughter at almost every scene.  Obviously, characters like Darryl Kerrigan and Denis Denuto have universal appeal, along with the battle of the underdog against forceful power and authority.

It would be sad to say good-bye to our travelling buddies of the past 8 days, but with Matt Brosnahan kindly swinging by at 7:00am (an hour out of his way)   on his way to work to pick them up, it was now important to make sure everything was packed and ready for an efficient exit, tomorrow morning, after just a few hours sleep.

After waving good-bye to Dean, Sandy and Samantha in the morning we would bthen e welcoming John back on board for the start of the voyage further south.  It just occurred to me … whilst we’ve all got to know Carsten over the past few days – seems like longer – John, who has been ashore catching up with family duties for the past few days, is yet to meet him.

Smooth seas, fair breeze and special friends!

Rob Latimer