Mana Marina (near Wellington)

Sunday 12 April 2020 &

Monday 13 April 2020

My work on the “Chimere Operations Manual” started early this morning, after a night that could best be described as wild and woolly, with the constant 30-40 knot north west wind and driving rain keeping up throughout the night.

The strong wind was enough to re-activate a couple of flapping halyards, high up the mast, that demanded attention; on two occasions.  The first saw me add another restraining line to the offending halyards, thinking I had enough time to complete the task during the brief gap in the rain.  I didn’t. 

And as the task lingered on for another 60 seconds or so, there came a trade-off point where I had to decide … do I stay here and finish the job and get absolutely drenched, or, do I retreat immediately, stay mildly dry and return wearing a jacket.  

In the end, I retreated, thinking I’d done enough to quell the noise.

Fifteen minutes later, as I snuggled back down into my nice warm bunk, having dried myself with a towel and changed into dry PJs … the wind picked up once more and the … bang … bang … bang … noise started up again.

This time, with jacket tightly zipped, I loosened the halyards completely, untied all the restraining lines, and attached the halyards to a point on the foredeck, before tightening them up again.  This time they were well away from the mast, and sleep came a little easier.

Around mid-morning I had a call from a nice chap, Ben, at the media outlet “Stuff”, to say that they were about to  press the “GO” button on the “Stranded Aussie” story.  Although, when I say … “GO” button, it was probably just a “CLICK” of  a mouse somewhere, maybe in a home study, or converted lounge room somewhere, given so many people are working from home, or where ever they can these days.

Anyway, Ben wanted to know … “has your situation changed at all?”… to which I had to say “no”. 

A few minutes later the news story went live …

https://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/news/wellington/120893828/man-in-lockdown-on-his-yacht-in-porirua-seeks-return-to-australia?fbclid=IwAR3QsL8UhUaFO-7GZTcSrZxPbjoiKzqwANbIdN_McZ5nGX20whel9h6bdP4

That said, I’m figuring that whilst “Plan A – Sail Home”, is my preferred option, it does have a Use By date, because there are a few additional factors that need to be taken into account … such as,

1). This “new normal” may go on for many, many months – and winter in Wellington is perhaps even colder than Melbourne  

2). Air New Zealand are still running two flights from Auckland to Melbourne each week, but this may stop.

3). Finding crew in the current climate really is a long shot. 

4). If I’m going to be sitting in isolation anywhere, I should probably be doing it at home. 

5). The marina has said that they will accommodate Chimere here, come what may.  (not for free you understand!)

Taking all this into account, I now have a “Plan B – Fly Home” option in the bottom draw, having purchased tickets to fly from Wellington to Melbourne via Auckland on ANZAC Day, 25 April.

In short, if I don’t have a crew within 7 days or so, then I’ll be moving from “Plan A” to “Plan B”

So far, the “Stuff” article has generated some interest, but nothing in the way of signed up crew – yet.  One supportive text I received from a young chap, who lives just down the road apparently, went as follows”

“Hey mate saw the article about you being stuck here in porirua we all hope you are able to make it home soon. But you are safe here in New Zealand and I’m pretty sure that alot of the community would be able to try and help out where they can”

Regular readers will recall me talking about the motor homes and campers nearby on the water front, where “3 days” is the usual, allowed, stopping time.  Well it must be the day for stranded travelers in Porirua, because this article features one of them …

https://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/120866079/onenight-stop-at-park-becomes-monthlong-stay-on-councils-orders-for-camper

And while I’m featuring Porirua, one of the people who contacted me asked if I’d seen the Orcas … the what??  Orcas??, like, Killer Whales??  At Porirua??

Well knock me down with a wet lettuce leaf … just down the walkway from me … on Saturday while I was slothfully making my way through the day, a pod of killer whales splashed and played off Plimmerton Beach … just a wee stroll down the road.

Here’s another “Stuff” article and even a short video to prove it …

Orcas get up close with locals at Porirua’s Plimmerton Beach

Mandy Te10:48, Apr 12 2020

https://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/news/wellington/120972889/orcas-get-up-close-with-locals-at-poriruas-plimmerton-beach

Last night, my family back in Australia invited me to join them in a Zoom conference “dinner”… which is always a good sign.  Although, given our time difference, I was well past dessert and into ports and liqueurs by the time we finished.  It was a lot of fun, giving me a chance to chat and catch up on all the latest news

When you think about it, this video conferencing technology is simply amazing.  Particularly when you consider growing up in the 60s and 70s and you recall the popular phrase from the evening news … “We cross now, live via satellite …” As if it was an innovative and expensive breakthrough … which of course it was. 

Fast forward to now, and video-conferencing and “satellite” communications, are treated like gravy on a roast … it’s just … “there”.  No one questions it. It’s just a case of what “flavour”, or App, do we want to use…

As I’m sitting here typing, I received a Messenger text from my cousin, Pearl, saying … “I have just read the comments re your crew [Stuff article]  so funny.  Should I say sorry now for all the dumb Kiwis that have made dumb comments. At least they will give you a laugh”

Well that made me curious … “what comments?” … I replied.    Ah, yes OF COURSE … you don’t have online news-content without online comments … all part of the essential “viewer-engagement experience”, … it’s just that … as we all know, not all viewers  comments are created equally.  There are those that you might call “sensible” and well thought-out, then there are those that … let’s face it, are not.

As Pearl rightly said, it certainly gives you a laugh, and fortunately the Stuff website somehow ranks the comments, of which there were 49 when I looked at the Facebook page just now into “Most Relevant” … of which there were 19, so I can only guess what the other 31 might have been like.

The article had gathered over 50 Emojis, mostly “Thumbs Up”, along with three “Sad”  … which seemed nice … and 9 “HaHa” which seemed … a bit strange really… I’m sure Jacinta would be disappointed at that.

To save you the trouble of having to look the site up, here’s a sample of the comments here…

• Suezanne Rangimarea Sicily Royal: All the best for your journey, may you travel safely back to your family once lock down is done and dusted. I’m sure there are Aussies and keen boaters ready to assist you and themselves home .

• Margaret Brough: I met you at Jackson Bay and had a very interesting conversation with you and your mate. Hope you get home safely after your amazing journey.

• April Tanirau: Some of you didn’t even read the article. Stop being a real Kiwi and have some compassion eggs.

• Hope you get home….

• Cheryl Moeau: People need to read the article…..

• Harin Singh: If you are waiting for wind to pick up I suggest you get a big fan and plug it into the big electric generator on board and off you go. Problem solved. Kiwis ingenuity

• Nic Wooding: Hope he finds his crew and can get back.. sounds like a pretty humble dude.. stop with your judgements and read the article.

• Elly Williams: Unfortunate circumstance. I hope you get to sail home to your wife soon!!

• Sheryllee Edwards: Wtf is he doing here anyway if he lives in oz 😴😴😴😴

• Mihi Wharerau Good luck, phone home ET, SCOMO MIGHT BE ON YOUR FREQUENCY😂😂😁😁

• Faye Carstairs: Sorry you will have to wait till lock down is over you carnt put other people’s life’s at risk so stay where you are you knew how to get on to face book though didn’t you

• Yvonne Dainty: Hope you find someone take care.

• Chris King: I will pay for your fight back for the boat.

• Cole Izet William Peddie: Stuck at Mana Marina, what an awful place to be stuck!

• Hiria Moanaroa: Your on NZ territory we are on lockdown stop being a sook n stay where you are …

• Nannis Tate: It’s a sail boat, so sail it

• Kim Heu: Good luck to that

• Andrew Kitchen 501s. Win win.

• Grace Payne: Any chance you can fly home and return for boat at later stage?

• Reece Rogers Lewis Matthews: you want to sail it back??

… you get the idea.

Mid afternoon today, as I was preparing to have a Skype catch-up with friends Gary and Theresa from just up the road at Whitby, the cord on my iPhone finally died.   It had been temperamental for some time, but today was its day … the phone connection-point end becoming just too worn, the result being no power.

This was definitely a problem, because without the cord, I couldn’t connect to my laptop and the inter-web. I couldn’t even charge the phone … which goes flat pretty quickly when used constantly.  What to do? 

It took just a quick call to cousin Keith, who handed the phone to Mark, (his sister Pam’s, husband), who found a spare cord in a matter of minutes.  Keith then drove it down to the marina a short time later.  Just fantastic.  Particularly when I consider the limited options before me.   Of all the spare parts aboard this boat … that’s one “mission-critical” spare I had never thought to pack.   

While I’m on the topic of incredibly helpful, Theresa popped down with Gary this afternoon to take away a bag of washing, while leaving behind some extremely tasty carrot cake, plus a bottle of boutique beer I’d never seen before.   Thank you so much!

Despite the overnight rain, the day remained mostly sunny, although the wind kept up its howling.  Reminding me that, at the end of the day, this really is a sail boat I’m sitting in, not an apartment-by-the-sea.

Smooth seas, fair breeze and shaking the tree harder

Rob Latimer