Monthly Archives: April 2020

Mana Marina (near Wellington) Monday 20 April 2020 After nearly four weeks of “lockdown” … the much anticipated COVID-19 announcement by the New Zealand Prime Minister occurred today.  And as reported earlier this evening … “Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has announced the level 4 lockdown will continue for one more week with it coming toContinue reading “Green Light From The Authorities”

Mana Marina (near Wellington) Saturday 18 & Sunday 19 April 2020 Having put aside social-networking – in search of crew members – I suddenly have all this time on my hands!  Who would have thought spending time on Facebook could consume so much of the day …??!! It’s not that I was making many “Comments”,Continue reading “Countdown to Departure”

Mana Marina (near Wellington) Thursday 16 & Friday 17 April 2020 It was an early start, well, at least by recent – time-has-no-meaning-in-isolation – standards.  Having got down to the last slice of bread (okay, one slice and one crust) and the only thing left in the “fresh” category being half a dozen potatoes, IContinue reading “‘Twas An Early Start”

Mana Marina (near Wellington) Wednesday 15 April 2020 There are many life-lessons and everyday things that can be neatly described using a sailing idiom or metaphor.  We’ve all heard them, maybe used them … Battening down the hatches … Choc a block …  High and dry … Hold your course … Under way … I’llContinue reading “NZ2021 – Unfinished Business”

Mana Marina (near Wellington) Tuesday 14 April 2020 Five years ago, on 13 March 2015, Tropical Cyclone Pam wreaked havoc on Vanuatu.  The international aid- response was tremendous and it was a proud time, seeing firsthand the timely and substantial response, particularly of Australia and New Zealand. Of course, back then, there was no globalContinue reading “You Feel So Helpless”

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 windContinue reading “Shaking the Tree Harder”

Mana Marina (near Wellington) Good Friday 10 April 2020 & Saturday 11 April 2020 This would have to be the quietest Easter Week-End on record.  That’s my assessment, based on the lack of activity here and around the country at what would otherwise be a time of family fun and school holiday activity – theContinue reading “Easter at Mana”

Mana Marina (near Wellington) Wednesday 8 April 2020 & Thursday 9 April 2020 Is it Wednesday, or is it Thursday?  Must be a sure sign that time is taking on a new dimension aboard.  Although, having been retired now for almost two years, it’s not the first time I’ve forgotten what day it is.  AfterContinue reading “Still Looking For Crew”

Mana Marina (near Wellington) Tuesday 7 April 2020 Having locked myself down aboard Chimere, for nearly two weeks now … only going out for brief walks, and like everyone else, avoided human contact like the plague – perhaps not the best analogy, but I can see now where the phrase might have got it’s originsContinue reading “The Supermarket Experience”

Mana Marina (near Wellington) Monday 6 April 2020 The day started with good intentions … my goal being to walk down the road to the local supermarket.  Once inside the supermarket I was going to buy a few items, assuming they were on the shelves, such as bread, tomatoes and cheese … plus anything elseContinue reading “Nearly Went to the Shops Today”