Aboard Chimere, Chaffers Marina, Wellington
Monday 24 May 2021
With our scheduled departure time set for tomorrow, there’s been quite a deal of last minute preparation, along with the studying of both short and long term weather forecasts; from a range of sources, including the MetService, Predict Wind, Windy and BouyWeather
In the end I’ve decided to stay put. At least for 24 hours. Which should be enough time to complete the last of our onboard tidy-up, lift the two dinghies back onto the deck and do some grocery shopping.
In talking with several locals, and on the news service, it seems the current weather pattern is most unusual, bringing massive seas to the north of here and conditions that just won’t move away. (A typical report is HERE) Why it chose to park itself right here, right now, is anyone’s guess.
So, at this stage we’ll look to get away on Wednesday, and maybe even do a short “test sail” across to Port Underwood at the top of the South Island about 45 miles away. This would provide our crew of five – who are all now onboard by the way – with some first-hand experience of sailing Chimere and test that all the sails and running rigging are fully operational, after 12 months in mothballs.
The big task today was to pick up the re-built gear for the sheet winch, at a factory an hour just north of here. Kate, who arrived onboard after lunch with a stash of yummy looking homemade meals she’d prepared, plus other tasty baked goods, (oh, and her kit) drove me the one hour there and back.
The business manager, Ken, had done a wonderful job of grinding the old teeth off the cog, heat-shrinking and bolting on a new smooth bronze sleeve, then milling the dozens of small teeth back in place. All with exactly the same size, depth and pitch.
It was fascinating to actually see the machine and hear from Ken something of its history. How it was originally built in Germany, was used to make gears for Messerschmitt aeroplanes during the Second World War, then acquired by the allied forces as part of a post war disarmament, or disabling, strategy. After 75-plus years, here the machine was, sitting in Ken’s factory making a cog for our wee little winch.
The weather was foul overnight and stayed that way for at least half the day. My inquiry as to whether I was likely to see diver-Dean today, returned a comment along the lines of … “we’ll assess it mid-day … see whether it’s starting to clear” As it turned out, after lunch Dean and his “sidekick” – Brett, turned up and did a great job over the course of about two hours. Not only cleaning the hull, but also checking the zinc anodes.
Unfortunately, the nearby chandlery only had three suitable anodes in stock – half the required number – but once I bought and drilled Dean handed them one at a time to his assistant to bolt in place. The old ones had definitely served their time and had done their job admirably. (Find out more about sacrificial anodes HERE)
All I need now is some official-looking paperwork to prove that I have a clean hull, before venturing north.
Our fifth crew member, Alvin, stepped aboard this evening, having travelled down from Northland, via Auckland. Alvin owns his own steel yacht so I’m thinking we’ll have plenty to talk about in the days ahead.
Right now, everyone is tucked up in their respective bunks, the howl of the wind stepping down a notch; in accordance with the forecast.
Blowing from the south-ish direction it is absolutely freezing outside (and now it’s starting to rain again). Here inside my snug, warm saloon, however, my new brass wall-clock has its big hand on the twelve and its little hand on the one, telling me that I too should retire
Smooth seas, fair breeze and to go or not to go
Rob Latimer
NZ2020 