At sea off East Cape, North Island
Monday 31 May 2021
We really enjoyed our three days in Gisborne. It was a good chance to relax, avoid some poor weather (out at sea) , and explore something of life ashore.
The all-important weather forecasts showed a switch to a southerly airflow, more suited to our sail plan and so it was away this morning around 7:30.
As we made our way down the short harbour (river actually) it was clear that yesterday’s black ship full of logs, had been switch – sometime in the night – with today’s orange empty ship; high in the water with the cranes and machines already starting the loading process.
It’s around 210 miles to Tauranga, and with generally favourable conditions our hope is to make the trip in about 32 hours at an average speed of 6.5 knots; approx 12km/h. This should have us tying up at the Bridge Marina – berth C62 – around 4:00pm tomorrow.
Having made good time up from Wellington, I contacted the Tauranga marina to let them know we were going to be arriving a few days earlier than expected – which was no problem. I just had to send them all the usual evidence of compliance – insurance, electrical, clean hull etc.
Once clear of Tuaheni Head, just outside Gisborne, it was a calm ride up the coast, keeping around 3 miles out to sea at all times. The green rolling hills and rocky headlands drifted by off our port side and with the seas so settled, there was nothing for it but to breakout the bread making equipment. We’d bought fresh yeast back in Wellington, but I still needed to locate the mixing and measuring bowls, baking tins, flour and oil.
After several years, my darling wife’s laminated bread making instructions remain firmly secured to the galley wall and so it wasn’t long before the golden-baked results of my efforts were revealed for all to oooohh and aarrrr over.
Rather than bake two simple loaves, I mixed it up a bit by baking one loaf plus four large cheese covered rolls, which in turn, were later cut in half. It made for a very tasty and extremely filling lunch; complete with all the leftover roast vegetables from last night
With Harper gone, Kate sorted the watches out to be 4hrs on and 4hrs off, which started at 12:00 noon. At the moment Kate is having a sleep and I’m typing on the computer, with John and Alvin, who will be on till 8:00pm, sharing stories, to much laughter, in the cockpit.
There was much excitement an hour ago, when the call … “FISH” … rang out as John leapt to his rod on the portside and began reeling away. I dug out the net and gaff, Kate and Alvin cut the engine and from there it was just a matter of time before John’s denison from the deep revealed itself. This happened soon enough, with collective groans all round, when a large length of floating seaweed swung on deck. “Good practise everyone … nothing to see here” was the general mood after that … but we live in hope!
Phone and internet reception is intermittent up this part of the coast but hopefully I can connect and upload today’s message and some photos.
As for our Vessel Tracker, it won’t be working for a couple of weeks, until I get the IridiumGo transmitter fixed. The other link I gave last night to the “Marine Traffic”, public searching website, is perhaps not as straightforward as you’d like. The problem is that when we are close by to land relay stations our details are shown in full, at other times it’s just a pink “Pleasure Craft” dot with a message like “Position received by Satellite”. I’ll include an image below as an example.
Because there are very few (none) other pleasure craft out here, rest assured, if you have a look at the eastern region of the North Island, then it’s probably going to be Chimere.
Maybe try this link HERE
Real keen “boat spotters” pay money to subscribe to this website, and by doing so, all the bells and whistles – such as vessel details located via satellite – are unlocked. (Please don’t subscribe on our account?!)
Oh, I see there is currently internet coverage so I’ll close now and start uploading
Smooth seas, fair breeze and a lazy day in Gisborne
Rob Latimer
PS Having had to hand steer for the 24 hrs before arriving at Gisborne, on account of an internal electronic “issue”, we suspect on account of the confused sea state … we were very pleased that the Auto Helm … affectionately known as “Otto” (as in Otto Helm) … has decided to work perfectly. But sshhhhh, we aren’t supposed to be talking about it … oops too late, Doh!
NZ2020 