Painting, Networking & Socialising

Bridge Marina, Tauranga, North Island

Thursday 10 June 2021

John and I started early today.  Well, early for us, there was still a leisurely breakfast to knock back.   First task of the day, however, was to sugar soap clean the foredeck.  We’d been building up to this.  Lots of priming and undercoating … NOW it was time for the real thing … the first of two top coats. 

The day started with a passing shower and low cloud, which didn’t bode well, but soon enough the heavens cleared and it turned out to be a glorious day – even warm.

In readiness for my return sail to Australia in mid to late July, I’ve been “shaking the trees” for potential crew.  I currently have one person locked in to join me on the actual crossing, from the Bay of Islands to Sydney – via Coffs Harbour; someone from the cruising association where I’m a member in Melbourne.  But I really DO need a few more.  Enter … “Find a Crew” website, where all your crewing needs are solved??? … well, not exactly, but it has worked for me before, so I paid my $75 and signed up for another 30-day subscription.

The website currently claims to have 775 people worldwide wanting to be Crew, and 395 boats actually looking for crew … some paid, some as cost-sharing volunteers … which is what I’m looking for.

It works a bit like a dating site … or at least how I understand a dating site might operate … the website establishes “% matches” based on the information provided by each party and at the same time you can search for potential crew based on a range of characteristics – nationality, location, gender, availability, experience at sea, smoker, diet, distance from boat … there’s even a question related to … “Seeking Romance … or NOT” … no kidding!  Which I’m not by the way …

So far, in just a day or so, I have sent out “Winks” … sorry, “Waves” (that’s a wave, wave … not a sea wave) to around 25 people who seem to fit the bill … at least after reading their online profile (and no one would ever think to put up misleading info, surely?!) … and I’ve had responses from 12 (so far) with one being locked in already for the Sydney to Melbourne leg, and a further 4 sounding like possibilities.   

You’ll remember Kate who joined me for the sail up here from Wellington, well, the mutual friend who introduced me to Kate, also introduced me to two Melbourne couples who have just bought a 47-foot yacht together.  Fortuitously, this has resulted in two more people signing up for the Sydney to Melbourne leg.  So, from a crew of just me, to a complement of four – in just a couple of days – is another burden lifted off my shoulders; but still got room for two more if they happen to materialise.

Back to the never-ending-boat-painting … after completing the deck wash, I headed off to meet people from the dental and medical aid group YWAM who have a large ship here in Tauranga; which has a fascinating, faith-filled story behind it. 

In short, my meeting was very successful and whilst we had been familiar with each other’s work, it has been very helpful to meet face-to-face.   While the ship is essentially stuck in port, unable to travel to the Pacific Islands (due to COVID travel restrictions) they have started offering free dental care to the less well off people in the Bay of Plenty region.  Check out a recent news article HERE   

In addition to the fruitful meeting, John and I were also invited to join the volunteers and some ships crew, on board their 50 metre ship for dinner – tonight – and having just returned I’ve got to say, they have a wonderful cook … maybe even “chef”.  It was fascinating to see the insides of the ship and to learn of it’s history, from as early as 1968 when it was built in Germany, to its recent role as a supply vessel for the Pitcairn Islands, only to then be GIVEN … as a gift, like, free of charge, to YWAM by the Kiwi owner. 

And it’s not as if the ship is in poor condition.  Sure, like any vessel, it is always being improved and maintained, but the core of the ship has been assessed as extremely sound, with the previous owner giving up a salvage value in the order of $1 million by making the gift to YWAM. 

It will be exciting to see whether we can find a way in the future to realise on the potential of working more closely together – specifically in the expansion of the Gudfala Tut Skul supervised brushing of teeth in schools program.

Around 12:30 John and I headed back to Maketu – John for the first time – to have lunch with David Campbell at the Maketu Beachside Café & Restaurant … overlooking the sea and the expansive, white beach and wetland beyond.

As you can see from the photos, the weather was definitely on the fine side, even warm, as we sat eating our lunch. 

Before returning to apply the first top coat on the deck, there was just enough time to drop into David and Susan’s home on the point, so that John could meet Susan and the two sheep of course … and receive an armful of avocados that adorn their tree in the hundreds.  Again, as you can see from the photo, those sheep-with-no-names, certainly know a good thing when they’re onto it.  And one thing that surprised me was that they loved eating citrus leaves and also oranges or grapefruits, or pretty much anything that David gives them.

The weather and light held off just long enough for John and I to get the first top coat of grey on the foredeck.  Our plan is to do a second coat tomorrow afternoon (weather permitting) so that it’ll be at least two days before we sit the dinghy on it.

For those who’ve been keeping up to date with past happenings aboard, you’ll know that my IridiumGO satellite communication device was rendered useless the other day when the charger input socket on the side of the unit, disconnected from the internal motherboard and fell out. 

We use the device for vessel tracking, emails, communications and weather – particularly when out of coastal range.  Well, the GOOD NEWS is that the technician at the local office equipment and IT store “Office Connect” has FIXED it.  Which is a tremendous relief, to be sure.   I spoke with the store manager this afternoon and he confirmed it was charging normally and fully operational, so I intend to pick it up tomorrow!    

Smooth seas, fair breeze and painting, networking & socialising

Rob Latimer