The Gang Together at Last

Bay of Islands Marina, Opua North Island

Tuesday 6 July 2021

Our anchorage-for-the-night remained calm, (despite the pesky roll that got a bit more pronounced as the night went on) with the grey, windswept morning sky pointing to the blow that was expected to come through later in the day and evening.

Already we could see white caps out beyond the headland, with one yacht passing at a distance with just a small jib hoisted.  Maybe they were too lazy to hoist the mainsail, or maybe it was really blowing out there, I suppose we would find out soon enough.

In any case, once breakfast was complete and the anchor stowed, we put a reef in the mainsail as we quietly motored out of the bay.  The good thing about the northeast wind was that it generally came off our beam, or from behind us, making for a fast return to the marina. 

Our big concern, on arriving back at the marina, however, was entering our berth without doing any damage – to us or others.  Not that we’re in the habit of doing damage, it’s just that, as we discovered the other day, wind from the southeast requires the adoption of a special strategy.  Today it was bowing from the northeast and so our approach was a little on the timid side, as we considered a few options, including anchoring outside the marina, temporarily tying up at the very end of our marina wharf, or driving right into the marina, doing a 360-degree circle so as to then enter our berth from a different direction.   

In the end, things went pretty much like clockwork.  On final approach it was clear that a northeast wind blows directly from the front of our berth and so we could complete the required 90-degree righthand turn, and straighten up sufficiently, without being pushed sideways onto the poles.  Matt and Cathy secured the lines, once we’d got within stepping-off distance to the wharf – NO jumping or acrobatics please – and Linda was there too, passing lines like a professional.   

It was about 11:00am that we declared ourselves safely secured in the berth – making sure to keep the stern-hung dinghy inside the posts of course.  I wandered off to check on my two water pumps with Chris the marine electrician – they had arrived – as lunch became the next thing on the agenda.    

Linda’s skill for finding bugs-that-bite has once again come to the fore – call it a Superpower if you will.  Carrying mental scares from last year’s Fiordland sandflies, despite dressing much like a beekeeper when going ashore, Linda has been on high alert ever since arriving in the North Island. 

While fishing from the dinghy 10 days ago with John, I felt a small bug bite me – I’m reluctant to call it a sandfly – but I actually saw the little black creature on my hand – OK, yes, it WAS a sandfly – so I was in two minds as to whether I’d let Linda know of my experience.

In the end, honesty got the better of me and I shared knowledge of my two red itchy-bites on my right hand with Linda; she’s not one for big surprises after all.

Having NOT seen a sandfly, in nearly two weeks, I was therefore surprised when Linda started doing a count of her bites two nights ago in the saloon – all on her arms – “Where have they come from … are they sandflies … have you been bitten?” she pleaded

Having declared she had something like 13 bites, my suggestion that it was only an average of 3 bites per person on board, didn’t go down very well; as she tried to cool them down without scratching. 

What followed was a purge on all bugs onboard – some of the peskiest being the ones that flock to the glowing chart plotter screen, or any other light that might be glowing in the darkness … “Are they bitey bugs?” asked Linda as I reached for the spray can … “No, they’re just buzzy bugs” I replied, being sure to spray again to get the ones that seemed oblivious to the first chemical attack.

So, let’s just hope we don’t find any more sandflies … but it seems the medications we found in the onboard kit are having a beneficial effect.

The big news tonight, of course, is that younger son James and his partner Eva are arriving from Canberra tonight.  Given all that’s gone on over the past few months, it’s still hard to believe it’s really happening.  But that said, I’ve checked online and I see the flight from Auckland to Kerikeri has landed on time – we’re assuming with James and Eva onboard. 

Earlier today I was able to find a taxi company that does pick-ups … and on the basis that I haven’t received a text, I’m assuming Margaret was there on time, and was able to pick her two passengers out from the “crowd” for the 30-minute run to the marina here at Opua.

Right now, Linda is weaving some magic in the galley, Matt and Cathy are playing cards in the saloon and I’m typing in my cabin.   The wind outside is really howling now, there were some showers a short time ago, but it’s very snug and warm here inside.

And that’s the phone … Margaret is just 10 minutes away in Paihia … I’ll leave the photos to tell the story of the reunion … the most unlikely of reunions, given all that’s gone on.   

Smooth seas, fair breeze and the gang together at last

Rob Latimer