Author Archives: Matt

South East Bay, Mayor Island, North Island Monday 14 June 2021 They say a bad day at sea is still better than a good day in the office. Although there were a couple of people on board … maybe three if push comes to shove … who would beg to differ. To give you theContinue reading “It Started Out Calm”

All aboard are well but reception is a bit dodgy, Stay tuned for today’s blog.. another time!

Deepwater Basin, Milford Sound Sunday 15 March 2020 John and I awoke to quiet boat, as the next stage of the NZ2020 got underway. Not that we were going anywhere. At least, not just yet. But with Linda, Matt and James heading back to Australia, yesterday, we now began seriously planning our departure from hereContinue reading “Preparation Day”

Find Chimere here … https://www.marinetraffic.com/en/ais/details/ships/shipid:4999839/mmsi:503054450/vessel:CHIMERE Picton Marina, (Lat 41 17S, Lon 174 00E) Sunday 9 February 2020Our new crew member, Matt Brosnahan, enjoyed a blissful night’s sleep after a cold and windy arrival in Picton the night before. He awoke to the sound of the kettle boiling, as John and I set about the morning’s routine.Continue reading “Every Now & Then”

Resolution Bay, (Lat 41 06S, Lon 174 13E), AT ANCHOR Marlborough Sounds  Tuesday 4 February 2020  The magic weather continued through last night with the wind strengthening, as predicted, throughout the day. One reef in the main became two, the working jib got smaller as we continued to reef, till finally we were doing 8-9 knotsContinue reading “One Crowded Hour”

Tasman Sea, (Lat 40 17S, Lon 171 55E), Course 72 degrees (compass)(48 miles west of Farewell Spit) Monday 3 February 2020 Nine days out of Westernport, as the New Zealand coastline looms ever closer, and the cloud-filled horizon spreads away to the south, it was inevitable that land would be sighted soon. “We must beContinue reading “Land Ahoy!!!”

Tasman Sea, (Lat 40 12S, Lon 168 36E), Course 70 degrees (compass) Sunday 2 February 2020 It seems the northwest wind has been blowing for days now. Pushing us effortlessly towards our destination of Picton. The sea was a bit higher through the night, but has quietened down now to a steady swell that movesContinue reading “Where did those two hours go?”

Tasman Sea, (Lat 40 11S, Lon 165 11E), Course 75 degrees (compass) Saturday 1 February 2020 Our dream run, with wind of 15-20 knots coming in over our left shoulder, continued through last night and all of today. Our speed rarely dipped below 6 knots, with occasional flashes of 9 knots, as we surged downContinue reading “Sleep, eat, watch, read, repeat …”

Tasman Sea, (Lat 40 00S, Lon 161 39E), Course 80 degrees (compass) Friday 31 January 2020 Jorge calculated at 5am this morning that we have reached the official half-way point. And now at the end of the day, we have around 570 miles left to travel to reach Picton. That’s four days at an averageContinue reading “Half Way – Yeh!”

Tasman Sea, (Lat 40 05S, Lon 158 35E), Course 80 degrees (compass) Thursday 30 January 2020 If ever there was a dream run to New Zealand, this is it. The wind has remained 15 knots from the North West. We are heading East. And with the full main and big genoa hoisted, we have beenContinue reading “The Dream Run Continues”