The Adventures of Captain Ray Penson
Sailing Yacht Truce
After anchoring at Percy Island I was eager to get ashore. But it was just too rough and the wind too strong to put the dinghy in the water. I stayed on board and scanned the shoreline with binoculars. We rolled all afternoon and reached a crescendo coinciding with high water just before midnight. Only then was some sleep possible.
An early morning departure from Hummocky Island to take advantage of the southerly wind. Unfortunately, the breeze continued to decrease and by ten in the morning the tide was taking us backwards. Reluctantly I started the engine and we motored towards Keppel Island, arriving just after one in the afternoon.
I checked out of the marina this morning - I could have stayed weeks longer. It’s a honey trap, sooner or later it will drain the funds and suck you dry. Time to move on. Moving only a short distance, just four miles to an anchorage at Turtle Island. Here I want to get back into boat mode and get shipshape after the marina stay.
I love Gladstone marina. Now, I am not a big fan of marinas, they are just a necessity in certain parts for refuelling, provisioning, sheltering from weather, repairs or a good shower. However, Gladstone marina is exceptional. Knowledgeable and helpful staff, excellent facilities, showers, lounge, courtesy bus into town and all set-in park surrounds, quite chill and relaxed. I don’t expect it’s a place for serious repairs and maintenance (there is no sailmaker) but a great stop over marina.
The morning of the 13th of June, as soon as the marina office opened, I dropped off the gate pass and said my goodbyes. Ten minutes later Truce was passing the breakwater heading out of the Marina. I could not get away from Noumea fast enough. I am sure New Caledonia is a wonderful place (many people say so) but to me Noumea is just a frustrating expensive place.
It has been a lovely weekend in the marina. Lots of new friends to chat with and share a beer. Some new friends know other friends so we have something in common. As lovely as marina life can be it also slowly sucks the life out of you. The good news is that Mickey has undergone surgery, been reinstalled and is ready to go again.
After thinking about the windvane problem for a couple of hours I have decided to divert up to Noumea in New Caledonia. Its only three days away and with more favorable winds than the route to Australia. I felt that Mickey may not survive the longer crossing to Australia with stronger winds and quartering seas. There is no point in risking the longer crossing to Australia, if the windvane were to fail the sailing would be miserable and I don’t want to be miserable. The route to Noumea should put less strain on the windvane.
A look outside this morning and a double take – thick fog. At 10:00 the anchor was aweigh and with radar on we slowly motored from Matauwhi Bay down to Opua. By 11:00 we were anchored off Opua Marina and the fog was lifting. With ships papers and passport in hand I headed off to custome to complete the outward clearance. An hour later I was back on board Truce and getting ready for sea, it was actually hot now that the fog had gone, a beautiful sunny day to going boating.
Well, we didn’t take the weather window on the 22nd May, the weather was just not right for us. A few other boats sailed out but we decided to head north to Whangaroa Harbour and relax for a couple of days and do some fishing.
Friday 12th May, departed from Auckland and headed North towards the Bay of Islands. Steven, my son is with me and eager to undertake his first offshore passage. In the early afternoon we took the outgoing tide from Hobsonville Marina, motoring under the Auckland Harbour bridge and then sailing with headsails up to Kawau Island. We anchored in Mansion House Bay in the early evening and had a quiet and peaceful night at anchor, awaking to flat calm in the morning.
The Adventures of Captain Ray Penson 