The Adventures of Captain Ray Penson
Sailing Yacht Truce
The Customs office in Gizo is easy to access being in town. The only picture hanging on the wall is a very old photo of Queen Elizbeth II. I asked why it was still there as she has passed away. I was told that no one had said take it down! So, I suppose it will be there forever until some higher authority makes an executive decision.
There it is, the last Extra Strong Breakfast Tea Bag. Before leaving New Zealand I took a good stock on board and then managed to top up my stock in Australia. The last couple of months I have been on rations and today, early morning, I enjoyed the last Bag. Some people drink coffee to get going in the morning, but for me it’s a strong tea with milk and honey that does the trick.
It was hard to see anything through the driving rain, I was concerned about the boats around me dragging in the heavy winds. I had everything ready should we break loose from our mooring as I tried to monitor the boats around us. I saw forty-five knots on the anemometer and suspect we had a couple of fifty knot gusts at the height, but I wasn’t watching. The village ashore took a pounding, I could see lots of flashlights through the rain as the locals tended their houses and boats.
I didn’t go ashore the first day, there was a strong wind warning and being anchored in shallow water on short scope decided to stay on board for safety. Tomorrow is another day and I feel my arm is starting to heal so another day resting will help, the orange pig can rest on deck for another day. My hope that the rolling would stop here has been shattered, but it’s only a small lazy roll unless its high water.
This morning all was peaceful in Whangaroa Harbour, flat calm, quiet and clear skies. I sat in the cockpit with an early morning cup of tea and savoured the tranquillity as the sun rose above the hills. This the best time of the day.
Wednesday morning was a stunner, flat calm and warm sunshine. Truce and I absorbed the heat, the damp wet of Fiordland and the West Coast quickly evaporated away. The morning was spent pottering around, doing odd jobs and tidying the boat up after our trip up the West Coast. There are always maintenance jobs pending... Continue Reading →
The morning was quiet and still as we let go from the Visitors Barth at the Napier Yacht Club at sunrise. Motoring out of the channel we were accompanied by numerous day fishing boats, going out for their weekend catch. A light westerly breeze set in and we were able to sail easily with just... Continue Reading →
Strange weather this morning, overcast and cool with drizzle and calm. Today I am going to explore a bit further north and head into the anchorage for the night. By mid-morning the sun had appeared and everything was drying out. Ashore on Adele Island I could see several DOC workers walking about in the bush. ... Continue Reading →
The alarm woke me at five this morning. The brain said get up, the body said just thirty minutes more. The brain won. I put the kettle on for a cuppa and had a look outside, flat calm in Sausalito anchorage and the sky starting to lighten in the east. By five thirty the anchor... Continue Reading →
Another quiet day at Sausalito anchorage – just a bit more wind and cooler since yesterday. There is a cold front approaching on Thursday and everybody is getting excited at the prospect of rain – apparently quite rare this time of year. Quite impressive watching the cloud coming off the ocean and building above Sausalito... Continue Reading →
The Adventures of Captain Ray Penson 