Sunday 31 January 2010

(no subject)

Hi
Further news of our wanderings. We are still in Whangaroa and enjoying our time in this beautiful place - somewhat like the southern fjords with deep water in close and long narrow inlets. It hasn't been without incident though. We were ashore in Whangaroa itself the other day when the wind got up and the Tiare dragged her anchor. Fortunately a couple on another moored boat saw the predicament and managed to secure her alongside them. We had 30 metres of chain out in 20' of water and our new 25 kg Delta anchor but she still dragged. Maybe it was poor holding but we were the only boat to do so - so our faith in the Delta is somewhat eroded!! Might look at another alternative when we eventually get back to Whangarei.
Then we had an electrical problem inasmuch as the alternator wasn't charging the batteries. We traced the problem to a faulty plug on the battery regulator so we will have to stay here until about the 3/2 before we can get a new one as it is a public holiday this weekend as luck would have it. Still, we have managed to effect temporary repairs and there are definitely worse places one could be enduring an enforced stay!
It's also amazing what a small world it is. While alongside at the Whangaroa Marina sorting out our electrical issues, we happened to be tied up behind a lovely Herreschoff ketch called "Okere". She turned out to be owned by John Olsen whose family had owned a clothing factory in Rarotonga, Cook Islands in the 60's and 70's which coincided with the time when Jim spent 6 months there in 1968 working for the old family islands trading firm. Naturally there was plenty to talk about. It also transpired that "Okere" had been built in 1972 by Jack Hargreaves (with John helping). Jim had sailed with Jack back to New Zealand from Fiji a few years ago on his Herreschoff 3 masted schooner "Matari"! What a small world. After "Okere" was finished the Olsens then embarked on a 10 year world circumnavigation on her which must have been the experience of a lifetime. Shades of what we hope to accomplish over the next few years. Encounters like this give one renewed confidence and conviction that planning offshore sailing passages isn't as completely loony as some people seem to think! Each to his own as they say.
Anyway, it is now 2200 at the end of the first month of 2010. The engine has been running for the last hour charging the batteries and making more water so it's time to shut it down and have a shower and then turn in.
Cheers,
J & G (J)
P.S. Our position is:
latitude 35 degrees 01.206 minutes south
longitude 173 degrees 46.196 minutes east

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