Category: Duet Travel Log

30.22.65S, 174.05.71E

We left Opua on Monday in light winds with a huge, confused swell left over from the gales. Our first problem happened just after midnight of the first night. There was a loud bang and the yankee was over the side. At first I thought the forestay had gone but thankfully it was only the halyard. What caused it to chaff through? Maybe it was all the slating and banging in the swell and light wind. It took an hour and a half to heave it on board, tie it down in some kind of fashion.

Why do these things happen in the middle of the night? After breakfast it took a couple of hours to wrestle it into a reasonable size and secure it on the foredeck. Today’s task is to try and rig the spare spinnaker halyard to use for the yankee. Unfortunately the mouse is twisted around something inside the mast. Oh dear, this looks like having to climb the mast.

At last the wind decided to stop howling and there is a brief lull between storms. We departed Opua this morning in the company of at least 6 other yachts. We have been waiting for three weeks now for this window. We are heading towards Fiji. A bit of warmth will be more than welcome!

35.18.85S, 174.07.30E
Opua.

It’s that time of year again and we must head out of the country or pay GST on Duet ll. So we wait in Opua, ducking out of unfriendly wind and rain waiting for a break in the weather. This picture is not Opua but down in doubtful sound where we cruised during the summer. We have been busy getting ready and doing as many of the modifications to Duet ll as we can. Just as we think we are ready, there is always something else to do. In the meantime we have had the opportunity to take some good bird photographs.

36.37.40S, 174.47.30E
Gulf Harbour

After we returned from our summer cruise exploring Fiordland we ambled back to Gulf harbour via great barrier island and some of the beautiful island in the Hauriki gulf. Gulf harbour is a handy place to be for a variety of reasons, but it is jaw crackingly boring. Unless you play golf. Most of the modifications have gone well and now we are set to sail up to New Caledonia. First of all when we return in about a months time we will get another years’ permit to stay in New Zealand and secondly, we need a holiday! Well there have been some quite good sunsets to compensate for the winter chill.

28:11:23S, 174:59:37E

Yesterday was a long hard slog. The wind was light and the sea calm so perfect conditions for Simon to be hoisted up the mast to re-lead the Genoa halyard using the Spinnaker block at the top of the mast. There was no way we could attempt to feed a new mouse and line through the mast. It took 2 attempts but at last it was OK. Next to hoist the sail. It was a lot easier than we expected but still the whole exercise took most of the day. A well deserved beer for happy hour to celebrate.

38:05:44S, 172:55:65E

Somewhere down in the fiords we lost our bowthruster. We didn’t hear or feel a thing, which is surprising since what ever we sucked in removed the entire set of blades. Once back in Nelson we were able to track down and replace it. I always did wonder what ever happened to the penguin.

The down side of wonderful summer weather is the light winds in the centre of the high pressure systems. We are currently motor-sailing up the West Coast of the North Island. We’ve never seen the Tasman sea so calm and this has given us the opportunity to do some Baking. Errol wanted upside down plum muffins. The recipe called for baking powder which I didn’t have so we improvised using lemonade instead. They certainly rose to the occasion.

We are back in Nelson having flown over to Sydney where our “little” Duet was moored. We are very happy to announce that she has a new owner, Gero who will be taking her over in May to begin his cruising life on board and the start of many adventures. We wish him many years of fair winds and happy cruising and know that if any of our sailing friends recognize the boat in some distant anchorage they will give Gero a warm welcome.

40:27:65S, 172:39:78E
Cape Farewell.

The wind swung around to the south and west, a perfect window for departure and sail up to Nelson. Once out of the sounds we set the sails and for the first 6 hours had a great sail up the coast enjoying the dramatic scenery. Continue reading Fiordland to Nelson, Cape Farewell

45:44:13S, 166:53:59E

Before the hunters came here in helicopters they had to rely on fishermen and a deer recovery ship. This ship was moored at the south western end of Cooper Island. All that remains is a mouldering dinghy parked high in the bushes and the mooring. The line looked sturdy enough to hold something twice the size of us. Looks can be deceptive. When the South Easter began to hoot down the cove we were getting too close to the shore. Fortunately it was still daylight and we made our escape.

45:41:29S, 166:34:06E
Cormorant Cove, Dusky Sound

Not much has changed in the last 238 years since Captain James Cook landed here, replenished Resolution with water and dined off crayfish. Instead of Maori paddling their wakas there are only to be found the occasional kayaker making their way around the sounds. If it weren’t for Marie of Bluff fisherman’s radio we would really feel as though we were back in the 18^th Century. Continue reading Cormorant Cove, Dusky Sound