Nice one Thanks for a nice passage and good times in New Cali Doug! Congratulation also mate on a well completed major sailing adventure. May the tar not stick your jandals, may the sun not burn your bits, may the wind be ever at your back and you never ever quit :)
I always enjoy reading your blogs... what a great way to complete your two year cruise off of eastern Australia. I look forward to reading about New Zealand!
Dave Rosser Hi Doug so good to catch up this afternon must have been a bit of a shock i must apologise for that once you come to grips with it would like to catch up and get to know you better once again thanks for your time dave rosser mob 0274425357
some fun crews you have!! Great blog again Doug. You certainly have some interesting crews. Shall take it up to Dorothy. She enjoys them. Not sure what she will make of the tea making extraordinaire!! Bruce was quite amused:)
Dorothy going OK. Scott coming to Hamilton for work this Friday so staying weekend here . Dorothy was extolling the virtues of her 3 boys today!! Thats after she had read the riot act to one resident-then been put in the "time out" spot . As the nurse said-it is nice to see she has some life in her.
Cheers Frances
thanks Nope have not fixed the solenoid yet, though will do before heading north. The string is still working, though I only run motor for an hour ever two weeks or so.
Fantastic article, thanks :-) Hi, thanks for a fantastic article as I'm self delivering a possible 27ft yacht purchase from NSW to Tas and single handed so I found your write-up really informative with great first hand advice. I was however a little taken aback that you were negative towards ETA's or more so Coastal stations following up on ETA's. I would have thought Coastal stations constant following up on a vessel's ETA as annoying as that may be and from your write-up it was occasionally would be a fantastic thing. It's a clear indication that people know you're out there and are just making sure. It sounds like Coastal radio have the ETA as a cut off time and after that warrants a call. This would be more logical than waiting after an ETA and NO call. I say logical because who actually determines what's a fair period of time after a posted ETA to follow up.... Radio station operator 1 may feel 1hr is warranted after a posted ETA, yet operator 2 may be nervous ( for our safety) at a few minutes past ETA. So calling to confirm your ETA once it has passed seems to be the most logical because NO radio station operator can be subjective. Other than that, I really enjoyed your write up and thank you very much for laying some ground work for my own passage from NSW to Tas.
Greatly appreciated, fair seas and safe sailing.
Pete
great blog again you've written a fascinating account of your adventures.
Our good friends Bruno and Lesley Mcdonald live in Jacobs Well! our family had a great holiday there when girls were young. we hired a houseboat for a few days with them too. Fun catching crabs off back of boat!!
Nana enjoyed your chat. And am sure she will read and reread this blog. Have a lovely time with Lorraine and send us a photo(landscape way) for nana!! cheers to you. All good here with us:)
it looks like fun I'm sure you noticed my name Hello captain myself I'm from Santa Cruz California are you passing by this way probably not I see you to pick up crew though I'm a bit of a sailor nothing like you though I lived in the Bahamas for three years in the Dominican Republic in a few places in Mexico I got to work on a 65-foot trimaran in the Dominican Republic serving drinks and kicking flying fish off the deck when I was finished working at the club Med there I'm looking for an adventure I'm about 49 years old I got long silver hair and a bear and a beard I'm a big guy I'm good ballast but anywho this is my first time going to cost you so I'll just send you this quick email I thought it was really cool that you guys have my name and I look forward to hearing from you
well done captain!! great blog once again. We need to vet them before taking printouts to nana cos your last one mentioned that she almost died. Well did that give her something to talk about for a few days:) tehe
Bruce went up yesterday and she a bit under the weather with a cold. So shall call in today to see how she is. She has her update meeting on her care plan this week so see what they say. want to get walking with her walker put in as don't think that's happening. She seems more settled there and not giving other residents too much grief! She always loves the carers and they joke a lot with her so that's good.
Good luck with your travels north and finding more crew. Scott and maria in Europe so hope their travels going well too
Cheers Frances
From Melbourne Australia Hi Doug, Really enjoy reading about your sailing adventures. Have a safe journey to Australia although i suspect you may already be here.
Stay well.
I'm an engineer. Indeed I was responsible for Sustainable Development for U.S. Navy installations and helped develop LEED, the U.S. green building criteria, with a Navy dorm being the first to be certified. I also worked for the White House's Office of the Federal Environmental Executive writing Greening the Government Executive Orders. So I like to look for the facts and hear both sides. One book that significantly formed my opinions was "The Hockey Stick Illusion" by A.W. Montford and the Climategate emails. Science that selectively picks data that supports a preconceived view is not science. Not making the data available to other scientists so they can replicate the experiment is not science. Only seeking peer reviews from those who agree with you is not science. Preventing the publication of contradicting research and seeking to banish such researchers from academia is not science. Michael Mann, the leader of this group of true believer climate scientists, apparently has only an elementary knowledge of statistics that was easily challenged when real statisticians got involved. Any science that depends upon "the science is settled" appeal to authority argument is not science...especially since most of the purported scientists who show up at the meetings are hangers on...more political wonks...enjoying the free ride to nice destinations. Climate science has become a religion, with sceptics (not deniers) subject to ad hominem attacks rather than their arguments debated. I agree that there is global warming, but not that man has had a significant impact. That's why Mann and company tried so hard to hide the Medieval Warming Period when there was no CO2 produced by humans, with only the last few years showing significant warming. And average global temperatures have not increased since 1997. The natural cycles have much more to do with temperature swings. I agree that we shouldn't pollute or waste resources and should consume less energy, but I do not agree that investing trillions of dollars to stop or reverse warming is the best use of limited resources when there are so many more uses for those resources that have an immediate benefit to humans...like providing pure water to the vast majority who do not have it. You asked... I'm enjoying your blogs.
genital run Not sure if I posted the last comment or lost it !! Anyway could not Leyland the "genital" run comment go without mentioning that Freud would have had a field day !!!
Sounds all good D. Best of sailing henceforth.
Love Chris xx
Hey Doug, great to hear the engine is back in and you're finally getting to freely explore Vava'u. When are you planning to head to Fiji to meet Lorraine? If your Marine Conservation talks take off you might be stuck for a little while longer! Best of luck, Ads and Anna.
Important omission from previous comment Forgot to mention how impressed I am that your farewell meal in EnZed is vegetarian spinach and eggs. Well done Doug, another plus for the planet :-)
Chris
YAY TO DOUG Way to go Doug ! Well done to you and the crew. Hope the motor woes are sorted easily and financially painlessly (!) and you continue on your voyage.
Love Chris
There and back again Great yarn, well written. I heard the summary last year and found the full story captivating. The crew's determination in the face of weather elements,technical incidents or lift up bridges comes through loud and clear. You can sense the frustration too of course, tempered by the knowledge that Hakura is about ready to head north again.
Hi, I'm Doug Nicol, and these are the stories about sailing around parts of New Zealand, some of the South Pacific and eastern Australia in my 36 foot yacht Hakura (Maori for Grey's beaked whale).
You may even be able to join me someday.
... full info
Home and Away
Bob Carlsen
I've enjoyed following you all the way...
I look forward to your next voyage!