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Published: July 11th 2010
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Well where do I begin.
Firstly let me say we (Tom, Aileen, Doug and Hakura) are safe and sound.
I’ll go back a week to 4 July when I was winching Tom up the mast to fix the wind instruments. I got him halfway when the winch jammed (a word I will come to use a lot in this story). No going up so I let him down slowly.
A quick check of the winch showed that one of the thingies had fallen out. So off to All Marine (one of the local chandleries) on Monday morning to see if they had any bits to repair the winch. No fun there. There could only offer a new winch, which would only be available on Tuesday (when we were planning to leave).
After a visit to the local engineering shop to talk with Brett, it was clear that the winch was stuffed. So, it was back to the Chandlery and order a new one in.
Tuesday morning and the new winch was here so off we go to get it and back on board to fit it. Whilst taking it apart for the fitting one small (though
On the way to Marsden Cove Marina
What is that? A fish , a whale oh just our egos. vital) part decided that a swim was called for. (NB don’t disassemble gear on deck). Tom, my hero, took that swim. He dived twice and only just found the bottom, or should I say the start of the bottom, as it was very soft mad. Not surprisingly, he did not find the missing part.
He spent several hours with 2 long boat hooks lashed together with landing net on the end fishing for the part. He got a few leaves, one snapping shrimp and some mud, not missing winch part.
A quick call to All Marine and a replacement was on the way and would be here early tomorrow. So another call was made, this time to NZ Customs, to say we were not going to make it and would let him know of next date.
Wednesday we got and fitted the missing part. We also managed not to lose any more gear over board. Yippee.
Now the issue was that a low pressure system was to come down through the area we were to sail through on Sunday (11 July) and if we had gone on Tuesday we would have been above it and if
we left on Wednesday we would be in the middle of it, so we decided to go on Thursday and be below it.
So one last visit to the supermarket for fresh veggies and meat and off we go for Marsden Cove Marine (at Whanagrei Heads) where we were due to clear Customs on Thursday morning.
Come 9 am Thursday morning all the watering, stowing and paper work had been done. By 9 45 we had cleared customs and after one last visit to a land toilet we headed out.
We pasted through the heads at noon and with a strong southerly breeze where making very good progress north past the Chicks. It was now time to unfurl the headsail.
At this stage we were all happy chaps and chapets. I should add a note that those of tender condition or few years might like to stop now!
The bloody sail would not come out. Or it would only come out a couple of metres. Sh!t.
After several unsuccessful goes I thought maybe I needed to tighten the halyard to stop it jamming. That worked and out came the sail.
We were off
and heading to Tonga!
Oh Sh!t is that a ripe in the foot of the headsail I can see. Oh yes it is.
Well after a quick call to Customs I was only allowed to return to a customs port (ie Marsden Cove Marina) to fix the sail. After a few minutes I thought why there is another headsail on board why don’t I drop the sail and change it for the other one. It had to come down anyway. Oh what a poor idea that was.
I went to the bow while Tom released the halyard and we started to drop the sail. But, no, the sail would not come down. Tom checked the halyard and we got some of the sail down. It jammed again. This time Tom said the halyard was too large to be released. Now that told me we had not fully released the halyard. A quick trip to the rear and that was fixed.
The sail could now be lowered. Unfortunately, it was so able that it was lowering itself now.
By the time I go to the bow half was down and flogging itself to death. What was
Capt Doug at home
Aileen is just moving seats. one 2 metre ripe was now several large tries and getting worse by the second. Oh sh!t, however, not all was lost. But wait, is that a jib sheet trailing in the water. That’s ok if we don’t do a 360 just now.
Yep, we did a 360. The motor was not on however the prop would have been turning and the sheet was most likely around that and the rudder. BIG OH SH!T.
Well get in the ripped sail and check out the sheet. No joy, the sheet was stuck fast under the boat.
Answer, I’ll go over the side and free it. This was opposed by the crew who pointed out that I was the only one able to get them safely ashore. Ok then Tom could go. Due to the 2 to 3 metre waves he did not like that option.
With no motor or steering I decided to issue a Pan Pan (that is we needed assistance but are not in danger). Yep that works however there were no boats in the area that could help.
So with limited steering and a small sail set on the forestay we began heading
slowly towards land (not actually the bit we wanted but close). Just then Maritime Radio said the rescue boat was almost there.
They arrived about 10 minutes later. After a few minutes discussion we decided to accept their tow as we were doing 3 knots and not really in the right direction where as they could tow us at 6 knots directly back.
After fixing the towrope I noticed that the staysail was flapping as it had lost one of its sheets. So down it came. In the process I was thrown up and landed heavily on the deck. My first though was “I’m still on board - good”, secondly “I’m ok, better”.
So, after securing the sail I went back (crawled would be the best description) astern.
I was socked through so a quick change and full wet weather gear and I was back in the cockpit.
Tom, mean while was doing a great job of being on the helm the whole time.
After a couple of hours we seemed to stop and then found out the towrope had parted company. Back onto the foredeck and rescuer the tow (plus a tow to
protect the towrope) and we were off again.
Boy did I then get cold sitting in the cockpit. Tom and Aileen were asleep down below.
Just as we entered the heads the rescue boat asked me to drop the main. I enjoyed the chance at some warmth from the activity and the sail was down. Next stage was to shorten the tow for the run into the Marina. During this I got the fenders and mooring lines ready.
We reached the Q wharf at 8 30 pm and were safely moored soon after.
I did consider giving up sailing while all this was going on but knew that was only a passing fad.
Much to my surprise Tom and Aileen said that they wanted to stay on and still want to consider going to Tonga in a few days. That floored me.
Next morning Tom went over the side and we had the sheet freed quick smart from the prop.
They both are my heroes.
We are now back in Whangarei marine after washing almost all the sheets and towels on board as water had got in during the tow. We had
dried out the boat and our gear, replaced the headsail and are making plans to sail down to Auckland via Great Barrier Island next week to get more experience and help my mum more apartments.
All being well we will head out for Tonga early in the week of 19 July.
As I said above, the best thing is we are all fit and well.
A great big thanks to Maritime Radio and The Coastguard.
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Sam
non-member comment
Jesus mate sounds like a hell of a start to your dream adventure!!! hope it only gets bettert! soiunds like those guys are masivly commited dont know them but wish them luick from me and fingers crossed everything goes tip top next time :-D Good luck mate!!