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Published: November 21st 2008
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Thursday, November 20, 2008
Yesterday, after spending the morning getting email out and waiting for the washing to dry (the boat did look comical with clothing and linen festooned all over it) we went back to Tawa Bay in Endeavour Inlet to spend the night in order to give us a head start this morning. The weather forecast was perfect for moving out into the Strait and round to Pelorus Sound.
Tawa Bay really has to be one of the most beautiful spots I have ever been in (and I catch my breath at many of the sights around this country). We motored in to the same mooring we had had while John was with us and spent the first ten minutes watching a beautiful red jellyfish moving past the boat. I fondly imagined it was the same one we had seen last time we were there.
The Bay is full of jellyfish of varying sizes and colour. Some are white and quite transparent while others, the bigger ones, are a glorious red. I don’t understand how these creatures operate, but the Captain was able to point out all the relevant bits. While back at Chaffer’s Marina we
Ship's Cove
The Cook Monument had watched hundreds of baby jellyfish hatching and it was amazing to think those tiny creatures could develop into something as beautiful as what we were watching.
We spent a lovely evening watching the sun go down and enjoying the perfect peace and solitude of the Bay. I really hope I get to go back to it one day.
The other significant occurrence was the Captain pointing out a rectangular shape in the water movement. He tells me that straight lines and sharp angles are unusual in nature, which prefers curves and circles, so it was fascinating to watch a shiny rectangle of still water sitting in the Bay surrounded by rippling water.
Today began early. We were up, breakfasted, and everything was shipshape and ready to go by about 7.30am on what promised to be a perfect day. The sail started to go up as we were leaving the Bay when I noticed that the top of the Halyard was caught on something and brought it to the Captain’s attention. An hour later having tried everything it was still caught around a light fitting and there was no solution in sight short of climbing the mast
which was not an option from my point of view.
The weather being perfect the Captain decided to continue with the planned schedule but under motor and to get someone to get up the mast as soon as we were able. I was not overly happy with this decision, concerned with the thought that if the motor failed, we would have no backup form propulsion, but it was felt that with the motor having been serviced before we left Wellington that all would be well and the weather was perfect for the trip.
The scenery leaving the Queen Charlotte Sound is spectacular. On a day like today you can see the North Island and a series of small rocks or islands that appear to guard the entrance. We were treated to a cloudless sky and smooth sea with excellent visability. It was good to be underway!!
Given Doug’s interest in the voyages and diaries of Captain Cook we decided to call in to Ships Cove on the way past to view the monument, which commemorates Captain Cook’s 1770 first visit to New Zealand. The monument is situated in a little Bay, and while there is a jetty,
we did not land as our mission for the day was to get to Pelorus Sound and we were already running behind schedule because of the problem with the halyard.
I popped down into the cabin to get a camera while Doug took the boat for a slow sweep past. Once the photo had been taken we put the boat back in gear ready to motor out and be on our way again. And we put the boat back in gear . . .
The motor sounded sweet, but there was no way the gear was going to engage. We were drifting. It was decided that the anchor should be down. We were duly anchored.
And we put the boat in gear . . .
The Captain decided to look at the engine. Trusty tool box in hand he disappeared into the cabin and under the motor. After much polite conversation with said motor, he announced that the drive shaft was no longer connected. Hence no engagement of gears! Interesting situation. We are safe, anchored, and powerless to get anywhere.
What to do? We made THE call. Panpan, panpan, panpan. This is Hakura ZMT 4714,
etc, etc, etc. Wellington Maritime Radio responded promptly and within an hour we knew we had someone coming to give us a tow back to Picton. At this stage it was about 11.30am and our rescue was to happen at about 2.45pm.
So we made a cup of tea, had some lunch and put out the fishing lines. Nothing like being civilized in the face of adversity. And have words been spoken at this stage? . . . . oh yes! But that is the beauty of stress, swear a bit and it usually dissipates somewhat.
The fishing was interesting. We caught 1 gurnard (beautiful fish - it looked like it was trying to fly) 2 carpet sharks and 2 spiny dogfish. We let them all go as none of them was going to provide us with a meal and none of them had put up much fight either.
Then we had a nap, as you do, and woke just as the rescue team arrived in the form of Steph and Tony from Charter Link. They are very proficient at what they do and before you could say Captain Jack Sparrow we were being towed back the
way we had come.
Another show of Dolphins on the way back (one hopes we never take such a treat for granted) and here we are moored to the fuel wharf in Waikawa Marina. Tony has proven a godsend, he has already been up the mast to release the halyard and will be back to reattach the drive shaft in the morning.
The floating jetty we are tied to has what amounts to a natural aquarium running down the side closest to the man made rock fill that makes up one of the breakwaters in the Marina. Capt Doug has been out examining things (have I mentioned that he is a marine ecologist with a huge interest in things marine) and has given me the guided tour. While this was in progress a short tailed stingray entered the aquarium and we walked down the jetty beside it watching it glide gracefully along. Amazing.
What a day! It goes to show that everything does seem to happen for a reason. If the sail had not failed, we would not have been under motor so quickly and the problem with the drive shaft might not have presented itself in
such ideal conditions.
Or as Captain Doug would say, shit happens.
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Dianne
non-member comment
One big adventure
Great blog. Looking forward to keeping track of your movements.