Back Alongside NSC

Where Next?
Bob Williams
Fri 11 Dec 2020 20:55

Alongside  Napier Sailing Club
Wind: SW F4  Sea: calm  Swell: nil
Weather: partly cloudy, cool

With a southerly change on its way, yesterday morning we decided it would be a good idea to head back to the Napier Sailing Club to prepare for our next attempt to leave harbour and sail south. So, at 1250, with a gentle breeze blowing, we hoisted the mainsail, hauled the anchor aboard, rolled out the headsail, and sailed from Tangoio Bay. We enjoyed a very pleasant sail in the light breeze and sunshine across Hawke Bay in the general direction of Napier when, at 1450, white horses ahead marked the arrival of the south-westerly change. It had arrived earlier and was fresher than I had expected and consequently I had inadvertently allowed Sylph to be downwind from Napier Harbour on its arrival. With only a mile to go, we found it easier to hand sail and motor into the brisk breeze and short sea to get into harbour and alongside while the club office was still open.

At 1545, we pulled into our assigned berth and, with the fresh breeze blowing us of the dock, we were grateful that there were a couple of people on hand to take our berthing lines and prevent us from being blown down onto a little H28 in the adjacent berth.

Last night we enjoyed some fresh kingfish on the club’s barbecue and met up with Paul and Sue from Windchase who have just finished a two-and-a-half year world circumnavigation (very quick indeed) and, like us, are heading south to Lyttleton, their home port. Unsurprisingly, we spent much of the evening discussing NZ weather.

All is well.