35: 18.8 S

174: 07.3 E

 

Distance last 24 hours:             112     nm

Distance since Nuku’alofa:      1017     nm 

Distance still to go:                 O    nm                                                 (All distances are in nautical miles:  1nm = 1.8km)

 

So we are now in New Zealand!

 

Securely tied up in Opua Marina, amongst a hundred or so yachts, I woke from a long sleep on a bunk that isn’t moving for the first time in 11 days. It is one of those perfect, still, sunny mornings, here, and what hit me is how quite and peaceful it is.....  From about 20 miles out yesterday, I could see that this area is a special place with a very apt name. It was so interesting coming, as the wind died, we didn’t bother with the engine, as the slow pace added to the richness of the wonderful spectacle unfolding.

 

Back to our micro world of the past 11 days, and the last day’s sailing of the Tonga to New Zealand passage:

 

If you remember, we were hoping for the winds with increasingly westerly direction to drive us on our SW course direct into Opua. I’d gambled on the rhumb line course, and so anything other than these winds would meant I’d lose my gamble! Well it was nail biting up to about 22h00, with the 15 to 20 knot wind having just enough west component to enable us to keep our course to Opua, but having to work hard at sailing ALLONE as close to the wind as possible. Then, just as forecast it started free off and freeing us to let out the sails and start the dream run into Opua. Well the whole night and right through to us entering the Bay of Islands it continued to free and to strengthen.  Wonderful sailing, with ALLONE chugging, nice and sedately  along at 7+ knots,, with 1 or 2 reefs in the big main, depending on the squalls that came and went. The clouds had gone, a star lit night, then a great sunrise, and to cap it all a perfect clear, sunny day to see us into Opua... Someone really did look after us, and I can only assume that thought we deserved it!  Just over 5 days from South Minerva, and as we chatted to ‘friends’ from the 20 or so other yachts that we already here, it became clear we had had a very fast and relatively uneventful passage.  We did catch up with the couple who left Nuku’alofa on that same fateful day we chose not to, some weeks back now, and their stories of their extremely difficult passage, made we wonder who was deciding all these things for us insignificant humans! Finally, it was also nice to arrive in Opua, without any new yacht projects....ie breakages or problems that occurred along the way. A great bonding passage for me (us) and ALLONE, and with this closure, ‘we’ have moved a long way down the ‘all one’ journey, now!

 

The Kiwi’s are rightly pedantic, about looking after their two special islands, and as such, their quarantine process is the most extensive and aggressive I have ever experienced. We were expecting that, but to see the process in action was very enlightening. Two very professional officers, lots of questions, lots of searches, and eventually two big bags of our ‘goods left with them! I did confirm that we were a better than average boat, and as such we had had a lighter than average inspection...! hmmm, I thought we had seen the heavy hand!  While it sounds intrusive, I have to say the two officers were lovely people, and it was all done in a very friendly, co-operative way. I sensed they felt their job was a high level, serving for the country, rather than a self serving, personal power, policing ego trip. The whole arrival process, took quite a while, but was the most friendly, welcoming and professional I have ever experienced. Same with the marina people, so all this sets a good foundation for quiet a few months pleasant  life here.

 

Gee, it was wonderful to just sit back, enjoy a restaurant meal, a bottle of wine together, and let the inner feeling and emotions on a new environment flow.....

 

While it is not stressful out on ocean passages like this, there is always a sense of alertness and mental preparedness to deal with adversity, however it may present itself. For this passage my biggest concern was the failure of the single autopilot. While Ruth did a great job on the passage, by her own admission she would struggle to steer the boat in stormy, night, headwind conditions, and I feared the situation where I would have this situation on MY plate. No doubt I’d step up to the challenge, and had worked out some strategies, but THAT would certainly not be FUN!  These thoughts live, mostly quietly in the back of one’s mind, but once tied up in the marina, I always feel this wonderful sense of both accomplishment AND relief.  That feeling is what I was savouring last night, and hence I couldn’t write this last blog. Going from the initial wobbliness of walking on terra firma, through reflecting on the passage, and then to connecting with urban life, the process takes a few days taking one to a new mental state.  I can feel this is well on it’s way.....

 

We arrived in Opua about three weeks after our July plans, and so Ruth is a bit pressed to get back to family and London commitments, and is on a mission to get flights etc...  Being on such different paths now, feels quite strange after literally living in each others’ pockets for the last 5 months......

 

Having just spent a few hours walking about Opua, I’m really impressed and can see that there is lots of soulful exploring ahead, and everywhere I stop and chat, I meet such nice people....

 

In wrapping up, it feels great to have achieved all the objectives of this ALLONE project, a five month intense journey, that could have taken many other less favourable paths. A new boat, a new, couple, crew partner, a new ocean, and a sailing rusty, skipper!  I’d like to add that without Bill Campbell’s (the previous owner)  meticulous care of ‘his boat’, and his generous hand overt assistance in Raiatea, this project may not have had such a perfect outcome! Thanks again Bill, I hope you savour the fact that your ‘old boat’ is now in caring hands and being enjoyed o the full.

 

What with my African motorcycle trip, and now this sailing adventure, 2014, has been another intense, ‘Simply Adventure’ year.  Such diverse and seemingly contrasting places, but all part of a rich tapestry of truths, that I have been working on for ten years now.  I feel I have got to the end of my search for the truths, my own, society’s, and the true condition of our planet, and the picture is quite fascinating, albeit very challenging! I’m busy working out the what next, of what to do with MY unique truth tapestry, whether it is just for my use, or how I can use it to make an impact on the world..... I know this sounds all holier than thou and grandiose, but it’s not meant to be, just me genuinely concerned about the direction the world is going!   I hope to provide some insights into this tapestry, in my 2014, year end e-letter to my followers... That will be end December or early January.

 

That’s all for now on this Pacific adventure, lovely to have you along, and hope you got something from it too....Even if that was to confirm that your terra firma, life choice is best for you!

 

Cheers for now

 

H