Going Home
Mojo 2
Andrew Partington
Sat 22 Oct 2011 12:23
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Mojo 2 now sits in the marina in Mooloolaba. I
arrived here at 3.30pm Thursday and entered the shallow passage that leads into
the harbour. I had intended to write earlier but like so many other times in
port other things get in the way and burn time.
I have been busily preparing to leave the boat here
and will be looking to fly home to Albany around the middle of next week. After
such a long time travelling with Mojo 2 it will be very strange to be leaving
the boat here in Queensland. Mind you I'm not sure you could find a better place
to do so as the marina is as good as any I have seen and Mooloolaba is a
beautiful place. She is sitting in a nest [or should that be "pride"] of
other cats so should feel right at home.
This will be my last entry. I have very much
enjoyed writing about our voyage and have had a real kick out of the fact that a
number of people have been following our progress. I have had emails from the
USA, Europe and Australia from people interested in ours trip and have had
several people comment that they have felt that they have been with us in spirit
by being able to read each day how we were getting on. There have been a few
times that I have wished I could have been tucked up in bed reading the blog
instead of suffering some of the weather that we did. Those times were few but I
can still recall them vividly.
Part of me is sad to see the end of the journey and
a greater part can't wait to get home to some return of a normal life. The trip
has taken far longer than I had initially anticipated but once you commit to
something of this magnitude you just have to get on and see it through. There is
very little I would change but if I were to do this again I would lake at least
2 years to get back to Australia. I have seen some stunningly beautiful places
and met fascinating people along the way.
Before I sign off I need to acknowledge that
several people have helped me to be able to sail Mojo 2 all the way to
Australia. They are;
John & Lyn Partington - My parents flew to La
Rochelle with me and were there when I took delivery of the boat. They then
sailed to Spain, Portugal and the Canary Islands. Lyn went on across the
Atlantic but John had to fly home after being seasick on the crossing to the
Canaries. I know my dad would have loved to have come further but it was just
not to be. My mum was in her element and clearly loved every minute being
in open ocean.
Keith Burton - Keith joined us in La Rochelle and
was going to sail with me to the Caribbean. We suffered damage to the boat
off Portugal which forced us to sail back to land. With us being stuck in port
for 3 days his timeline began to shorten and he decided to fly back to Australia
rather than taking the risk of a slow crossing of the Atlantic. Keith brought
with him a wealth of offshore experience and without him being there from
the start I may have given away the idea of this whole voyage. I know
he would have loved to go on...maybe next time!!
Sharon Mundy - Sharon is a great friend of ours and
also joined us in La Rochelle. She too had a tight timeline that started to blow
out with our forced delays in both Spain and Portugal. Sharon toughed out a
spell of seasickness and eventually found her sea legs. Both Sharon and Keith
flew home from the Canary Islands.
Daniel Miller - Daniel flew into the Canaries to
help me sail the boat across the Atlantic. He stayed with me through Antigua,
Aruba, Panama and Galapagos. Once again without Daniel commiting to help me it
would have been impossible for me to have undertaken this trip. Had some very
funny times together, particularly in Antigua and Aruba where we had a
couple of very big nights. A terrific young guy and a credit to his parents Andy
and Michelle.
Robert Partington - Our son Robert is the only
person to come back for a second stint with me. He joined Daniel and I in Aruba
and sailed with us to Panama. He loved Aruba because of the nightlife,
especially our nights out at "Senor Frogs" and "Moomba" He then flew back to see
me in Tahiti and helped me sail the boat to New Caledonia via, Palmerston, Niue
and Tonga. I think he logged around 4000NM with me. Having my son help me sail
the boat is something I will never forget. To watch Robert battle with
a 1.4 metre wahoo and land it is gave me an enormous kick. What an amazing gap
year he has had by being able to sail through six countries. I am very glad
he was able to spend this time with me.
Jane Partington - My loving [and patient] wife Jane
flew into Panama and ended up sailing with me to Galapagos and Tahiti. On the
leg to Tahiti it was just Jane and I on the boat. We sailed close to 3500NM in
one stretch. To lose our autopilot 1400NM was a test we would never want to
repeat but we made it. I am very fortunate to be married to someone
who enjoys boating as much as I do. In March 2012 we will have been married
20 years - may there be many more!!
Dean Wauters - Dean also flew into Panama. He had
an extremely tough introduction to open water sailing. We had been told that we
would likely have to motor all the way to Galapagos but we ended up
in nasty winds that lasted 10 days and pushed us all the way down the
coast of South America. Dean brought with him loads of fishing gear and the reel
and lure that allowed Jane, Robert and I to catch so many fish in the
Pacific. Before we hit the rough weather Dean laned several fish himself,
including a massive sailfish. Dean also proved to himself that he does not get
seasick in big ocean swells... and they were big!!
Blair Scott - Blair was due to sail with me to
Tonga but with the failure of the autopilot this plan had to be put on hold.
Blair and I instead went exploring French Polynesia. With him I saw my first
gale force winds on the night we copped 40 knots in an overnight sail to
Huahine. Had a great time and it was the first time on the whole trip that I had
a chance to slow down and just enjoy cruising.
Gerard Cameron - Gerard joined me in New
Caledonia for the crossing to Brisbane. Like Dean he had it pretty tough in
terms of the weather. He also suffered badly with seasickness and was very happy
to set foot on land again. Gerard kept a close watch on the weather for me for
over 6 months and would sent daily or twice daily updates via email. This
was a huge assistance to me and I thank him for all the time and effort he put
into watching our backs for us. As he found out for himself the forecasters do
not always get it right.
It is extremely satisfying to me now to know that I
have been able to sail a catamaran more than half way around the world and
across two ocean with all crew safely at home and Mojo 2 taking a well earned
rest in a marina.
Before I set out on this voyage Gregor Tarjan told
me that crossing an ocean on a sailboat changes you as a person. I guess I
will have to see if this is so over the next few months. Either way I am feeling
fantastic right now and will be even better when I get to see my family and
friends.
Andrew Partington.
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