We're still in Suva, but we have a plan. We are hoping to leave for New Caledonia on Wednesday. From there, Nelson or somewhere in Australia, who knows. -Rich
Cyndi and I are sitting in Suva, waiting for weather to sail to Nelson, NZ. You can find out more about what we're up to on our blog at www.twoatsea.com.
Going sailing around the Pacific? How glamorous people may think. But at this stage it is just damned hard work. My list is burgeoning. Every time I think Im culling it, the thing sprouts new shoots, twigs, whole bloody branches even. Today, as I juggled a myriad of last minute tasks, it occurred to me that we were planning to leave Wellington in November so we wouldnt end up casting off from New Zealand in May, exhausted from all the preparation work. However the way things are going well be leaving Wellington shattered, setting off on a formidable coastal journey around one of New Zealands gnarliest bits of coastline the Wairarapa Coast.
'Youve had years to prepare for this trip,' I berate myself when the anxiety gets the better of me. 'Why havent you got more done by now?' Yes why havent I? But I have no time to naval gaze. Yesterday the lifeboat failed its check so Im shopping for a new one, we need to sell the car, one of our tenants needs a new stove, miles of sewing to do that should have been done last year, and so it goes.
'Janet! Remember the goal. Picture yourself hanging out in a beautiful bay somewhere on the Coromandel Peninsular' (my poor overwhelmed brain can no longer dream as far ahead as the white sandy beaches and coconut palms of Fiji). Even the trip up the coast looks appealing. Wind in the sails, scooting along Palliser Bay with nothing else to think about except the set of the sails, course and speed, and maybe what Im going to eat next. (This is an extraordinarily optimistic projection given my propensity for seasickness in the first two days of a trip- but I do have new drugs to try).
This is another test run, getting to grips with posting blogs and photos via email.
:first image caption Open ocean Maritime radio, maritime radio, this is Navire, Navire, over. Navire, Navire, this is Maritime Radio, Maritime Radio. Go ahead please. Good morning Maritime Radio, this is a radio check. How do we copy? You copy loud and clear. Thanks Maritime Radio. Navire out. Every time we get ready to go to sea I do a radio check to ensure the blood is pumping through our umbilical chord to the land. This time Im doing a blog post check. For this next journey we are using Yachts In Transit (YIT), a blog set up by one of our neighbours on his recent Pacific sailing sojourn. This nautical blog site has some special yachtie only features, the most appealing being that every time we post the position of our boat will appear on your screen and youll be able to track our position across the seas. Right now we should appear safely tucked into our berth at Chaffers Marina.
Ive been busting to blog about this trip but the superstitious sailor in me has delayed it till now. If I start writing about the trip before it has begun it might not happen. Again. The story of the recent delay of our trip is for another time. My constant challenge with technology has made these fingers hit the keys. If for some reason this blog and our position dont cross the ether I have the blog creator right here on our jetty to consult.
Next blog hopefully will be mid-November, en route to Gisborne, our first stop, weather willing, and contingent on the completion of the getting ready-to-go list that seems to get ever longer rather than shorter.
See you out on the ocean.
Janet
