Getting Ready to Sail Away

Seven weeks have flown by since we visited Jacqui and Phil at their bach, and I’m wondering: where did the time go? I could swear we were riding a tractor along the beach in Rangiputa yesterday. Perhaps it feels that way because having that much fun—for no good reason—is truly memorable. 

Now I’m biting my nails at 32,000 feet while Michael waits out Cyclone Vaianu in Tauranga. He called before I boarded the plane to say he tied Gerty down tight and all was safe … but still. Remembering our time in the Hauraki Gulf helps to alleviate my worry. 

Complete with Gerty’s snazzy upgrades—new mainsail, dodger windshield, and showerhead—we set sail from Whangarei. The islands of Great Barrier, Tiri Tiri, and Waiheke each had their own distinct charm. Great Barrier, the most remote and rugged by far, is known for Smokehouse Bay‘s quirky communal pizza oven, and Hirakimata’s steep, cliff-hugging tracks.

In contrast, Tiritiri Matangi’s Wattle Track is literally a walk in the park. But not just any park—it’s a bird-lovers paradise teaming with curious Takahēs, Hihis, Kōkakos, Tūīs, Parakeets, and more.

Finally, Waiheke is New Zealand’s version of East Hampton, littered with pristine beaches, fine wineries, and the homes of the Kiwi bourgeoisie. Lucky for us, we found some slightly less fancy sailing friends to shmooze with in Oneroa Bay.

We hugged the mainland too, making time for wing foiling in Army Bay, watching the paragliders take off in Shakespeare Park, and taking the long, long walk to snag some of the “best” pies in the country at The Kitchen Door.

Then came the rain—sheets, drizzles, and big plunking drops—for four days straight before we made our way under a dark gray sky into Tauranga Marina. 

Whatever the weather really was, meeting up with sailing friends from near and far, both new and old, made Tauranga sunny. And knowing I was leaving Michael and Gerty in good company made my trip to the States better. Before I left, Luke was already lined up to help repair Gerty’s cross beam, as was Riaan, the carpenter.

Now, three weeks in, I’ve visited with Zachary, Mira, Rita, Daniel, Giacomo, Rikki, Bonnie, Stacey, Tracey, Sammy, Jenny, Leslie, Elaine, my Dad, Janet, Sue, Phil, and Joshua, while my WONDERFUL husband, has completed the mega cross beam project, fixed the engine room leak, and heater. AND replaced the steering cable, dorade boxes, engine exhaust hoses, three thru-hulls, and the swim platform shower. AND upgraded the mast rotation control lines, cockpit table, port engine battery, salon table, and salon hatch shades. AND rebedded the cleats, the stanchions, and a zillion other things. To think he did this all after cutting himself with a box cutter on day one. Clearly, five stitches in his right thumb weren’t going to stop him. Next up, the new solar panel installation is well on its way. 

Do I feel guilty? Spoiled? Loved? Ready to sail to Fiji? You better believe it. Anchors away!

Last remarks

• The traveler cross beam on our Outremer 49 was flexing under sail. We had been concerned about a catastrophic failure and came to Tauranga Marina specifically for this complicated repair. The traveler bolts are now threaded directly into a phenolic plate installed inside the tube and the gussets plates are all reinstalled with carbon fiber reinforcing. The plate is permanent, and future repairs to the traveler can be made without crawling inside the narrow tube—a safe and practical upgrade. Yay!
• It takes a village to live this kind of life. Thanks to Mark, Dean, Ralf, Wbeike, Luke, Gregg, and all the others who kept Michael company and assisted him while I was away.
• Thanks to all my friends and family who traveled so far to meet me in New York and/or to host me elsewhere. I need you, and I appreciate you!
• Thanks to Simon and Sally on SV Shimshal 2 for hosting the OCC+ party in Waiheke. So fun to get together with SV Susimi Hazel & Paul, Bill, Johanna, and SV Scout James & Jayne
• Thanks to our new local friends, Rob & Marcos SV Fogg, for being our Kiwi connection. Thanks to Gregg for including us in the Not-Only-Catana Owners party in Tauranga with SV Purr Suz & Charlie, SV Go Baby Go DeWayla & John, SV Sugar Shack Christine & Matt, SV Rome Jim & Pam, SV Felix le Cat Sunyoung & Jamie, and all the others.