We made it to Bluff. I guess you knew that already thanks to our Spot Tracker. The written update has obviously been a little behind the eight ball but we now have technical problems sorted and depending on signal we will attempt to make more regular posts.
We departed Tasmania under motor with almost no wind but hopeful that the forecast winds would soon set in and carry us on to NZ. We were soon visited by a huge pod of dolphins leaping excitedly from the water in formation of five or six at a time. This provided a wonderful distraction for Odin who after waking from a deep sleep had been rather seasick.
We stood at the bow waving and chatting to our friends. As they ducked and weaved below us his face brightened.
“This is great fun Mum.” he said as he rode the waves. Then, “I don’ t want to go to Alaska.”
Thinking the seasickness had put him off I asked “Why not?”
“Because the bears might eat us!”
I assured him that the bears would be hibernating when we arrived and his resolve returned.
We were visited by 2 more large pods of dolphins as the day drew as well as a couple of seals and a number of curious albatross.
The motor droned on through the night but as the sun began to rise a moderate southerly filled our sails and our hearts with the promise of a dream passage. With high spirits we \began day 2.
Day 3. We had all settled in. Jirra and Odin were no longer seasick and the rest off us had shaken off that seedy feeling. However the wind had also left us. Motor on we continued awaiting the forecast westerlies. The calm conditions made Jirra’s first day ‘at school’ very pleasant. Not many kids start school midway across the Tasman Sea!
Harnessed on, we spent time out on deck dangling our feet over the side. Cheering as the waves splashed over our legs. The water, surprisingly, was not icy cold but quite moderate. Enticing me to swim… Maybe next time.
We never quite got those great winds but we battled on in sloppy seas with minimal sail. Strangely the winds gusted up to 35kt teasing us before dropping back to 7-15kt. Sleep proved difficult as we slid from one side of the bed to the other and taking our watches was tiring. The drone of the motor and the temperamental autopilot proved an added challenge.
It was just as I began another of these sloppy frustrating watches that Jirra began screaming in horror from the rear cabin. He had seen monsters all around him as he shadows moved on the navigation and instrument lights. I was joined as I had been on most of my watches by a small child wrapped in a doona, sleeping soundly beside me.
The monsters reappeared the following night accompanied by bears and sharks and even polar bears visiting from the Arctic.(Odin’s imagination had also ignited). I sent them on their way and we slept fairly well as Fez steered on through the night.
It was late afternoon on day 6 when I stepped out into the cockpit and caught the first glimpse of NZ. A small piece of the SW corner finally showed itself through the cloud. Our excitement tempered slightly by the knowledge that it would be another 18 hrs before we made landfall.
We finally made contact with Meri on Bluff Fisherman’s Radio. She quickly arranged for Customs to meet us and set about finding us a berth. And as darkness set in we made our way into Foveaux Strait.
As day broke Stewart Island began to emerge from low lying cloud and as the wind picked up from the north the light showers eased. A golden sunrise at our bow. I rolled out the remaining headsail and turned off the autopilot determined to sail the rest of the way by hand. I didn’t care that our speed had dropped to a little over 3kts. What was the hurry? We had a lot of tidying to do and an excess of food to process. Otherwise it would be confiscated by agriculture and fisheries!
However as I left my post the engine mysteriously revved up and we began rushing madly to clear the cockpit, have showers etc. I found myself madly whipping up banana cake and vegie soup in a last ditch effort to save our food.
With the soup well underway I stepped outside as we rounded Stirling Point at the entrance to Bluff. The sky was brilliant blue and the sun hot. A big change to the constant overcast skies of the last six days. We posed for a photo on deck to show we had made it.
In just a little more than 7 days we had made an uneventful crossing of the Tasman and were tied up amongst the fishing boats that call Bluff Harbour home. Greeted by Customs almost immediately we had little time to celebrate. But later in a stolen moment with Odin I was able to process our achievement.
“You made it across the ocean Bubby. You’re only 3 and you’ve already crossed the ocean!”
Beaming with pride he hugged me back and replied, “Yes! And it was a big ocean Mum!”
Exploring Bluff would have to wait. MAF (Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries) would not come until the morning meaning we could not leave the boat until then. Bummer! Oh well we now had extra time to consume the remaining fruit, veg and meat. And maybe have a full night’s sleep!
Love to all. We really miss you already!
