Captain's Log

Position data can be found on the 'Where are we?' page.
All times entered are NZST.

News from the crew

Roger's Story
To read Roger's account of the voyage from Whangarei to Port Vila, click here.

Rod's Story
To read Rod's account of their cruise around the islands, click here.

Grant's Story - The voyage home
To read Grant's account of their hair raising voyage from Noumea to New Zealand, click here.

04-06-08

TRANS TASMAN CHALLENGE 2008

This years event began with a feeling of mixed emotion for me. The 'old guard' of Cav 32 owners had either decided not to compete or were not asked. It was sad not to see Ian McCorkindale sailing. Ian had done so much to keep this special event alive for 36 years. Time goes on and Ross Masters did an admirable job as Team Captain. The modified format for the Challenge involved 3 classes of Yacht. The classes used were Dragons, Clansman 30's and Elliot 6 meters. The Youth Team sailed the Elliots, the senior sailors mixed it up in a complex draw. Each skipper sailed 8 races on a different Yacht, the crew remaining on the Yacht for the duration of the Regatta. It works! Sydney turned on 3 fabulous days of weather. Light and shifty winds suited me. Some complained of the conditions but my experience is that in a Regatta of this nature wind and waves are the recipe for crew and or gear failure, Day one I finished with a 3rd, 2nd and a 1st .Day two 1st 2nd 4th .Day three 1st and a 2nd. These results were enough to earn the award of top kiwi skipper. Unfortunately the New Zealand Youth Team were well beaten by Australia's David Chapman and his crew. A couple of the senior sailors struggled with the variable conditions becoming frustrated on day one. After a team talk about maintaining composure in the face of adversity, our NZ team came back on day 2 and 3. Sadly the comeback was not enough and the Aussies narrowly retained the Trans Tasman Trophy.

NICKI MURRAY and RICHARD SHAW ( Yacht Rhumbline )

Rhumbline is a 37 foot cruising yacht designed by my father John and built under my direction in our family boatbuilding yard. Nicki purchased the Rhumbline a number of years ago and has cruised her extensively ( including one or more times around NZs South Island. Nicki and Richard are in the mineing industry and are based in South Australia. Nicki made contact last year and we were to catch up in Sydney. The Trans Tasman Challenge offered the perfect excuse. I had rented a waterfront apartment in Kiribilli next door to the Royal Sydney Yacht Squadron and there was ample room for Nicki and Richard. We had never met before but believe me these two were easy to get to know. I mentioned very early on that I was partial to a drop of wine. Nickis' response was Richard will be pleased .The dining table was littered with empty wine bottles in no time at all as we poured over a set of plans I had given them. Nicki had never had plans of her Rhumbline, so she was grateful to receive them. The following night they joined the NZ team at the awards dinner and we sloshed back another healthy quota of Reds and White wines. Morning saw me off to the International Terminal to greet Allen. Als' flight arrived at 0720 so we made our way to the Domestic Terminal in readiness for our Flight to Lord Howe Island. The most memorable part of the morning was when I noticed a rather nice Asian women walking a few meters in front was unzipped. The gaping opening in the back of her skirt revealed rather Erotic underwear. Now had she known anything at all about the two fellows behind her that morning, she would have double-checked the zipper. We followed her around until our final call then I had to whisper to her that she was barely dressed. She was so grateful that there were still some gentlemen left on Planet Earth. Haa Haa

LORD HOWE ISLAND

WOW !! As if the Asian women wasn't enough excitement for two very sad men. Next we got to sit at the front of the Dash 8 aircraft adjacent the Hostess Station. It must be said that the only reason Natalie wasn't Miss Universe is because she had not entered the Pageant. We tried very hard not to start dribbling but we were both lovesick for the rest of the day. Judging by some of the strange noises from Al's room, he was affected during the night by his feelings for Nat's, as she was now affectionately known. Our Host from Hideaway apartments was Neil Turke. Neil met us at the airport. First stop was the Liquor Store. Nat's had teased us and reckoned there was no grog on LHIsland. We were very worried! She was 'pulling our tit'. She may have been drop dead gorgeous but she obviously didn't have the perfect personality. ( poor Al nearly had Kittens ) Settling in Al quickly sorted out the 'Island Way'. He has a more enquiring mind about business and than I do. Al's opinion was that everyone on LHI was involved in a system of sharing customers and that competition was virtually nonexistent. The waitresses at Milky Way ( open Monday and Friday only) and were serving at Pandanus open Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday. The Chefs all moved around as well. Accommodation, restaurants and tours all seem to be of a high standard. We had prearranged a fishing charter aboard MVGreenback so we contacted them to confirm times. We were a little disappointed that no charter was available the following day due to a backlog of Anglers after charters had been postponed during the previous day bad weather. Wednesday was the day setup for us so we decided to do some exploring. At Ned's Beach we heard you could feed the Kingfish ( Greenbacks) so we went to witness that at low tide. They were big buggers, about 20- 25 kg. We had no choice but to order Greenback and chips that evening for dinner.

Tuesday's hiking took us to North Beach then along the cliffs to Kim's lookout and the Malabar, past the crash sight of an ill-fated Catalina flying boat.

8 am down to the wharf to meet MV Greenback. Skipper Dave seemed a little nervous about the forecast nevertheless we were soon underway. Bursting out through the Lagoon entrance into the Tasman Sea in the quest to catch giant Greenbacks. Sadly it never happened, Dave took one look at the black clouds approaching from the NW and pulled the pin on our charter. The weather never improved enough to have another crack at it. So we went and hiked to Boat Harbour. It was a very scenic tramp taking 4- 5 hours. The last hour was done in torrential rain with vicious squalls. Dave's call appeared to have been the correct one although it was short lived there was only an hour or so until the SW'er of 35 gusting 40 kicked in hard.

I had booked a guide to climb Mt Gower the following day this is classed as a grade 10 walk, next category is a mountain climb. We were warned that we would be wearing helmets and using ropes extensively to scale sections of this climb. Allen had decided not to scale Mt Gower because his knees had been playing up and he saw no point risking more damage. Sections of the track offered spectacular views, some were very demanding and exposed. We set off at 7am and by 1230 we had' knocked the bastard off' The forest had changed remarkably as we ascended but the 'mist forest' on the 50 acre plateau atop Gower was beautiful. Lunch was cut short by a ' hail storm'. Providence Petrels nest only on LHI and the air was full of their shrill song. Our guide Jack Shick called the birds out of the sky where they literally flopped onto the forest floor and we were able to handle these wild birds who had no fear of man. The descent went well apart from the fatigue that was beginning to show on the grimacing faces of all on the trail. 850 meters above sea level doesn't sound much but it took us until 6 pm to get down. Sleep was a welcome that night I can tell you.

Friday offered little relief from the strong winds so fishing was postponed again. It was decided we would conquer Mt Eliza at the north end of LHI. After all this walking my pants were feeling pretty loose. We must have shed a few kilos even after all the chardonnays consumed each day.

Saturday was down to the wharf again to see what fish life was around. I was fascinated by a school of catfish that oozed and writhed in a slimy mass around 500 0f them I'd say. (200 litres of them) YUCK!

Off home early afternoon with wonderful memories of a great regatta in week one, followed my a visit to paradise that left me SPELLBOUND!

I can confirm that Keith Munroe owner of TIME LORD has committed to the Sydney Hobart Race this year. Following completion of the race Keith will fly home to NZ and after cruising the SE corner of Tasmania my crew and I will sail Time Lord home to Auckland.

20-03-08
BIT OF A HICCUP.

Since the eventful trip home from New Caledonia, my partner for the last eight years, Kim Stewart announced she was leaving me forever. Settlement of property and struggling to keep Iduno have been a bit of a distraction.

Changing our cruising plan last year and leaving the Australia section out seems to have been an intuitive call. A relationship split with my Yacht in Tasmania or Sydney would have been a problem.

MOVING ON.

This summer has been the best weather I can remember. My short two week xmas cruise was fun. I sailed solo and at times struggled a little with fatigue. I am learning to eat before I start a days sailing. Twice the weather deteriorated during the trip and I was unable to leave the deck. With no food to snack on you get tired and judgements are not always the correct ones. I enjoyed singlehanded but learnt you must prepare for anything.

LIVING ABOARD.

For the moment I am living aboard Iduno. I have invested my share of the settlement until there is more certainty in the residential property market.

EASTER 08 CRUISE.

Wendy B …. Allen Chalmers ( my workmate ) Ocean Ranger …. Graham + Judy Rae and their crew Maurice + Anne Iduno ….. Kev Thursday afternoon we had a few Chardonnays to farewell Paul from the Port Vila Boatyard .Paul has been working with us at West Park Travelift to gain work experience. Paul is foreman of the Port Vila yard owned by Sue and Laurie Brown. Sue and Laurie were very helpful to us during our visit last year. Departing West Park 1800 Iduno was soon averaging 8 knots so I modified my travel plan as I do, deciding to proceed all the way to Tryphena Harbour while conditions were favourable. The wind remained until I anchored at 0130. While lowering sail I somehow lost both the Main halyard and the Topping lift.The following day my first task was to search the anchorage for a small person who did not suffer from vertigo. Lauren Upfold fitted the bill perfectly. Lauren was a little apprehensive but with encouragement from father Bill and mum Christine up she went. Wendy B and Ocean Ranger arrived later and we made plans to circumnavigate Great Barrier Island. I left earlier than the others on Saturday morning as I had to rendezvous with my good friend Dennis Massey from Navy Great Barrier. Dennis is caretaker of a noise range used for vibration analysis of Naval vessels. The range has four Hydrophones off the coast in 70 meters of water. The hydrophones have cables connecting them to a Laboratory. The Lab is on the eastern side of GBI. This is a very exposed coast with spectacular scenery. It is also my very favourite place. The fishing is great and whenever I can, I pick Dennis off the beach and we spend the day fishing and solving the worlds problems. We discovered by chance that Chardonnay makes us much wiser. On this occasion the wind picked up late morning and conditions were uncomfortable. The decision was made to retire to the sheltered anchorage at Harataunga to join Wendy B and Ocean Ranger for and early lunch and much ' problem solving'. Harataunga was the remote location chosen to film the TV series castaway. Ocean Ranger had not visited this coast before, they seemed apprehensive but after spending the night, absorbing the spectacular scenary in and around Arid cove, I'm sure the next visit will be sooner rather than later.w Sunday we decided to continue our circumnavigation, rounding the Needles at the northern end of GBI , then into Nagel cove for the night. Wendy B has been experiencing fuel problems so Al decided to return to Auckland while conditions are calm. We have evening drinks aboard 'the Ranger '…. Laughs a plenty…. Anne is a real character. Monday we made an early start for home after a big cook up Bacon and Eggs. Once again the weather is kind, in no time 8 knots again, poled out.

NEXT AGENDA. Next month I will 'House sit ' for Al. 1 May I fly to Sydney for the Trans Tasman Challenge. The contenders are Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron Vs Royal Sydney Yacht Squadron. As part of the RNZYS team I will be sailing the series on Sydney Harbour 1 2 3 4 May. While in Sydney I will try to catch up with Nicky Murray + Richard? Aboard their Lidgard designed and built yacht Rhumbline. On the 5th May Allen will be arriving from Auckland. We will board a small plane and fly to Lord Howe Island for a fishing adventure. Lord Howe looks amazing so check out the stories and pic's posted May.