Friday 8 May 2015

In the "plans written in sand at low tide" genre, rain caused rethinking of departure for Cavalli Islands today as ladies played with beads and rest of crew piddled with a small project or two. Also, given need to motor most of the necessary 4 hours tomorrow morning to a rolly anchorage, have decided to meander over to Roberton Island here in the Bay, about 7 NM distant. Sailing is a possibility and would be an appropriate activity as this is, by a preponderance of informed appraisal, a sailboat.

Several cruisers departed today for the Islands with an expectation of little wind and much motoring. We, on the other hand, anticipate a near gale next week followed by little wind and much motoring. We could hang out in New Zealand for awhile yet.

Saturday

That "sailboat" assertion is still under advisement as the only wind observed was produced by engine motivation. There is some hope that tomorrow will be decisive as the thing doesn't carry enough fuel to make Noumea without help. Our faces would really be red if we got half way, were surrounded by those serpents that wait near the edge of the world, only to discover there had been a mistake.

Wind left, but so did soggy, dreary, rainy weather. Not a bad tradeoff as we bob around off Roberton (Motuarohia) Island in glorious sunshine. The scenic trek up to a pa (lookout) with excellent views of the Bay of Islands produced a bit of peckishness that will be assuaged in company of Erie Spirit (only the associated crew as the boat itself has trivial social skills and doesn't engage in potlucks) on our boat at 1700. It is rumored that adult beverages will be ingested as well, but there is no confirmation at this juncture.

Jack