Transgression Confession
16 May 2015 | Departing New Zealand
Sunday 10 May 2015
After traditional banana pancake brekkie the distaff contingent decamped to dinghy for a session of fishing local bay with newly acquired, dink-sized rod and reel. One nibble and a joust with rocks gave us a souvenir gouged into aluminum bottom, but produced no dinner. Just as well as Sunday is roast night at the OCC whence we shortly repair.
Wednesday
Except for tradies out the wazoo, a convenience store, a cafe for brekkie and a cruising club for dinner that is closed on Monday and Tuesday, Opua is bereft of diversion. There are several of us poor souls who have delayed departure for points north awaiting a window through the seemingly endless parade of poopy (little used professional meteorological terminology) weather. This week has featured NW winds up to 40 knots. Except for residual 6 meter seas, Saturday would be tolerable, but Sunday morning will likely be tolerabler. After that will be smooth sailing, as it were, all the way to Noumea - maybe.
Sunday (the next one)
In order to buy duty free fuel the day before leaving New Zealand one must stay in marina that night, otherwise it can only be shipped the same day. The rationale is that authorities can confirm that one is not using GST exempt fuel within the country which one might do if left to one?s own devices whilst hiding out in the bay. As one must clear customs & immigration next door to fuel dock following which tax is refunded, this presumes that one is likely to piss away all that fuel careering about in circles overnight when the closest foreign country is upwards of a thousand miles away and having full tanks on departure is unimportant.
Thusly and because wind generator required calm conditions for removal, disassembly and repair we had shore power, reverse cycle heat and ease of commute to morning coffee at Marina Cafe last two days in harbour (Yanks please ignore spelling due corruption by local overuse of the letter ?u?. For some bizarre reason, they rather similarly misspell aluminium).
Refueling Friday we cleared out Saturday and, flouting the letter if not the spirit of the law (OK, that too), anchored over by Paihia to enjoy the evening at 35 Degrees South restaurant with Mark & Susan, who are heading to Fiji on Erie Spirit. At noon today our operation is under way with 16 to 23 kt. beam wind to New Caledonia as mates angle off east. Navy warship that blasted by us awhile ago gave no concern whatsoever.
Goodbye Kiwiland, we love you, although frigid temps last few weeks have restrained previous enthusiasm for spending a winter or possibly settling here. In any event our return is unlikely for at least a few years until completing a circumnavigation, most likely via South Africa, and again approaching from across the Pacific.
Jack