Photo: Out of the water...

Six o'clock in the morning and we were both fast asleep. Loud banging on the hull aroused us instantly and I shot upright, falling off the bunk and banging my foot on the steel cabin roof support. I cursed, realising dawn was breaking and I was still naked. Marie too hurriedly dressed and I stuck my head out of the hatch. Charlie stood grinning.

Sänna leaned, still tied securely to the yard pontoon on the bank of the Hatea River but I could see we were no longer sitting in the mud. The tide was rising quickly... which was why Charlie stood there ready to go. I lurched into action as the huge hoist engine roared into life and he told me to back Sänna into the webbing slings waiting in the dock. By this time Marie was organised and taking charge as usual... "Charlie. I haven't had my first cup of tea. You've got no chance yet." There was the distinct 'morning' edge to her voice that I knew well. "No worries," Charlie grinned, sitting motionless in the cab. I asked when the rest of the yard boys would be here to lift Sänna out of the water. He looked surprised. "Only me" he grinned...

Marie finished her tea and took over. She wasn't quite right yet but we got the lines off and Sänna drifted backwards into the oily dock. Seven minutes later she was out of the water, hauled out by the huge hoist with no other hands needed. I smiled up at Charlie, admiring his supreme confidence. Doug, his mate, ambled over saying he would take over because their breakfast was ready. These New Zealanders are a tough lot.

Sänna was hauled out, bottom scrubbed and secured in cradles before the sun had fully risen. We climbed the ladder back onboard and got our own breakfast going. Very soon the smell of our bacon cooking aroused the attention of the Germans sitting onboard their own boat a few metres beside us. We made new friends...

The day dawned magnificent in New Zealand.
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