Day 2, Year 2: Repeat Performance
Date: Thursday, April 26, 2007
Weather Today: Blue Skies, Sunny Temperature in the High 60’s
Location: Anchored in Whangamumu Bay (fon-ga-moomoo)
Latitude: S 35 degrees 15.05 minutes
Longitude: E 174 degrees 17.75 minutes
On November 25 of last year we stopped in Whangamumu Bay on our way south to Whangarei. On that trip the skies were blue, the temperature was hovering around 70 degrees, and there was no wind. Today was definitely a repeat performance. It was a beautiful day but the only use our mainsail got was to help steady the boat. Actually we are hoping that tomorrow will be similar. Heavy winds are on the way, but we don’t want to be out here when they come. We should be safely tucked into the harbor in Opua by the time the winds arrive.
As we were motoring north today, we heard Wind Pony calling another boat. The last time we heard Wind Pony was the night our auto pilot failed as we were trying to leave Tonga to head to New Zealand. We got delayed, but Wind Pony, Procyon, and Quantum Leap headed on. It was great to hear Dick’s voice and no sooner had we finished talking with him when Sherri on Procyon called. Wind Pony, Procyon,and Endangered Species will all be in Opua tomorrow night, so it will be quite a reunion. It seems everyone is heading to Opua to wait for that “weather window” to get us safely to destinations north. At least we can have a great time visiting with good friends while we are waiting.
Once we anchored in the harbor, we put the dinghy in the water and tried the dinghy motor for the first time in five months. It actually started and we were certainly happy about that. We picked up Marie and Paul on Ranger and went ashore for a walk through the old whaling station and on up the hill to the lookout. We didin’t make it to the top, but we did make it most of the way. We got some great pictures of Ranger and Windbird at anchor and then headed back down for dinner on Windbird.
We’re looking forward to getting into Opua tomorrow, but we aren’t looking forward to raising the anchor in the morning. This morning the windlass that raises the anchor pulled up 50 feet of chain and then just quit. Mark had to raise the last 100 feet of chain by hand. I’m afraid he’ll have to do the same in the morning. The windlass motor appears to be fine, but there is something wrong with the gears or bearings. Ah, the wonderful world of sailing. There is always a challenge.
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| 070426 Day 2 New Zealand– Urquarts Bay to Whangamumu |
