April 2008 Nelson, NZ
It was a quick 6 week turnaround in Nelson this year.
We did a major overhaul of the head rig including a new jib-boom net. We hauled all the anchor chain out of the Starboard locker, twisted out the turns and installed a new swivel at the first shackle mark. We rebuilt the stern davits and mounted the kedge anchor on the aft cabin top. In the provisioning dept. we learn that petroleum products have passed food stores as the single largest expense.
Most of our crew of 17 arrived the week before our planned departure date. Each morning we had several hours instruction in knots, line handling and sail setting. By April 15 most of the last minute jobs are finished.
We are waiting for a trough to pass through and gave us a fair wind for the passage up the west coast of North Island. After we arrive in Suva, Fiji we will reprovision and take delivery of our 4 new sails. Then we will be several weeks sailing around the islands of Fiji.
Our plans for July are being reconsidered. The water project planned for Banam Bay in July is running late and may not start till the end of July. We will have a few weeks around mid-August to sail with our friends from Port Vila. Which islands we will visit will be decided when the time comes.
From the end of August till the end of September we will be doing our last Project MARC expedition around the island of Santo. After returning to Port Vila in early October we plan to sail to New Zealand.
The next update will be early June from Suva.
All the best,
Evan
We did a major overhaul of the head rig including a new jib-boom net. We hauled all the anchor chain out of the Starboard locker, twisted out the turns and installed a new swivel at the first shackle mark. We rebuilt the stern davits and mounted the kedge anchor on the aft cabin top. In the provisioning dept. we learn that petroleum products have passed food stores as the single largest expense.
Most of our crew of 17 arrived the week before our planned departure date. Each morning we had several hours instruction in knots, line handling and sail setting. By April 15 most of the last minute jobs are finished.
We are waiting for a trough to pass through and gave us a fair wind for the passage up the west coast of North Island. After we arrive in Suva, Fiji we will reprovision and take delivery of our 4 new sails. Then we will be several weeks sailing around the islands of Fiji.
Our plans for July are being reconsidered. The water project planned for Banam Bay in July is running late and may not start till the end of July. We will have a few weeks around mid-August to sail with our friends from Port Vila. Which islands we will visit will be decided when the time comes.
From the end of August till the end of September we will be doing our last Project MARC expedition around the island of Santo. After returning to Port Vila in early October we plan to sail to New Zealand.
The next update will be early June from Suva.
All the best,
Evan