Return to sea - 10/12/09

Despite failing to impress with knot tying, a second yacht crewing opportunity arises, with the 'cavalier' skipper Ted. After arrangements with work and trip planning, 'After You' is readied in the Napier marina, and the trip commences in fine conditions, with a good forecast for the voyage down the Wairarapa coast, and up the Cook Strait to Wellington.

Wind-free, oily-seas for a few hours presents little opportunity for sail time, but the wind picks up into the night. At a point in time before 6am (but well after departure), the coast guard radio issues a severe storm warning for the Castlepoint, Cook and Stephens shipping regions.....our route home. As the part of the crew containing myself attempt to get some shut-eye below decks, in growing swells, the skipper drops anchor behind Castle Rock, a place he never intended to anchor, but with growing winds.....needs must! The local fishermen do not recommend the anchorage either (though kindly donating seafood for our efforts).

After a sleepless few hours, mixed with meals, and some severe gusts shaking and rolling 'After You', the anchor is fortunately holding well. A reposition to get closer shelter from the land, and we settle in for what the coast guard reports indicate will be a long storm (storm / gale forecast for Saturday, Sunday and Monday). Cooking, sleeping, talking, eating and trips to the deck to feel the force of the winds (up to 75 knot gusts) and tie things tighter, all helping to pass time.

Time passes in this nautical bolt-hole, most of the daylight hours of the weekend. As the forecast drop in winds is brought forward, the storm jib is hooked up, and the boat readied to brave the notorious Cook Strait.

Quite a soaking into the night takes us south, and as a new weeks sun comes up, we round Cape Palliser and into the strait, heading slightly north to Wellington. The Cook Strait is good to us, not living up to a ferocious reputation, although not quite a pleasure cruise. Next battle is to meet and beat the Karori rip, but with winds in the wrong direction, tacking across Palliser Bay shows this to be a tough target.

The seas treat us well, though the winds are a tad unfavourable, and the genoa luffs a little too easily. The decision is taken to head for Wellington Harbour, after bashing away at the seas for almost another 24hours, and so into the harbour we take in the views and I anticipate the marina side May, a square meal and a shower. And the next (slightly postponed) adventure.