Exotic Islands of the South Pacific: Tubuai, Tahiti, Moorea, Raiatea, Bora Bora, Rangiroa, Minihi, Hiva Oa, Nuku Hiva. Most of these islands many of us have never heard of. Or they were just names in novels or a movie. Most of us have never dreamed we would actually visit, let alone on our own sailboat. But dreams change and suddenly we realized that this adventure of a lifetime could actually happen. Here we are, about 3 days southwest of a small island in the South Pacific. Tubuai, in the Australes, is our first stop mainly because it is the southern most island on our approach to Tahiti. The Australes are a group of islands spreading over 800 miles across the Tropic of Capricorn. It includes the islands of Maria, Rimatora, Rurutu, Tubuai and Raivavae. The islands are high, volcanic islands, surrounded by fringing coral reefs close to the islands. They are part of French Polynesia and are more humid than Tahiti. The islands are fertile and support coffee and orange plantations. The history of the Austales show that they once supported warlike villages, but the population was decimated by disease. Tubuai once violently rejected the HMS Bounty’s mutineers.
We have been at sea for 15 days after leaving Bay of Islands, New Zealand. We have experienced everything from almost calm seas to 47 knot winds and 15 foot seas. However, sailing in our Seawind 1160 has been a dream. We can average about 6 to 7 knots in a 12 knot beam reach. Our fastest day on this leg of our journey was 178 nautical miles, where we sailed all day and night with spinnaker. Our average distance is 125 miles per day. The comfort supplied by the 38’ catamaran "Caprice" is marvelous. We can cook, shower and read comfortably on the level without having to hang on . We celebrated our half-way point with our cook, Admiral Carol", supplying the chef’s skills to a tee by fixing filet mignon. With "boat made" ice cream dessert We have been enjoying the mahi mahi which we caught a few days ago. Our crew consists of Dan and Carol Seifers, owners, , and able bodied crew of Tom Hanson and Ted Stuart. We have been relatively free of equipment failures outside of replacing chafed lines and a few broken blocks. Our Spectra watermaker still makes water, but I had to disable a feature which diverts water overboard if the salinity is too, high. I hope to get this fixed in Tahiti.
I have always advocated that ocean crossings are not "fun", but adventues that makes one glad to have accomplished. Sort of like, " I am glad I done it, but not sure I would do it again". This trip is different. I think everyone on board is truly enjoying this crossing. In fact Ted lamented today when we were talking about making land fall in a few days. He said, "Life is beautiful, it can’t get any better than this. I don’t want to land yet". This is on a sunny day where the temperature is about 85 degrees, winds are 12 knots from the northeast and we are on a rhumb line headed for Tubuai. Life is good!!
After a few days in Tubuai to stock up on vegetables, fruits, bread (although we have been making our own bread), and some fuel, we will take the hop up to Tahiti 350 miles to the North about May 20. After a few days in Papeete, we want to visit the Society Islands of Moorea, Raiatea and Bora Bora before heading North to the Tuamoto Islands.
Cheers for now.
Caprice and crew.
Thursday, May 15, 2008
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
Ted's Log Stardate May 11, 2008
MESSAGE 5: DAY 15, LATITUDE 24 DEGREES SOUTH, LONGITUDE 156 DEGREES WEST
HI ALL
WE ARE JUST A FEW DAYS FROM LANDFALL. SO FAR WE HAVE HAD VERY FAVORABLE WINDS FOR THE MOST PART. HOWEVER, WE DO HIT ONE OR MORE SQUALLS EACH DAY. THEY COME ON FAST AND RESULT IN MIXED WINDS AND HEAVY RAINS.
OUR ORIGINAL PLAN FOR THIS TRIP WAS TO SAIL DIRECTLY EAST IN THE AREA WHERE THE WINDS USUALLY COME FROM THE WEST AND BELOW THE TRADE WINDS WHICH ARE FROM THE EAST. WE WOULD CONTINUE IN THIS DIRECTION UNTIL REACHING THE LONGITUDE (SOUTH) OF OUR PLANNED DESTINATION AND THEN TURN NORTH IN THE TRADE WINDS (OUR DESTINATION IS NORTHEAST OF OUR START POINT). HOWEVER, DURING THIS TRIP THE TRADE WINDS HAVE REMAINED FURTHER NORTH THEN USUAL AND WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO SAIL IN A MORE DIRECT NORTHEASTERLY COURSE, SAVING A MANY MILES.
WE HAVE BEEN AVERAGING ABOUT 125 MILES A DAY ON OUR COURSE. AS WE DON'T SAIL IN A STRAIGHT LINE WE ACTUALLY SAIL MORE MILES IN DAY. WE HAVE SAILED OVER 160 MILES IN A 24 HOUR PERIOD ON 4 OCCASIONS.
CAPRICE CAN REALLY SCOOT UNDER CERTAIN WIND AND WAVE CONDITIONS.
YESTERDAY WE WERE BROAD REACHING (WINDS PERPENDICULAR TO THE BOAT) WITH 10 T0 12 KNOT WINDS AND DOING 6-8 KNOTS.
SO FAR WE HAVEN'T HAD ANY SERIOUS PROBLEMS WITH THE BOAT, A FEW BROKEN BLOCKS (PULLEYS), HAD TO REPLACE SOME FRAYED LINES, AND UNTANGLED SOME HALYARDS AND REEFING LINES. TODAY THE WATER MAKER WENT DOWN, HOWEVER DAN HAS BEEN ABLE TO GETTING IT WORKING AGAIN.
IN DESCRIBING CAPRICE IN MY LAST MESSAGE, I FORGOT TO MENTION THAT SHE IS 21.5 FEET WIDE AND CARRIES THIS WIDTH FROM BOW TO STERN.
FISHERMAN DAN HAS BEEN TRYING TO CATCH FISH SINCE WE LEFT NEW ZEALAND. FOUR DAYS AGO HE HOOKED A MARLIN WITH HIS $100 LURE. THE FISH DID A FEW TAIL-WALKS AND BROKE THE LINE. LAST SEEN THE MARLIN WAS TAIL-WALKING WITH DAN'S $100 LURE IN ITS MOUTH. DAN CONTINUED HIS QUEST AND TWO DAYS LATER HOOKED AND LANDED A 40 INCH, 30 POUND DORADO/ MAHI MAHI WITH A LURE GIVEN TO HIM BY HIS FRIEND ROY HENRICSON. CAROL FIXED THE FISH FOR DINNERS IN A VARIETY OF WAYS - BAKED WITH AN ASIAN SAUCE, BEER BATTERED, AND SMOKED. EXCELLENT!
HOPEFULLY MY NEXT MESSAGE WILL BE AFTER LANDFALL
TILL THEN, TAKE CARE
HI ALL
WE ARE JUST A FEW DAYS FROM LANDFALL. SO FAR WE HAVE HAD VERY FAVORABLE WINDS FOR THE MOST PART. HOWEVER, WE DO HIT ONE OR MORE SQUALLS EACH DAY. THEY COME ON FAST AND RESULT IN MIXED WINDS AND HEAVY RAINS.
OUR ORIGINAL PLAN FOR THIS TRIP WAS TO SAIL DIRECTLY EAST IN THE AREA WHERE THE WINDS USUALLY COME FROM THE WEST AND BELOW THE TRADE WINDS WHICH ARE FROM THE EAST. WE WOULD CONTINUE IN THIS DIRECTION UNTIL REACHING THE LONGITUDE (SOUTH) OF OUR PLANNED DESTINATION AND THEN TURN NORTH IN THE TRADE WINDS (OUR DESTINATION IS NORTHEAST OF OUR START POINT). HOWEVER, DURING THIS TRIP THE TRADE WINDS HAVE REMAINED FURTHER NORTH THEN USUAL AND WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO SAIL IN A MORE DIRECT NORTHEASTERLY COURSE, SAVING A MANY MILES.
WE HAVE BEEN AVERAGING ABOUT 125 MILES A DAY ON OUR COURSE. AS WE DON'T SAIL IN A STRAIGHT LINE WE ACTUALLY SAIL MORE MILES IN DAY. WE HAVE SAILED OVER 160 MILES IN A 24 HOUR PERIOD ON 4 OCCASIONS.
CAPRICE CAN REALLY SCOOT UNDER CERTAIN WIND AND WAVE CONDITIONS.
YESTERDAY WE WERE BROAD REACHING (WINDS PERPENDICULAR TO THE BOAT) WITH 10 T0 12 KNOT WINDS AND DOING 6-8 KNOTS.
SO FAR WE HAVEN'T HAD ANY SERIOUS PROBLEMS WITH THE BOAT, A FEW BROKEN BLOCKS (PULLEYS), HAD TO REPLACE SOME FRAYED LINES, AND UNTANGLED SOME HALYARDS AND REEFING LINES. TODAY THE WATER MAKER WENT DOWN, HOWEVER DAN HAS BEEN ABLE TO GETTING IT WORKING AGAIN.
IN DESCRIBING CAPRICE IN MY LAST MESSAGE, I FORGOT TO MENTION THAT SHE IS 21.5 FEET WIDE AND CARRIES THIS WIDTH FROM BOW TO STERN.
FISHERMAN DAN HAS BEEN TRYING TO CATCH FISH SINCE WE LEFT NEW ZEALAND. FOUR DAYS AGO HE HOOKED A MARLIN WITH HIS $100 LURE. THE FISH DID A FEW TAIL-WALKS AND BROKE THE LINE. LAST SEEN THE MARLIN WAS TAIL-WALKING WITH DAN'S $100 LURE IN ITS MOUTH. DAN CONTINUED HIS QUEST AND TWO DAYS LATER HOOKED AND LANDED A 40 INCH, 30 POUND DORADO/ MAHI MAHI WITH A LURE GIVEN TO HIM BY HIS FRIEND ROY HENRICSON. CAROL FIXED THE FISH FOR DINNERS IN A VARIETY OF WAYS - BAKED WITH AN ASIAN SAUCE, BEER BATTERED, AND SMOKED. EXCELLENT!
HOPEFULLY MY NEXT MESSAGE WILL BE AFTER LANDFALL
TILL THEN, TAKE CARE
Thursday, May 8, 2008
Ted's Log Stardate May 8th, 2008
DAY 11 LATITUDE 30 DEGREES SOUTH, LONGITUDE 164 DEGREES WEST
HI FROM THE SOUTH PACIFIC
WE PASSED THE HALF WAY POINT SOMETIME DURING THE 9TH DAY AT SEA AND
CELEBRATED LAST NIGHT WITH FILET MIGNON, SCALLOPED POTATOES, SWEET AND
SOUR CARROTS AND HOME-MADE ICE CREAM.
WE HAVE HAD JUST ABOUT EVERY TYPE OF WIND CONDITIONS ONE CAN EXPECT, 3
DAYS BEATING INTO 30 KNOT WINDS, 3 DAYS RUNNING WITH 10-15 KNOTS, 2
MORE DAYS BEATING THIS TIME WITH 20 KNOTS, 1 DAY BEAM REACHING (WIND
PERPENDICULAR TO THE BOAT) IN 20 KNOTS, AND A DAY PLUS MOTORING IN
VERY LIGHT WINDS. RIGHT NOW WE ARE SAILING DOWN-WIND WITH 8 T0 10
KNOTS USING THE SPINNAKER(DOING 5-6 KNOTS). WITH THE EXCEPTION 0F THE
30 KNOT WINDS THE RIDE HAS BEEN RELATIVELY COMFORTABLE.
OUR DESTINATION IS THE ISLAND OF TUBUAI WHICH IS IN THE FRENCH
POLYNESIAN AUSTRAL ISLANDS GROUP. TUBUAI IS A SMALL ISLAND ABOUT 350
MILES SOUTH OF PAPEETE, TAHITI. WILL DESCRIBE IT IN MORE DETAIL WHEN
WE GET THERE.
INFO ON CAPRICE:
AS MENTION BEFORE THE BOAT IS A 38 FOOT CATAMARAN. IT IS A SLOOP
RIGGED BOAT (ONE MAST) AND HAS TWO 30 HORSE POWER DESIEL ENGINES, ONE
IN EACH HULL. THE PORT HULL (LEFT) CONTAINS THE MASTER BEDROOM, A
NAVIGATION STATION AND A HEAD WITH A SPERATE SHOWER. THE OTHER HULL
CONTAINS TWO SMALLER BEDROOMS, A COMPLETE GALLEY AND ANOTHER HEAD.
BOTH HEADS HAVE AN ELECTRIC FLUSH TOILET. THE GALLEY HAS AN UPRIGHT
REFRIGURATOR , A DOUBLE COMPARTMENT FREEZER CHEST, A THREE BURNER
PROPANE STOVE WITH OVEN, AND A BUILT-IN MICROWAVE OVEN. THE BRIDGE
CONNECTING THE HULLS HAS A LARGE LIVING/DINNING ROOM WITH A 360 DEGREE
VIEW. THE COCKPIT HAS TWO STEERING STATION ONE ON EACH SIDE, A CHEST
REFRIDUATOR, A BARBEQUE, AND A LIFE RAFT. THE BOAT HAS TWO 120 WATT
SOLAR PANELS AND A 15 GALLON PER-HOUR FRESH WATER MAKER.
EVEN WITH ALL THESE CONVENIENCES CAPRICE IS A GREAT SAILING VESSEL.
CLOSING FOR NOW, HOPE THIS FINDS YOU ALL WELL
TILL NEXT TIME, TAKE CARE
TED
HI FROM THE SOUTH PACIFIC
WE PASSED THE HALF WAY POINT SOMETIME DURING THE 9TH DAY AT SEA AND
CELEBRATED LAST NIGHT WITH FILET MIGNON, SCALLOPED POTATOES, SWEET AND
SOUR CARROTS AND HOME-MADE ICE CREAM.
WE HAVE HAD JUST ABOUT EVERY TYPE OF WIND CONDITIONS ONE CAN EXPECT, 3
DAYS BEATING INTO 30 KNOT WINDS, 3 DAYS RUNNING WITH 10-15 KNOTS, 2
MORE DAYS BEATING THIS TIME WITH 20 KNOTS, 1 DAY BEAM REACHING (WIND
PERPENDICULAR TO THE BOAT) IN 20 KNOTS, AND A DAY PLUS MOTORING IN
VERY LIGHT WINDS. RIGHT NOW WE ARE SAILING DOWN-WIND WITH 8 T0 10
KNOTS USING THE SPINNAKER(DOING 5-6 KNOTS). WITH THE EXCEPTION 0F THE
30 KNOT WINDS THE RIDE HAS BEEN RELATIVELY COMFORTABLE.
OUR DESTINATION IS THE ISLAND OF TUBUAI WHICH IS IN THE FRENCH
POLYNESIAN AUSTRAL ISLANDS GROUP. TUBUAI IS A SMALL ISLAND ABOUT 350
MILES SOUTH OF PAPEETE, TAHITI. WILL DESCRIBE IT IN MORE DETAIL WHEN
WE GET THERE.
INFO ON CAPRICE:
AS MENTION BEFORE THE BOAT IS A 38 FOOT CATAMARAN. IT IS A SLOOP
RIGGED BOAT (ONE MAST) AND HAS TWO 30 HORSE POWER DESIEL ENGINES, ONE
IN EACH HULL. THE PORT HULL (LEFT) CONTAINS THE MASTER BEDROOM, A
NAVIGATION STATION AND A HEAD WITH A SPERATE SHOWER. THE OTHER HULL
CONTAINS TWO SMALLER BEDROOMS, A COMPLETE GALLEY AND ANOTHER HEAD.
BOTH HEADS HAVE AN ELECTRIC FLUSH TOILET. THE GALLEY HAS AN UPRIGHT
REFRIGURATOR , A DOUBLE COMPARTMENT FREEZER CHEST, A THREE BURNER
PROPANE STOVE WITH OVEN, AND A BUILT-IN MICROWAVE OVEN. THE BRIDGE
CONNECTING THE HULLS HAS A LARGE LIVING/DINNING ROOM WITH A 360 DEGREE
VIEW. THE COCKPIT HAS TWO STEERING STATION ONE ON EACH SIDE, A CHEST
REFRIDUATOR, A BARBEQUE, AND A LIFE RAFT. THE BOAT HAS TWO 120 WATT
SOLAR PANELS AND A 15 GALLON PER-HOUR FRESH WATER MAKER.
EVEN WITH ALL THESE CONVENIENCES CAPRICE IS A GREAT SAILING VESSEL.
CLOSING FOR NOW, HOPE THIS FINDS YOU ALL WELL
TILL NEXT TIME, TAKE CARE
TED
Thursday, May 1, 2008
Ted's Log Stardate May 1, 2008
HELLO FROM THE SOUTH PACIFIC
WE ARE AT LATITUDE 34 SOUTH, LONGITUDE 176 EAST
ON SUNDAY, APRIL 27 (NEW ZEALAND TIME) WE FUELED UP, GOT PROPANE,
CLEARED CUSTOMS AND BEGAN
OUR SAIL FROM OPUA AT 1340 HRS. UNDER CLEAR SKIES AND LIGHT WINDS WE
CLEARED THE BAY OF ISLANDS TWO HOURS LATER. AFTER DARK THE WINDS
PICKED UP TO ABOUT 15 KNOTS FROM THE NORTHEAST. AS WE WANT TO SAIL
EASTWARD, THE BOAT HAS TO SAIL CLOSE TO THE WIND (BEATING). CATAMARANS
SAIL RELATIVELY FLAT UNLIKE MONOHULLS WHICH ARE ALWAYS HEALED TO ONE
SIDE OR THE OTHER. SAILING FLAT IS USUALLY MORE COMFORTABLE FOR THE
CREW, HOWEVER, CATS TEND TO SAIL NEAR THE TOP OF THE WATER UNLIKE
MONOHULLS WHICH CUT THROUGH THE WATER. THEREFORE WHEN BEATING IN HEAVY
WEATHER THE CAT WILL BOUNCE AROUND MORE THAN MONOHULLS. AND HEAVY
WEATHER WE DID HAVE FOR THE FIRST 3 DAYS. THE WINDS WENT FROM THE
TWENTIES TO THE THIRTIES WITH GUSTS INTO THE FORTIES (WE RECORDED ONE
GUST AT 47 KNOTS). NEEDLESS TO SAY IT WAS A VERY UNCOMFORTABLE 3 DAYS.
HOWEVER THE BOAT AND CREW CAME THROUGH THE ORDEAL EXTREMELY WELL.
THE MORNING OF THE FOURTH DAY WE CROSSED THE INTERNATIONAL DATELINE,
LOSING A DAY. WE ARE NOW ON THE SAME DAY AS YOU ARE. LATER THAT DAY
THE WINDS SHIFTED TO THE SOUTHWEST AND SMOOTHED OUT THE RIDE
CONSIDERABLE. CATS DO GREAT GOING DOWN WIND. WE EVEN RAISED A
SPINNAKER AND ALL IS WELL.
SO FAR WE HAVEN'T HAD ANY MAJOR PROBLEMS. THE FIRST NIGHT THE MAIN
HALYARD (THE ROPE HOLDING UP THE MAINSAIL) GOT CAUGHT HIGH ON THE
FRONT OF THE MAST. IT TOOK US TWO HOURS TO CLEAR IT WITHOUT GOING UP
THE MAST.
SO FAR WE HAVE SAILED ABOUT 500 MILES FROM OPUA. IT LOOKS LIKE WE WILL
HAVE THESE SOUTHWESTERLY WINDS FOR AT LEAST THE NEXT 3 DAYS. LOOKING
FORWARD TO IT.
TILL NEXT TIME, TAKE CARE
TED
WE ARE AT LATITUDE 34 SOUTH, LONGITUDE 176 EAST
ON SUNDAY, APRIL 27 (NEW ZEALAND TIME) WE FUELED UP, GOT PROPANE,
CLEARED CUSTOMS AND BEGAN
OUR SAIL FROM OPUA AT 1340 HRS. UNDER CLEAR SKIES AND LIGHT WINDS WE
CLEARED THE BAY OF ISLANDS TWO HOURS LATER. AFTER DARK THE WINDS
PICKED UP TO ABOUT 15 KNOTS FROM THE NORTHEAST. AS WE WANT TO SAIL
EASTWARD, THE BOAT HAS TO SAIL CLOSE TO THE WIND (BEATING). CATAMARANS
SAIL RELATIVELY FLAT UNLIKE MONOHULLS WHICH ARE ALWAYS HEALED TO ONE
SIDE OR THE OTHER. SAILING FLAT IS USUALLY MORE COMFORTABLE FOR THE
CREW, HOWEVER, CATS TEND TO SAIL NEAR THE TOP OF THE WATER UNLIKE
MONOHULLS WHICH CUT THROUGH THE WATER. THEREFORE WHEN BEATING IN HEAVY
WEATHER THE CAT WILL BOUNCE AROUND MORE THAN MONOHULLS. AND HEAVY
WEATHER WE DID HAVE FOR THE FIRST 3 DAYS. THE WINDS WENT FROM THE
TWENTIES TO THE THIRTIES WITH GUSTS INTO THE FORTIES (WE RECORDED ONE
GUST AT 47 KNOTS). NEEDLESS TO SAY IT WAS A VERY UNCOMFORTABLE 3 DAYS.
HOWEVER THE BOAT AND CREW CAME THROUGH THE ORDEAL EXTREMELY WELL.
THE MORNING OF THE FOURTH DAY WE CROSSED THE INTERNATIONAL DATELINE,
LOSING A DAY. WE ARE NOW ON THE SAME DAY AS YOU ARE. LATER THAT DAY
THE WINDS SHIFTED TO THE SOUTHWEST AND SMOOTHED OUT THE RIDE
CONSIDERABLE. CATS DO GREAT GOING DOWN WIND. WE EVEN RAISED A
SPINNAKER AND ALL IS WELL.
SO FAR WE HAVEN'T HAD ANY MAJOR PROBLEMS. THE FIRST NIGHT THE MAIN
HALYARD (THE ROPE HOLDING UP THE MAINSAIL) GOT CAUGHT HIGH ON THE
FRONT OF THE MAST. IT TOOK US TWO HOURS TO CLEAR IT WITHOUT GOING UP
THE MAST.
SO FAR WE HAVE SAILED ABOUT 500 MILES FROM OPUA. IT LOOKS LIKE WE WILL
HAVE THESE SOUTHWESTERLY WINDS FOR AT LEAST THE NEXT 3 DAYS. LOOKING
FORWARD TO IT.
TILL NEXT TIME, TAKE CARE
TED
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
Ted's Log, Stardate April 24, 2008
HI FROM OPUA, NEW ZEALAND
PAT AND TOM'S WIFE MERRIE FLEW BACK TO CALIFORNIA ON FRIDAY, APRIL 18TH.
THE NEXT DAY DAN, CAROL, TOM AND MYSELF LEFT AUCKLAND ON CAPRICE AND SAILED ALONG THE COAST NORTH TO OPUA WITH STOPS ON THE ISLAND OF KAWAU, THE CITY OF WHANGAREI, AND THE SMALL RESORT TOWN OF TUTUKAKA.
THE SAIL FOR THE MOST PART WAS DOWNWIND OR ON A BEAM REACH (WIND AT RIGHT ANGLE TO THE BOAT) WITH WINDS BLOWING 10 TO 30+ KNOTS. CAPRICE SAILED BEAUTIFULLY.
SOME BUMPY TIMES BUT MOSTLY SMOOTH SAILING.
WE SPENT THREE DAYS IN WHANGAREI WHERE WE PROVISIONED FOR THE TRIP TO FRENCH POLYNESIA. IT TOOK THREE TRIPS TO THE SUPERMARKET TO GET ALL THE FOOD STUFF AND PAPER PRODUCTS THAT WE WILL NEED.
WHANGAREI IS LOCATED NEAR THE HEAD OF A RIVER ABOUT 15 MILES FROM THE OCEAN. THE ENTRANCE TO THE RIVER IS A MASS OF BOILING WATER NOT UNLIKE ROUGH RAPIDS. CAPRICE GOT BOUNCED AROUND PRETTY GOOD FOR ABOUT 30 MINUTES BOTH ENTERING AND LEAVING THE RIVER. IT WAS UNCOMFORTABLE FOR THE CREW, BUT THE BOAT HELD UP VERY WELL.
OUPA IS A SMALL TOWN, CATERING TO MARINERS, LOCATED IN THE BEAUTIFUL "BAY OF ISLANDS" NEAR THE TOP OF NEW ZEALAND. WE WILL REMAIN HERE A FEW DAYS DOING LAST MINUTE REPAIRS AND MAINTENANCE-CHECKS ON THE BOAT AND WHEN THE WEATHER IS RIGHT, HEAD EAST FOR THE FRENCH POLYNESIAN ISLANDS.
THE DISTANCE FROM HERE TO OUR FIRST STOP IS ABOUT 2200 MILES AND WE HOPE TO MAKE IT IN LESS THEN 3 WEEKS.
I WILL SEND MORE MESSAGES IN ROUTE
TILL THEN
TED
PAT AND TOM'S WIFE MERRIE FLEW BACK TO CALIFORNIA ON FRIDAY, APRIL 18TH.
THE NEXT DAY DAN, CAROL, TOM AND MYSELF LEFT AUCKLAND ON CAPRICE AND SAILED ALONG THE COAST NORTH TO OPUA WITH STOPS ON THE ISLAND OF KAWAU, THE CITY OF WHANGAREI, AND THE SMALL RESORT TOWN OF TUTUKAKA.
THE SAIL FOR THE MOST PART WAS DOWNWIND OR ON A BEAM REACH (WIND AT RIGHT ANGLE TO THE BOAT) WITH WINDS BLOWING 10 TO 30+ KNOTS. CAPRICE SAILED BEAUTIFULLY.
SOME BUMPY TIMES BUT MOSTLY SMOOTH SAILING.
WE SPENT THREE DAYS IN WHANGAREI WHERE WE PROVISIONED FOR THE TRIP TO FRENCH POLYNESIA. IT TOOK THREE TRIPS TO THE SUPERMARKET TO GET ALL THE FOOD STUFF AND PAPER PRODUCTS THAT WE WILL NEED.
WHANGAREI IS LOCATED NEAR THE HEAD OF A RIVER ABOUT 15 MILES FROM THE OCEAN. THE ENTRANCE TO THE RIVER IS A MASS OF BOILING WATER NOT UNLIKE ROUGH RAPIDS. CAPRICE GOT BOUNCED AROUND PRETTY GOOD FOR ABOUT 30 MINUTES BOTH ENTERING AND LEAVING THE RIVER. IT WAS UNCOMFORTABLE FOR THE CREW, BUT THE BOAT HELD UP VERY WELL.
OUPA IS A SMALL TOWN, CATERING TO MARINERS, LOCATED IN THE BEAUTIFUL "BAY OF ISLANDS" NEAR THE TOP OF NEW ZEALAND. WE WILL REMAIN HERE A FEW DAYS DOING LAST MINUTE REPAIRS AND MAINTENANCE-CHECKS ON THE BOAT AND WHEN THE WEATHER IS RIGHT, HEAD EAST FOR THE FRENCH POLYNESIAN ISLANDS.
THE DISTANCE FROM HERE TO OUR FIRST STOP IS ABOUT 2200 MILES AND WE HOPE TO MAKE IT IN LESS THEN 3 WEEKS.
I WILL SEND MORE MESSAGES IN ROUTE
TILL THEN
TED
Friday, April 18, 2008
Ted's Log, Stardate April 17, 2008
HI FROM AUCKLAND,
PAT AND I ARRIVED HERE LAST WEDNESDAY AND HAVE BEEN DOING THE TOURESTY THINGS THROUGHOUT THE NORTHERN PART OF NEW ZEALAND'S NORTH ISLAND SINCE THEN. PAT WILL BE FLYING BACK HOME TOMORROW AND WITHIN A DAY OR TWO I WILL BEGIN MY SAILING TRIP ON THE SAILING VESSEL "CAPRICE"
"CAPRICE" IS A SEAWIND 1160 OWNED BY OUR GOOD FRIENDS DAN AND CAROL SEIFERS. THE BOAT WAS CONSTRUCTED LAST YEAR IN AUSTRALIA AND THEY TOOK DELIVERY IN SYDNEY LAST NOVEMBER. WITH THEIR SON VAUGHN AND HIS FRIEND DAVID RASMUSSEN AS CREW THEY SAILED THE BOAT HERE IN DECEMBER.
ON THIS UPCOMING TRIP, CAROL, DAN AND MYSELF WILL BE JOINED BY CREW MEMBER AND GOOD FRIEND TOM HANSEN. ALL OF US LIVE IN POINT RICHMOND AND ARE MEMBERS OF THE RICHMOND YACHT CLUB.
THE PLAN FOR THIS TRIP IS TO SAIL NORTH ALONG THE NEW ZEALAND COAST TO THE BAY OF ISLANDS AND WITH A FAVORABLE WEATHER WINDOW HEAD OUT TO OUR DESTINATION OF HAWAII.
THIS TRIP IS SIMILAR TO THE ONE I MADE IN 2003 ON BOB AND RENEE MILLER'S SAILBOAT "WANDERING STAR" BUT WITH TWO MAJOR DIFFERENCES. FIRST IS THE ROUTE. IN 2003 WE LEFT NEW ZEALAND AND SAILED TO FIJI, TONGA, AMERICAN SAMOA AND CHRISTMAS ISLAND. ON THIS TRIP WE PLAN TO SAIL EAST TO FRENCH POLYNESIA AND AFTER VISITING VARIOUS ISLANDS WILL SAIL NORTH TO HAWAII.
THE SECOND MAJOR DIFFERENCE IS THE BOAT. "WANDERING STAR" WAS A 38-FOOT MONO-HULL SLOOP, WHILE "CAPRICE"
IS A 38-FOOT CATAMARAN (MULTI-HULL). THERE ARE SIGNIFCANT DIFFERNCES IN THE WAY THESE BOAT SAIL.
I WILL GO INTO MORE DETAIL ON THESE DIFFERENCES IN SUBSEQUENT MESSAGES.
UNTIL THEN, TAKE CARE
TED
PAT AND I ARRIVED HERE LAST WEDNESDAY AND HAVE BEEN DOING THE TOURESTY THINGS THROUGHOUT THE NORTHERN PART OF NEW ZEALAND'S NORTH ISLAND SINCE THEN. PAT WILL BE FLYING BACK HOME TOMORROW AND WITHIN A DAY OR TWO I WILL BEGIN MY SAILING TRIP ON THE SAILING VESSEL "CAPRICE"
"CAPRICE" IS A SEAWIND 1160 OWNED BY OUR GOOD FRIENDS DAN AND CAROL SEIFERS. THE BOAT WAS CONSTRUCTED LAST YEAR IN AUSTRALIA AND THEY TOOK DELIVERY IN SYDNEY LAST NOVEMBER. WITH THEIR SON VAUGHN AND HIS FRIEND DAVID RASMUSSEN AS CREW THEY SAILED THE BOAT HERE IN DECEMBER.
ON THIS UPCOMING TRIP, CAROL, DAN AND MYSELF WILL BE JOINED BY CREW MEMBER AND GOOD FRIEND TOM HANSEN. ALL OF US LIVE IN POINT RICHMOND AND ARE MEMBERS OF THE RICHMOND YACHT CLUB.
THE PLAN FOR THIS TRIP IS TO SAIL NORTH ALONG THE NEW ZEALAND COAST TO THE BAY OF ISLANDS AND WITH A FAVORABLE WEATHER WINDOW HEAD OUT TO OUR DESTINATION OF HAWAII.
THIS TRIP IS SIMILAR TO THE ONE I MADE IN 2003 ON BOB AND RENEE MILLER'S SAILBOAT "WANDERING STAR" BUT WITH TWO MAJOR DIFFERENCES. FIRST IS THE ROUTE. IN 2003 WE LEFT NEW ZEALAND AND SAILED TO FIJI, TONGA, AMERICAN SAMOA AND CHRISTMAS ISLAND. ON THIS TRIP WE PLAN TO SAIL EAST TO FRENCH POLYNESIA AND AFTER VISITING VARIOUS ISLANDS WILL SAIL NORTH TO HAWAII.
THE SECOND MAJOR DIFFERENCE IS THE BOAT. "WANDERING STAR" WAS A 38-FOOT MONO-HULL SLOOP, WHILE "CAPRICE"
IS A 38-FOOT CATAMARAN (MULTI-HULL). THERE ARE SIGNIFCANT DIFFERNCES IN THE WAY THESE BOAT SAIL.
I WILL GO INTO MORE DETAIL ON THESE DIFFERENCES IN SUBSEQUENT MESSAGES.
UNTIL THEN, TAKE CARE
TED
Monday, April 14, 2008
Rethinking our route
Well now that we have returned to the USA, we have been rethinking our travel plans. Everyone we talk to asks, "Why are you in such a rush to get the boat home? Why don't you spend more time in Polynesi? You may only get one chance to visit paradise."
So, we are rethinking our plans. Wouldn't it be nice to see more of the Islands? Why don't we take a shorter trip to Tonga, Fiji, Samoans for 4 months, then put the boat up on the hard in a place like Raiatea for the winter, then pick the boat up again in the spring and sail it to Alaska, where we will be able to spend several summer months cruising down the coast? Sounds great, but we have a lot of mechanics to work out. Will Tom and Ted like the idea? Will our lovely house sitter and dog sitter, Gunda. be able to come back next year? How much will it cost to put the boat on the hard for 6 months? Anyway, we might change our plans. In the interim, Tom, Merrie, Ted and Pat are traveling throughout New Zealand, while using Caprice as a home base. The Spectra Watermaker is not working properly yet, but the fix-it man is there today. We jump back on the plane tonight (Monday, April 14, 2008) and arrive in N.Z. on Wednesday. Hopefully the watermaker will be fixed, Tom and Merrie will spend a couple nights in Davenport, then the ladies leave to come back home. In the interim we will be discussing the possible optional travel plans. Keep tuned to find out where we will be going.
So, we are rethinking our plans. Wouldn't it be nice to see more of the Islands? Why don't we take a shorter trip to Tonga, Fiji, Samoans for 4 months, then put the boat up on the hard in a place like Raiatea for the winter, then pick the boat up again in the spring and sail it to Alaska, where we will be able to spend several summer months cruising down the coast? Sounds great, but we have a lot of mechanics to work out. Will Tom and Ted like the idea? Will our lovely house sitter and dog sitter, Gunda. be able to come back next year? How much will it cost to put the boat on the hard for 6 months? Anyway, we might change our plans. In the interim, Tom, Merrie, Ted and Pat are traveling throughout New Zealand, while using Caprice as a home base. The Spectra Watermaker is not working properly yet, but the fix-it man is there today. We jump back on the plane tonight (Monday, April 14, 2008) and arrive in N.Z. on Wednesday. Hopefully the watermaker will be fixed, Tom and Merrie will spend a couple nights in Davenport, then the ladies leave to come back home. In the interim we will be discussing the possible optional travel plans. Keep tuned to find out where we will be going.
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