Off to the South Pacific!

www.sailbayofislands.com

I must go down to the seas again, to the lonely sea and the sky,

And all I ask is a tall ship and a star to steer her by,

And the wheel's kick and the wind's song and the white sail's shaking,

And a grey mist on the sea's face, and a grey dawn breaking.

--- John Masefield,  1902

After a long wait for the storms to abate and the winds to shift to the west, it’s finally all come right and Freewind cast her mooring line on Thursday afternoon from Matauwhi Bay in Russell, motored around the corner to Opua, where she cleared customs later in the morning and set sail in the early afternoon. The winds are from the northwest, which puts her on a close reach to the wind. Her latest report (courtesy of Russell Radio – thank you, Stewart) was of moderate winds from the north-west, a boat speed of 6 knots and a magnetic course of 020°, and “all’s well on board” (see www.skipr.net for all position reports).

The last few weeks, since Freewind stopped her charter trips, we’ve been in “cruise preparation mode”. This included taking the boat out of the water for a coat of anti-fouling bottom paint, stowing all the cruising gear on board (cruising sails, safety gear, charts and navigation equipment, provisions and much more), checking all the sails and rigging, servicing the engine, machinery and electronic instruments, and a host of other jobs that need to be done before a boat leaves port on an ocean voyage. And all this time, one keeps a keen eye on the weather patterns. Of course, being autumn and a transition season weather-wise, anything can happen, and since the beginning of the month, the North Island of New Zealand has experienced everything but the right weather conditions for sailing to Tonga. So even though everything and everyone was ready (including Ida, who arrived from Switzerland 10 days ago to join Freewind, and Jane, all the way from Auckland), it has been a waiting game. The pre-cruise excitement has been building up and everyone was relieved to receive the weather report on Thursday indicating that the SW wind was on its way.

Ron with crew members Jane (left) and Ida (right) next to the Russell Boat Club and the loaded dinghy on the eve of departure

So on board went the fresh food and fresh crew, who didn’t get much chance to realise that “it’s all happening” before the dinghy was lashed securely on deck and they found themselves settling down in their cabins on board in what is to be their new temporary home. Freewind slipped off her Russell mooring on Thursday evening, anchored in Opua and waited for the winds to change. The promised north-westerlies arrived on Friday morning (thank you, NZ Metservice) and after all the formalities were completed – passports stamped and ship’s clearance papers handed over – it was time to leave. Up went the sails and, with all the other boats who had been waiting for a “weather window”, Freewind was off to Neiafu, Tonga.

Everyone ashore would like to wish Freewind and all the boats who left and are heading for their big adventure in the tropics, a safe passage and kind winds.

We will be updating Freewind’s positions on www.skiper.net and will post photos and stories here once the boat reaches port.

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I must go down to the seas again, for the call of the running tide

Is a wild call and a clear call that may not be denied;

And all I ask is a windy day with the white clouds flying,

And the flung spray and the blown spume, and the sea-gulls crying.

I must go down to the seas again, to the vagrant gypsy life,

To the gull's way and the whale's way, where the wind's like a whetted knife;

And all I ask is a merry yarn from a laughing fellow-rover,

And quiet sleep and a sweet dream when the long trick's over.

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