Easter holiday

[Alan Wheeler]

Well actually it was the week before Easter, but who cares. Dawn and I sailed around to the other sound. First time since we took posetion of the boat that we had returned back there. We were intending to meet up with Darryl and Paula from Seafox and then later in the week Andy and Nicky (Marauder) joined up with us. We had a blast. What a great bunch of people. We thoroughly enojoyed ourselves.
The trip round was supposed to be high winds. Infact, we left the bay we sheltered the night in with 30kts. We got the sails up and had the wind aft all the way out the bay. As soon as we rounded the point, we meet dead calm. Not even a breeze. We motored out and meet up with a slight breeze and had to motor sail for some time. We finaly had the wind pick up to 23kts as we rounded the dreaded cape and we then had a light breeze of 10kts all the way down the sound.
The return trip was no better. The forcast was 15kts. We started with 12kts and made good time out to the cape. Then it just got lighter and lighter till we had nothing. We had to motor sail all the way home again.
During the week with Seafox, we sailed lots. Never usually had the patience to try sailing in 5-6kts of wind, but Darryl hated the motor. It was a great eye opener to me that this 26T FC boat of mine could actually keep up in such ligth air. Especially when I get such a hard time from others that my boat would be a slow as a block of lead. From 10-12kts, I can just keep pace with Darryl. He points just slightly higher and so can slowly pull away, but only slowly. Once the wind died to 8kts and then down to 6kts, then Darryl started to make ground. I think mainly because we are too slow getting up to speed once we tackedin such light air.
All in all, it was a great trip and great time. Dawn and I are so looking forward to meeting up with them again next summer.

[seafox]

Hi Alan,
we have just got back to mana. Left the South Island this morning at 8am with no wind. The strait was flat like oil until we got half way (fishermans rock) and a gentle 15knot Northerly blew us the rest of the way home.
Looking forward to meeting up around your way at Christmas.
Andy is about to do a re con on his bukh, so I am sure there will be a few questions from him.
Off to have a shower and shave my two week growth off
cheers

[Alan Wheeler]

Off to have a shower and shave my two week growth off

Yeah ya better or some kid will call you Santa :-)
Hey we need a smiley that Salutes. :-)

[Marauder]

Great to catch up with more sailing buddies. Love those stories! Had a great second half sail back across the Strait today. It was like a flotilla of 13 boats out there. Hard to believe that the Cook Strait can be some a fearsome piece of water. New sailing term that has gone in to my book, right next to "Starboards" is "Ferro". See you at Christmas on your side. Andy

[Alan Wheeler]

Hey send me your photos. Darryl has my Email address.
You too Darryl.

[emmo]

Hi Wheels,
Always good to hear that a FerRo has been out and about,
I am currently beached, refitting a rudder that was broken after a new mooring bridle broke and put me ashore.
All ways something isn't there?
Emmo

[Alan Wheeler]

Hi emmo, what was the rudder made from and what are you replacing it with??