Lord Howe Island, Australia to Opua, New Zealand - Day 6

Hello one and all

At 6.45am Dave saw the first glimpse of the Three Kings off North Cape. What a wonderful Christmas sight that was and how fitting on this morning. We are now abeam them but the mainland is under cloud at this time. We are having light rain on and off. The seas are slight and we are sailing along at 5k. Should be in the Bay of Islands tomorrow morning.

Have a wonderful day and don't over eat. Look forward to catching up again very soon.

Tons of love and a Very Merry Christmas from all of the crew of SHAMAL Ann and Alec

Lord Howe Island, Australia to Opua, New Zealand - Day 5

At this moment we are doing 8 1/2 kt. Not bad going. The seas have dropped since yesterday thank goodness as we really did have an interesting ride. White water and greenies coming breaking up over the front cabin windows!! We were still able to do between 7 - 8 kt then. Poor Helen really did have an off day not felling at all well. Alec and I seem to have good stomaches but from time to time I have taken a tablet just to make sure I won't fell sick.

Oh I have had my fishing line out nearly all the way. No bloody fish in this part of the Tasman. Also no other human life out here. Have not seen a ship. Alec got the radar back working this morning.  Hope it does not give out on us again.

Spent enough time at the computer so will up for some fresh air!!!

Love Ann

Lord Howe Island, Australia to Opua, New Zealand - Day 4

Hi Folks

Forgot to mention. This morning pick up a couple of 2 inch thin bolts by the port jam cleats.

Can't find where they came from. All the cleats are nice and secure.

Also the Radar can not Transmit although the Scanner goes into Stdby as per normal.

I have sent an email to Raymarine in AKL asking for suggestions.

Murray we should be in Opua late Wed. at the earliest. My crew does not want to sail any faster and are wasting the wind.  Mind you it is quite a bumpy ride.  No need to stress the boat out as well.

Would be nice if we could round North Cape late afternoon in daylight.

Alec

Lord Howe Island, Australia to Opua, New Zealand - Day 2

Hi Guys

Bob McDavitt and his passage plan is full of shit.
At the moment we are motor/sailing into confused seas at a mere 5.5 Kts.
Still waiting for a wind change any direction will do.
Wind easterly 15/20 Kts. and I mean EAST. Right on the nose.

Well here we are day two and only about 160nm off Lord Howe Island heading for North Cape. I can see this is going to be a long slow trip unless the winds change. We are slamming head on into Eastlies. We took a tack to the north last night but got about 60 miles off track. This morning we headed south but there is a nasty front down there which we have been advised not to head for so we are now on our rhumb line making for North Cape.

Cooking, eating and sleeping are all a bit of a challenge but we are all fine. Hopefully we will have settled into the swing of things after tonight.

So no worries just pray for some good winds in the right direction for us.

OK will away for this note. Looking at a good eight days ahead of us.

Lots of love

Alec and Ann

All Hands on Deck!!

Today I have been up the mast to check the rigging ( second time since Bundaberg ) This time I even locked wired a shackle. Yesterday dived under the boat to check the keel,props and rudders. All OK even the fresh water pod no stress cracks as the waves really gave it a thrashing. We plan to do 150 NM per day Inshallah. We head due east and most of the trip the prevailing wind will be SE or NE.

Tomorrow I hope to climb MT Gower at 3 thousand feet. The climbing party at the moment is booked out but I will hope there is a no show so I can join the party.

Picked up a 100 litres of diesel this morning, our fuel reserve, Aust $2.58 per litre.

Last two days here rather windy upto 30 kts plus and Cb's rain etc. Tomorrow becoming fine.

All is well here. Been very windy 20 - 30k here at times here today. We have had a mixed bag of weather with sun and rain. OK will sign out of this note.

Alec

Lord Howe Island

Hello Again From Lord Howe

Has been a beautiful day here. Warm and sunny with little to no wind. After our morning chores we went ashore with our picnic lunch and hired a bike each and then set off around the island checking out the email cafe at the museum, the airport to see the met. man. He told us a front is passing through here tomorrow. Could be Wed or Thur when we leave. Will keep you posted on that one. Also visited a couple of food shops to see what supplies they have and found a good supply, but very expensive as you would imagine in a place like this. Everything is flown in from Australia or comes by ship.

Arrived at Lord Howe Island

Hello From Lord Howe Island.

Well we motored in through the lagoon this morning at 7.30am after arriving too late to come in in daylight last night so we ended up sailing around outside with thunderstorms all around us. It made for an interesting night I can tell you. We were putting in and taking out reefs in the main sail all night long. So the trip took us four days plus the extra night outside.

We are happy to be tied up to a mooring buoy even if te seas are making for a good swell coming in over the reef.

We had a really good sail yesterday till about 5.30pm when the weather and seas changed.

We are just putting the tender into the water to go ashore to see what is available. We need to take on water and fuel, but we would like to look around as well.

So will away for today and will keep you posted as to when we will be leaving.

Tons of love

Ann and Alec

Crossing the Tasman Sea - Bundaberg to Lord Howe Island, Day 5

Hello Again


Today will be short and sweet as we are riding a bucking horse. A front came through last night which made for some interesting sailing. Yesterday afternoon was perfect and I was able to go up front and watch the world go by but today we have 'greenies' coming over the front.

Will finish off and go back up into the saloon as I don't won't to be down here at the Navigation Desk
 
Lots of Love Ann and Alec

Crossing the Tasman Sea - Bundaberg to Lord Howe Island, Day 4

Well we are still watching watching watching!!!! Another just too perfect day wind wise. Motor sailing yet again but in the last 24hrs we have had some time under sail only. We are all fine. No seasickness from anyone. We have that same bird which is following us. Think he is still waiting for me to catch him a meal. Line still out and nothing! We did watch the flying fish for some time yesterday. They are about the size of a small bird and can go for about 20mt or more. We passed a yellow buoy about an hour ago so circled round to pick it up only to find it attached to something. Looked like a long chain. We left well alone. Who knows how it arrived there as it did not appear to be moving?

Dad and I did the midnight to 6.00am watch and had a bute thunder storm with a great lighting show for about half an hour.

OK as you can see life on the high seas is full of interesting stuff. We could clean and all that, but who wants to when no one is coming to visit! Helen is making lunch so will away and eat.

Take care

Lots love

Ann and Alec

Crossing the Tasman Sea - Bundaberg to Lord Howe Island, Day 3

All is well had a great sail last night doing ave 10k for a good six hours. Wind dropped around midnight.

As winds so light we decided to give the MPS a go this morning but they were just too light. Anyway good practice at putting it up and down.

Have my fishing line out but have decided this is too far out or something for fish. Had a lone bird flying about looking for breakfast but told him there weren't any so he flew off. We fill in time sleeping, not eating much and watching watching the sea go by! It is not that bad really. Would rather have this than be in a storm. Oh we are stopping for a swim so will away.

Lots of love

Ann and Alec

Crossing the Tasman Sea - Bundaberg to Lord Howe Island, Day 2

Hello again

Well we are on our way. All happened yesterday. In the morning we took a quick trip to the market, came back put on fuel and water and were heading out of Bundy Marina by 3.40pm. Sunday that is. First night good. We are all a little tired today while we settle into the swing. Weather great, well too great as we are motor sailing. Not quite enough wind. Done the first 87nm. Only another 440nm to go. Lots 'blue ocean' out here. Saw lots fishing boat lights during the night and this morning I was on watch to see the sun come up. Just me and a sea bird. Boy they come a long way out. Maybe in Lord Howe by Thursday? Will keep you posted. OK will sign out. See you all soon.

Love Ann and Alec

Maryborough to Bundaberg

Hello Again

Well this is it. We have made it safely to our furthest point north for this trip. We will now be making preparations for the trip home!!!!

We were up at 10 past 4 yesterday morning and leaving the berth at 4.40 to make our way back down the Mary River on the incoming tide. It was a three hour trip out into the Great Sandy Strait. We motored sailed nearly all the way covering 71nm. It was hot and sunny and for a good part we had little or no wind at all. When it came it was from the north east again – just the way we were heading!

Mooloolaba to Maryborough

Hello Again

It was 10.20p.m. when we left our berth in Mooloolaba saying good-bye to our neighbours who untied our mooring lines, and we motored out through the entrance and into a rather lumpy sea. By 10.50 we had the sails up and proceeded up the coast. The funny thing was we had timed our trip to arrive at the bar at a certain time the next morning, but found with the 18 – 20kt breeze we were sailing too fast so put two reefs in the main sail [took it down reducing the sail area by about half] and only had half the jib out, and we were still doing 7kts. Alex took first watch and I stayed up with him. He eventually went down for a sleep about 1.30a.m. as we wanted him bright eyed for the bar crossing. David then Helen were doing the next two watches but I did not wake them as they had not been feeling too well so I stayed up till about 3.45am when Helen came up to take over. It was a lovely nights sail with a full moon, and it’s funny how you get into the rhythm of the ocean even when it is a bit lumpy.

Brisbane - Moolooaba

Hello One And All

Well I can see Christmas is upon us once again as some of the shops in Brisbane are starting to put their trees and decorations up, and I am so far behind with it this year that I can see it passing before I have caught up. Me who never misses putting up a tree and doing something festive, is going to completely miss out this year. But in saying that I would not change this for all the world.

Coffs Harbour - Gold Coast - Brisbane

Hello Again

We are now sitting in Coffs Harbour

I have just arrived back to the boat from a visit ashore to find Alex and a mechanic aboard still working on the engines. Murray your cabin which houses the starboard engine under the bed [and which we have nick-named “the garage” as it houses everything that has not got a home yet and maybe never will so your double bed might be a very slim single by the time you join us!] was in a sorry state. Everything had been emptied out and is all over the place. We look like real sea gypsies, not Ann’s organised state!!!!

Pittwater to Coffs Harbour

Hello Again

Another update of our progress up the New South Wales Coast 

On the 29th Oct around mid day we left Pittwater for Port Stephens.  That was a day – night sail arriving in Nelson Bay-Port Stephens at 8.00a.m. 72nm. We were to get jobs done including the 50 hour engine service but it was far too-ooooo expensive, and the people were not very helpful.  The marina fees were a killer at just over $100 per night, but we found we could stay in the marina from 8.00a.m. till 5.00p.m. on the guest berth free of charge.  So we would arrive at the berth each morning, and then make sure we were back on the boat before 5.00pm and then motor out of the marina and pick up a free guest mooring bouy for the night. Helen and David were able to catch up with friends there which was great.  We stayed till the 2nd Nov exploring around the area which included a bus trip back to Newcastle which we had passed by on the way up.  We then headed off to Coffs Harbour. That was a day – night – day sail. 116nm.

We got no work done on SHAMAL here as the winds got up and we were unable to be hauled out for the sail drive oil to be changed. In fact we got into the Habbour just before a cold front passed through.  The next day I was quite happy to be in port watching the seas breaking over the break water, and not having to be out at sea.  We explored the township, went for walks, did loads of washing and stocked up again with supplies and fuel, and in the evening found somewhere to eat.  It sounds like we do nothing but eat.  I find we can buy fresh which is always nicer than tinned stuff.

Ok will sign out for this post

Lots of love

Ann and Alec 

Sydney to Pittwater

Hello To You All

Many thanks to all who have sent us an email. Always good to hear from you. Not sure when you will get this as Alex has not yet fixed up our Sail Mail but if need be I will go ashore somewhere to send it on.

Tonight – Sat 20th Oct we are moored up an inlet in Pittwater. We are about eight miles inland from the open sea. It is just the most beautiful place. We left the Birkenhead Marina in Sydney on Thursday. A little later than we thought we would but it is good not having to stick to a timetable. Helen needed a visit to the Dr with an infection in her toe plus there are still odd jobs than need to be done aboard. Some we will do as we go up the coast at different ports of call. We still need things fitted like a radar reflector etc. Thursday was fine and warm but the winds were coming from the wrong direction. We motored down the harbour under the bridge past the opera house and out to the heads. We rounded North Head straight into a head wind so we just kept on motoring. We did hoist the jib for a time but that was taken down again after a few miles as it was of no help. Still it was a good trip up and gave Alex plenty of time to set the instruments up. We saw a couple of whales at different times broaching which was fantastic. Once we had rounded the headland and into Pittwater we had the wind behind us and we able to put up the sails and had a beautiful run for about half an hour heading back the way we had come on an inland waterway. We moored for the night at the Royal Motor Yacht Club and took the tender over to another Seawind for drinks. I tell you one can get use to this way of life quite easily.

Before leaving Sydney we spent quite a bit of time with Helen and David’s daughter Wendy who was great. She let us use her car so we were able to do lots of job. We also visited local markets, visited IKEA and Howards Storage about three times [great shops with tons of practical goodies in them] had a running GST exempt account at Whitworths – a chandlery which Alex and David have nearly cleaned out - and had meals out all over the place. Helen and I did the food stores and have enough food on board to do the Tasman crossing twice I think.

Sun 21st. It is around 3.00pm and we have moored up in a bay so Alex and David can watch the final of the rugby. Hot and sunny. We have been exploring all the inlets this morning. Also found a place to fill our water tank. Helen and I did three loads of washing in the machine on board. We are not missing out on too many of the luxuries of life.

Ok will sign off and send this as soon as I am able. Love to you all

Ann and Alex

Life aboard Shamal

Hello Again.

Thanks to you all for your emails.

This is our second note to you- first from Australia – Well it has all come together after 18 months of planning. SHAMAL is beautiful. She is bigger than what we remembered and so comfortable. We arrived Sunday week ago and moved aboard on the Wednesday. Our base is the Birkenhead Marina upper harbour. Helen and David are staying with their daughter Wendy who only lives a short distance away. They will move on board this coming weekend. We will be at the berth in the marina till Thursday when we then move across the bay to a mooring. Alex has got the tender up and running and we have been for a motor around this bay, so that will be our transport from Thursday on.

We have spent most of our time getting familiar with everything on board and sorting out a few defects – nothing too major, and, shopping for all those things we did not send over. That has been fun. We have had the use of Wendy’s car while she is at work during the day which has been wonderful. I also have ‘Aunty Useful’. [named by Helen] She is one of those old ladies shopping bags on wheels – a wonderful invention as it saves your arms when it comes to bringing all the stuff back to the boat.

Waring's Depart New Zealand by Air

Hello One And All

This is our first letter to you with an update of our progress.

This coming Sunday - 30th September 2007 - we fly out to Sydney, at long long last, to take possession of SHAMAL. We are so-oooo excited as we have had four postponements and a number of frustrating little problems along the way, some of which we still have to deal with when we arrive in Sydney. The company, “Seawind”, told us that on Monday it is all go and we were to meet them at the marina at Birkenhead in Sydney, but, we have since found out that the Monday is a public holiday so we will be waiting till Tuesday. Oh what is another day!! We will be staying with David and Helen Baker’s daughter Wendy till Wednesday when David and Helen will be flying across to join us as they are helping us to bring SHAMAL home. Alex and I will either move onto the boat or find another place to put our heads down till we are able to do so. We will spend two to three weeks in Sydney getting everything sorted before making our way up the coast to the Brisbane area. There we will cruise around till about the end of November and then find a nice break in the weather to come on home. Well that is plan “A” Things could easily change but the great thing is we can do what we want as we have the time to do all this now. We would like to be back in NZ for Christmas.

We will keep you posted from time to time on where we are and what wonderful adventures we are having. We would love to hear from you also, but please do not send us ANY attachments as once we are at sea we will be using a different internet provider and are limited for the time that we will be on line. We are only allocated ten minutes per day and use this time to down load our weather and navigational requirements also. This does not mean that we can’t receive and send emails.

OK will sign off for this note.

Love Alex and Ann