Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Chapter Twenty
Southern sailing.
Northerly Gale.
Jazz guitar lessons.
Washing machine sailing.
I finally left New Zealand on the 30
th
of July 1991, but not before I had motored over to
Ashby's fuel dock and filled up with diesel. I had topped up my water tanks in a recent rain
shower. I said goodbye to friends on the radio, including Warren Johnson, Eileen Palmer,
Barry Anderson, and Karl, who had complained that I always mumbled and spoke so indis-
tinctly, saying, “You must modulate your voice, Jonathan.” I, will, try, Karl!
I saluted a farewell to old doctor Gordon, Eric, and Jane on Magic Dragon. I was sad but
glad to be leaving; New Zealand is a lovely place with charming old world people, but it
is too cold and wet in the winter on a boat! The immigration official who had cleared me
in came down to the dock and stamped my passport, giving me the green light. He smiled,
wishing me a bon voyage.
I started the engine and hoisted my main, slowly puttering out north into Veronica Channel
for the last time. By around midday, I was out at sea sailing briskly along in sunny weather
in fifteen knots from the southeast.
I made good mileage in the first day though I had a rough night; the wind was brisk out
of the west-northwest; I was averaging about one hundred and twenty miles per day at this
speed. No sun sight was possible at this point, due to rough seas. I passed a few ships, sight-
ing large albatross and sooty terns. It was not as cold as I thought it would be, due probably
from the warm effects of the north in the wind. I noticed with concern that the Genoa hem
had started unraveling. I took it down and replaced it with the jib. The boat's motion was
still very whippy. I dragged the sail down below and repaired it in the cabin; the Tilley lamp
provided me with an excellent light, and I worked with the little sewing machine I had pur-
chased in Opua.
The following day, the wind began strengthening somewhat again out of the northwest. It
soon turned into a gale, blowing thirty to forty knots with very rough seas. I felt very sick,
as I had not gotten back my sea legs yet. I was tired of this already! My morning sight put
me sixty miles more south than I thought. I found out in alarm that I just could not go to
windward now as it was too rough; I was being forced south from this northerly gale. I was
running east-southeast.
