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| Hors d'oeuvres and daquaris in the cockpit |
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| Main course |
Sunday, 31 May 2015
Anniversary Onboard - Dinner Surprise
After a busy passage we did not have a lot of plans for our wedding anniversary. However, the kids had been hatching a plan for several weeks. They sent us ashore to the local yacht club while Victoria and Johnathan, ably helped by Jesus, cleaned up the boat and put on an amazing dinner for us. Lucky parents !
New Zealand to Fiji - Passage Photos
Liz documented our passage which was to be to Tonga via Minerva but ended up being to Fiji not via Minerva so we could catch up hopefully with the other kid boats. A bunch of photos here documenting the trek north.
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| Not in the tropics yet ! |
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| Dinner |
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| The only problem with catching fish is processing them at sea ... |
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| One fish is about seven meals for the family |
 |
| Cooking up Minecraft plans |
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| And crocheting. |
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| Are we in the tropics yet ? |
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| Victoria easing the preventor for us. |
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| And now tensioning the preventor |
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| Finally flying our new-to-us spinnaker. |
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| And of course light air means laundry day |
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| and more laundry |
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| High-Tech fuel gauge |
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| On the helm |
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| and baking in the galley |
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| A bit windier now. |
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| Oh yes, more comfortable now as Fiji gets closer |
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| Jesus catches his first fish |
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| And treats us with omelettes for breakfast |
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| Heading down the Koro Sea |
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| The playpen. |
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| Looking to confirm our position with an aid to navigation |
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| Where is Fiji ? |
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| I think we see Fiji. |
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| The welcome to Fiji rainbow. Note the trike lashed to the pushpit. |
Wednesday, 27 May 2015
Day 10 - Entering the Koro Sea
Hello!
We have just past the first Fijian island marking the entrance into the Koro Sea. This gives us about 150 nm to go before we will be tied up in Savusavu.
The big question today was how many eggs, sweet potatoes, apples, carrots, etc we could eat in two days. I provisioned to have a comfortable stop in Minerva reef (ie a week of yummy at-anchor food) but instead we have been on passage for almost two weeks, so we have a generous amount of fresh produce left.
The result was scrambled eggs, fried eggs, and french toast (made with the last of Victoria's yummy cinnamon bread) for lunch and fried sweet potatoes (sort of sweet potato fries, but not really...) with pulled pork & carrot sticks for dinner, followed by apple crisp for dessert. Who says that passage food has to be boring! At one point, there were three people working comfortably in the galley. Kudos to Jesus who sliced several huge sweet potatoes into sticks while I had my off-watch nap.
The seas continued to be big & rolly, typical of 20 kts of wind. Thankfully we were mostly on a broad reach again, so the waves were generally approaching from behind. We had some good rolls this evening, though when the wind shifted forward and we had more like 100 deg apparent wind (almost a beam reach). Funny that beam reaching is such fun in the harbour where it is flat, but it is so nasty here with any sea state.
Anyway, this note is being written in the moments before going off-watch. With tweaking the course every few minutes to avoid shoals & islands, it wasn't the night to be popping up and down from the chart table! [for the sailors on the list, you may be interested to know that we do not rely on GPS solely for going around islands and dodging reefs especially in areas like this where the chart datums are usually off. Ideally we would do the navigation for these parts in daylight but the speed/time/distance for this part of the passage does not make that practical so we use our radar to get, at a minimum, line of position to give us a clearing bearing or a safe distance off. In this case I can see two islands on the radar so by taking the two ranges I can get a reasonable fix to keep us away from the reef that of course doe not show up on radar. Max] Max has just taken over in the cockpit, and it is time to sleep!
Love to all,
Elizabeth
-----
At 5/26/2015 3:23 PM (utc) SV Fluenta was 18°59.00'S 179°38.00'W
----------
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for information see: http://www.sailmail.com
We have just past the first Fijian island marking the entrance into the Koro Sea. This gives us about 150 nm to go before we will be tied up in Savusavu.
The big question today was how many eggs, sweet potatoes, apples, carrots, etc we could eat in two days. I provisioned to have a comfortable stop in Minerva reef (ie a week of yummy at-anchor food) but instead we have been on passage for almost two weeks, so we have a generous amount of fresh produce left.
The result was scrambled eggs, fried eggs, and french toast (made with the last of Victoria's yummy cinnamon bread) for lunch and fried sweet potatoes (sort of sweet potato fries, but not really...) with pulled pork & carrot sticks for dinner, followed by apple crisp for dessert. Who says that passage food has to be boring! At one point, there were three people working comfortably in the galley. Kudos to Jesus who sliced several huge sweet potatoes into sticks while I had my off-watch nap.
The seas continued to be big & rolly, typical of 20 kts of wind. Thankfully we were mostly on a broad reach again, so the waves were generally approaching from behind. We had some good rolls this evening, though when the wind shifted forward and we had more like 100 deg apparent wind (almost a beam reach). Funny that beam reaching is such fun in the harbour where it is flat, but it is so nasty here with any sea state.
Anyway, this note is being written in the moments before going off-watch. With tweaking the course every few minutes to avoid shoals & islands, it wasn't the night to be popping up and down from the chart table! [for the sailors on the list, you may be interested to know that we do not rely on GPS solely for going around islands and dodging reefs especially in areas like this where the chart datums are usually off. Ideally we would do the navigation for these parts in daylight but the speed/time/distance for this part of the passage does not make that practical so we use our radar to get, at a minimum, line of position to give us a clearing bearing or a safe distance off. In this case I can see two islands on the radar so by taking the two ranges I can get a reasonable fix to keep us away from the reef that of course doe not show up on radar. Max] Max has just taken over in the cockpit, and it is time to sleep!
Love to all,
Elizabeth
-----
At 5/26/2015 3:23 PM (utc) SV Fluenta was 18°59.00'S 179°38.00'W
----------
radio email processed by SailMail
for information see: http://www.sailmail.com
25 May - On passage Day 9 - slowly getting closer to Fiji
Hello,
After nine days of standing watches, I am wondering what more there can be to tell you! We had big seas this morning, blown up by the 20-22 kt winds we had over night. Thankfully these were arriving on our "quarter" (ie back corner of the boat) rather than our "beam" (the side of the boat) so they were not super uncomfortable; however, every now and again, we had one come at us from a different direction that rolled the boat a little more side-to-side, or dumped water in the cockpit (the one wave that got us wet splashed through about 5 min after Victoria went downstairs, otherwise she would have been soaked in the cockpit 'well' (the part where the feet go, and where the kids like to sit and read/play)).
Our cockpit is now very comfortable and kid-friendly. All but one of the nice folding cushions that we own has been moved to the floor and sides of the cockpit well. This gives a cozy spot for a big kid to curl up and read or for a small kid to play with toys.
Victoria treated us to gingersnaps today - we had some candied ginger onboard (supposedly good for seasickness, but we have had neutral results) so she cut that into tiny pieces and baked them into cookies. When I took the second tray out of the oven, all her carefully arranged balls of cookie dough had jammed themselves together on the low side of the oven.
Johnathan spent a lot of time snuggled with Benjamin watching the same five cartoon episodes over and over. We have created a little bit of a monster in Benjamin in that if he so much as sees the iPod, he gravitates to it and wants to watch videos; however, as the saying goes, "desperate times call for desperate measures", and when one or the other parent is sleeping and needing quiet nearly all day, he is getting more 'square-eyes' time than he likely will again. So it goes. Soon he'll be playing on beaches and swimming in lagoons; in the meantime, we are doing what we need to for everyone's sanity. Both big kids have been really patient with him throughout the passage (although we have heard, "oh, you BABY!" in an exasperated tone of voice at various times throughout the trip, when he has done something especially unhelpful to the big kids' stuff.) On the bright side, all this video watching brings back memories of a year ago when Benjamin was willing to snuggle on their chests for hours at a time. It is really cute to watch three little heads cozied up together on the bench.
Once off the bench, it is funny to watch Benjamin toddling around the boat. He has quickly learned to lean 'uphill' into the rolls, and he has kept his footing through some pretty lumpy conditions. As with last season, he simply gets on with playing, oblivious to the conditions or sea state. He doesn't even look puzzled when his world rolls from side to side.
Tonight, we are on a broad reach (as deep down wind as we can go without poling out the genoa, which we think we will do tomorrow) headed for the Koro Sea and Fijian waters. Once we get there, it is about 140 nm across the sea, then another 10 nm across the bay to the marina at Savusavu. The seas are reasonably calm, with the usual sea state when it is blowing 15-20 kts. It is so much easier going downwind in these seas than beating our way through them up wind! The boat is reasonably flat, but every few minutes a wave comes a little more broadside to us, which gives us some good rolls. At least we are now used to the motion. Everything that needs to be secured is either tied down or already on the floor (or both!), and all the cupboards have tea towels and pot holders stuffed into them to keep the glasses, bottles, and pots & pans from sliding around and making noise. If you know my normal housekeeping, you may choke to read this, but all the dishes are put away as soon as a meal is finished. The drainer is lashed to the kitchen tap, and the pressure cooker and kettle are lashed to the stove. These are slightly different preparations from the bedtime tidying habits one needs in a house!
Love to all,
Elizabeth
-----
At 5/25/2015 4:23 AM (utc) SV Fluenta was 22°26.46'S 179°33.52'E
----------
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for information see: http://www.sailmail.com
After nine days of standing watches, I am wondering what more there can be to tell you! We had big seas this morning, blown up by the 20-22 kt winds we had over night. Thankfully these were arriving on our "quarter" (ie back corner of the boat) rather than our "beam" (the side of the boat) so they were not super uncomfortable; however, every now and again, we had one come at us from a different direction that rolled the boat a little more side-to-side, or dumped water in the cockpit (the one wave that got us wet splashed through about 5 min after Victoria went downstairs, otherwise she would have been soaked in the cockpit 'well' (the part where the feet go, and where the kids like to sit and read/play)).
Our cockpit is now very comfortable and kid-friendly. All but one of the nice folding cushions that we own has been moved to the floor and sides of the cockpit well. This gives a cozy spot for a big kid to curl up and read or for a small kid to play with toys.
Victoria treated us to gingersnaps today - we had some candied ginger onboard (supposedly good for seasickness, but we have had neutral results) so she cut that into tiny pieces and baked them into cookies. When I took the second tray out of the oven, all her carefully arranged balls of cookie dough had jammed themselves together on the low side of the oven.
Johnathan spent a lot of time snuggled with Benjamin watching the same five cartoon episodes over and over. We have created a little bit of a monster in Benjamin in that if he so much as sees the iPod, he gravitates to it and wants to watch videos; however, as the saying goes, "desperate times call for desperate measures", and when one or the other parent is sleeping and needing quiet nearly all day, he is getting more 'square-eyes' time than he likely will again. So it goes. Soon he'll be playing on beaches and swimming in lagoons; in the meantime, we are doing what we need to for everyone's sanity. Both big kids have been really patient with him throughout the passage (although we have heard, "oh, you BABY!" in an exasperated tone of voice at various times throughout the trip, when he has done something especially unhelpful to the big kids' stuff.) On the bright side, all this video watching brings back memories of a year ago when Benjamin was willing to snuggle on their chests for hours at a time. It is really cute to watch three little heads cozied up together on the bench.
Once off the bench, it is funny to watch Benjamin toddling around the boat. He has quickly learned to lean 'uphill' into the rolls, and he has kept his footing through some pretty lumpy conditions. As with last season, he simply gets on with playing, oblivious to the conditions or sea state. He doesn't even look puzzled when his world rolls from side to side.
Tonight, we are on a broad reach (as deep down wind as we can go without poling out the genoa, which we think we will do tomorrow) headed for the Koro Sea and Fijian waters. Once we get there, it is about 140 nm across the sea, then another 10 nm across the bay to the marina at Savusavu. The seas are reasonably calm, with the usual sea state when it is blowing 15-20 kts. It is so much easier going downwind in these seas than beating our way through them up wind! The boat is reasonably flat, but every few minutes a wave comes a little more broadside to us, which gives us some good rolls. At least we are now used to the motion. Everything that needs to be secured is either tied down or already on the floor (or both!), and all the cupboards have tea towels and pot holders stuffed into them to keep the glasses, bottles, and pots & pans from sliding around and making noise. If you know my normal housekeeping, you may choke to read this, but all the dishes are put away as soon as a meal is finished. The drainer is lashed to the kitchen tap, and the pressure cooker and kettle are lashed to the stove. These are slightly different preparations from the bedtime tidying habits one needs in a house!
Love to all,
Elizabeth
-----
At 5/25/2015 4:23 AM (utc) SV Fluenta was 22°26.46'S 179°33.52'E
----------
radio email processed by SailMail
for information see: http://www.sailmail.com
24 May 15 - Passage to Fiji - Day 8 - Enroute Fiji!
Hello,
The nice thing about being on a sailboat is that we can pick our destinations - even when we are on our way to another destination! Such was the case this week: we were on a perfectly lovely passage to Tonga, approaching Minerva, and beginning the countdown of a few days til we would be back at Big Mama's Yacht Club, when we (I) got it into our heads that perhaps it would be better to visit Fiji all season this year and visit Tonga next year. Even though I assumed that we would meet new kid boats once we got to Tonga, most (all) of our friends from last year were going to spend the early part of the season in Fiji, before moving on to other destinations. The pull of heart and friendship outweighed the pull of logic and planning, so after a quick consult with Met Bob our weather router, we adjusted our course for Fiji.
The "weather window" for Fiji turned out to be a bit dirty, you might say. Unlike the clear sparkling glass of the weather window we had for Tonga, we have had some lumpy conditions once we turned for Fiji. We spent last night beating to wind (the wind was coming to us *directly* from Fiji, and we were hove-to, rolling in the swell all day today waiting for a front to pass and the wind to swap W-S-SSE. Tonight, we have had mixed conditions (to the point that Max even had to motor through some low winds and swells during his evening watch) and for the last few hours, we have been on a broad reach and heading within about 30-40 deg of our course.
Assuming no further changes in our plans we expect to arrive in Savusavu on Friday, where we will spend a couple of days clearing in and provisioning, then we will join our friends on Exodus, Nautilus, Nirvana, and maybe others, in the Lau Group for a few weeks.
Of course, we could have headed for Fiji directly two weeks ago - this would have been much simpler! The thing is that it didn't really hit me how much our kids were going to be missing all their friends (and to be honest, how much I would be missing the keeping-our-sanity contact with the moms & dads) until we were well on our way. We could have carried on to Tonga (which is beautiful, and where we would have known one kid boat with younger kids, and several non-kid boats) but we made the choice to put more importance on friendship than on keeping to our plan. Tonga will still be there next year. It has been a bit of an ordeal to get on a good course for Fiji mid-passage, but we are now heading in the right direction. It is easy to pay lip-service to friendships, but it feels good to demonstrate to our kids that we can also take action to sustain them (and it is never too late to change course). Seems to me that this is food for thought in any context...
On that note, I will sign off.
Love to all
Elizabeth
-----
At 5/23/2015 11:10 PM (utc) SV Fluenta was 24°35.00'S 179°44.00'E
----------
radio email processed by SailMail
for information see: http://www.sailmail.com
The nice thing about being on a sailboat is that we can pick our destinations - even when we are on our way to another destination! Such was the case this week: we were on a perfectly lovely passage to Tonga, approaching Minerva, and beginning the countdown of a few days til we would be back at Big Mama's Yacht Club, when we (I) got it into our heads that perhaps it would be better to visit Fiji all season this year and visit Tonga next year. Even though I assumed that we would meet new kid boats once we got to Tonga, most (all) of our friends from last year were going to spend the early part of the season in Fiji, before moving on to other destinations. The pull of heart and friendship outweighed the pull of logic and planning, so after a quick consult with Met Bob our weather router, we adjusted our course for Fiji.
The "weather window" for Fiji turned out to be a bit dirty, you might say. Unlike the clear sparkling glass of the weather window we had for Tonga, we have had some lumpy conditions once we turned for Fiji. We spent last night beating to wind (the wind was coming to us *directly* from Fiji, and we were hove-to, rolling in the swell all day today waiting for a front to pass and the wind to swap W-S-SSE. Tonight, we have had mixed conditions (to the point that Max even had to motor through some low winds and swells during his evening watch) and for the last few hours, we have been on a broad reach and heading within about 30-40 deg of our course.
Assuming no further changes in our plans we expect to arrive in Savusavu on Friday, where we will spend a couple of days clearing in and provisioning, then we will join our friends on Exodus, Nautilus, Nirvana, and maybe others, in the Lau Group for a few weeks.
Of course, we could have headed for Fiji directly two weeks ago - this would have been much simpler! The thing is that it didn't really hit me how much our kids were going to be missing all their friends (and to be honest, how much I would be missing the keeping-our-sanity contact with the moms & dads) until we were well on our way. We could have carried on to Tonga (which is beautiful, and where we would have known one kid boat with younger kids, and several non-kid boats) but we made the choice to put more importance on friendship than on keeping to our plan. Tonga will still be there next year. It has been a bit of an ordeal to get on a good course for Fiji mid-passage, but we are now heading in the right direction. It is easy to pay lip-service to friendships, but it feels good to demonstrate to our kids that we can also take action to sustain them (and it is never too late to change course). Seems to me that this is food for thought in any context...
On that note, I will sign off.
Love to all
Elizabeth
-----
At 5/23/2015 11:10 PM (utc) SV Fluenta was 24°35.00'S 179°44.00'E
----------
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for information see: http://www.sailmail.com
Monday, 25 May 2015
23 May 15 - On passage - Day 7 - Headwinds
Hello,
A short note tonight because it is getting lumpy. Winds are only 15-20, but they are on the nose, which is not really comfortable.
We had a fun afternoon - Benjamin missed shower day yesterday, so we gave him a bath in one of our blue tubs in the cockpit. He sat, leaning against the side of the tub because the boat was heeling, and played with his stacking cups for ages. It was lovely, warm, and sunny, so it was a nice way to break up the afternoon (and to combat the heat rash which is already beginning to develop on his neck & back).
Jesus is such a delight to have on board - he and Johnathan played an iPod version of "Risk" for a good part of the afternoon (with great shouts of laughter and disgust errupting from them as they each tried to take over the other's part of the world), he cooked dinner (curried chicken that I canned in NZ), and kept Benjamin safe while I had a quick after-dinner pre-watch nap.
It is pretty easy to get out of synch with our sleeping - I had a later than normal night watch last night because I woke Max to haul up the main in the middle of his off-watch, then I had a later sleep-in this morning which meant no need for the usual afternoon nap. Meanwhile, Max was on watch from about 0300 until well into the morning, which meant that he needed a longer sleep during the day ... all to say that we pay close attention to crew fatigue and adjust accordingly so that we are each getting the sleep we need, even if it means that not every day looks like the one before. Many boats (but probably few cruising couples) have more rigid schedules, but our flexible approach is working for us.
My thoughts about the sea are not as poetic tonight as they have been (it is no longer molten glass that we are gliding through) ... but still, the sky (mostly clear, with the odd heavy cloud) looks down on us, and the stars are completely unperturbed by any trials below. It is a good reminder, I think!
With that, I will sign off and wish you a good evening (morning)!
Love to all,
Elizabeth
-----
At 5/23/2015 9:48 AM (utc) SV Fluenta was 24°42.00'S 179°48.00'W
----------
radio email processed by SailMail
for information see: http://www.sailmail.com
A short note tonight because it is getting lumpy. Winds are only 15-20, but they are on the nose, which is not really comfortable.
We had a fun afternoon - Benjamin missed shower day yesterday, so we gave him a bath in one of our blue tubs in the cockpit. He sat, leaning against the side of the tub because the boat was heeling, and played with his stacking cups for ages. It was lovely, warm, and sunny, so it was a nice way to break up the afternoon (and to combat the heat rash which is already beginning to develop on his neck & back).
Jesus is such a delight to have on board - he and Johnathan played an iPod version of "Risk" for a good part of the afternoon (with great shouts of laughter and disgust errupting from them as they each tried to take over the other's part of the world), he cooked dinner (curried chicken that I canned in NZ), and kept Benjamin safe while I had a quick after-dinner pre-watch nap.
It is pretty easy to get out of synch with our sleeping - I had a later than normal night watch last night because I woke Max to haul up the main in the middle of his off-watch, then I had a later sleep-in this morning which meant no need for the usual afternoon nap. Meanwhile, Max was on watch from about 0300 until well into the morning, which meant that he needed a longer sleep during the day ... all to say that we pay close attention to crew fatigue and adjust accordingly so that we are each getting the sleep we need, even if it means that not every day looks like the one before. Many boats (but probably few cruising couples) have more rigid schedules, but our flexible approach is working for us.
My thoughts about the sea are not as poetic tonight as they have been (it is no longer molten glass that we are gliding through) ... but still, the sky (mostly clear, with the odd heavy cloud) looks down on us, and the stars are completely unperturbed by any trials below. It is a good reminder, I think!
With that, I will sign off and wish you a good evening (morning)!
Love to all,
Elizabeth
-----
At 5/23/2015 9:48 AM (utc) SV Fluenta was 24°42.00'S 179°48.00'W
----------
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21 May 15 - Passage to Tonga (possibly via Minerva) Day 5 - Motorboat day
[Note that this should have been released prior to the "Day 6" letter ! Max]
Greetings from "Motor Vessel" Fluenta,
We started motoring last night just around midnight, and it is likely that we will motor well into tomorrow (approx 48 hrs). We started at 6 kts, and were really pleased with our fuel economy (after overhauling the injector pump and re-adjusting the angle of the propellor blades, we are using noticeably less fuel than last year - for those who care, it is less than 1 gal/hour, which is in line with what others with our engine generally get, and which we hadn't been achieving). We are now going at just over 6.5 kts, so we will cover slightly more distance in the next 24 hours. The wind is expected to fill in late tomorrow.
The seas are flat, with subtle, but constant, ocean swells. The view is mesmerizing - the gently rolling ocean stretches away from us in every direction like a carpet, while we go up and down like a pony on a slow motion carousel, and the sky is clear, with either small puffy clouds or wide swaths that look like white cotton that has been combed and stretched - and it was sunny enough to dry diapers between noon (when they got hung) and 4:30 (when it was starting to get dark/damp). Now that it is dark, the milky way stretches from one horizon to the other like a rainbow of stars, and the rest of the sky is densely packed with still-unfamiliar constellations. When we were in Whangarei, the Southern Cross looked as if it was on its own in a patch of black sky; here at sea, it is almost hard to pick out because its stars have so many neighbours. (Aside - the wringer that my Dad & Max overhauled during our off-season is working super-well, and with its new bolts, I have managed to mount it really firmly between our kitchen sinks, unlike last year, when it was always a little loose an precarious. In the spirit of "use what you have" I use 2"x6" pieces of green "scrubby/toughy" sponges(the kind meant for pots) under the brackets of the wringer when I mount it, so it doesn't slip, and I am able to tighten the (new, stainless steel) bolts snuggly without marking the sink).
The highlight of today was the bread that Victoria baked (pretty much by herself). We used the recipe for whole wheat bread in the Fanny Farmer cookbook (that was aboard when we bought the boat ... good thing I kept it when I bought the Joy of Cooking app for the iPad, since it is not working!); however, the mix of whole wheat flour to white was "whatever we have on hand" as opposed to the 1:2 in the cookbook. When I went for my off-watch afternoon nap, she had a bowl of dough; when I woke up, the first tray of braided bread was coming out of the oven, followed by another braided loaf and a yummy cinnamon version of her own concoction (loosely based on Auntie Sarah's yummy bread). This will not be her last batch, I am sure (and now that Max & my dad have fixed the sparker on the oven, she is allowed to light it herself, which makes her even more independent).
It was calm enough this afternoon that Johnathan and Jesus sharpened our knives with a kit that we got at Lee Valley Tools last year. The knife is mounted in a little bracket, which has guides for several different grades (angles) of blade, and it comes with three different sharpening stones. That they managed to do this while Benjamin played at their feet speaks to the conditions today!
Jesus has been learning more and more about the boat and how we do things; he has also spent hours watching Benjamin, preparing meals, and washing dishes. He volunteered to do his first solo night watch tonight since we are motoring, and he has also been in the cockpit while Max and I have been on watch but down below. Given that he was starting from scratch when we left the Town Basin less than a week ago, he is doing pretty well!
You might be wondering when I am going to start describing all the sea creatures we have been seeing ... well, we are wondering when we are going to start to see them! As with last year, there has not been much in the way of wildlife to be seen above the surface of the ocean. We have caught one fish, and two have gotten away (just as well, as the freezer & fridge is already full). We will start fishing again tomorrow, and we will see what we catch. We are hoping to see whales once we get to Tonga, so we will keep you posted :)
That is about all the news for tonight. We are well & happy & all speaking to each other, no one is seasick, everyone's tummy is full tonight of our albacore with rice & veg (we have a tasty but limited menu at this restaurant...), and we are looking forward to arriving in a few days, either at Minerva (becoming less likely) or at Tongatapu (becoming more likely).
Love to all,
Elizabeth
-----
At 2015/05/21 9:06 AM (utc) SV Fluenta was 28°18.00'S 179°06.00'E
-----
At 5/25/2015 1:44 PM (utc) SV Fluenta was 21°34.00'S 179°56.00'E
----------
radio email processed by SailMail
for information see: http://www.sailmail.com
Greetings from "Motor Vessel" Fluenta,
We started motoring last night just around midnight, and it is likely that we will motor well into tomorrow (approx 48 hrs). We started at 6 kts, and were really pleased with our fuel economy (after overhauling the injector pump and re-adjusting the angle of the propellor blades, we are using noticeably less fuel than last year - for those who care, it is less than 1 gal/hour, which is in line with what others with our engine generally get, and which we hadn't been achieving). We are now going at just over 6.5 kts, so we will cover slightly more distance in the next 24 hours. The wind is expected to fill in late tomorrow.
The seas are flat, with subtle, but constant, ocean swells. The view is mesmerizing - the gently rolling ocean stretches away from us in every direction like a carpet, while we go up and down like a pony on a slow motion carousel, and the sky is clear, with either small puffy clouds or wide swaths that look like white cotton that has been combed and stretched - and it was sunny enough to dry diapers between noon (when they got hung) and 4:30 (when it was starting to get dark/damp). Now that it is dark, the milky way stretches from one horizon to the other like a rainbow of stars, and the rest of the sky is densely packed with still-unfamiliar constellations. When we were in Whangarei, the Southern Cross looked as if it was on its own in a patch of black sky; here at sea, it is almost hard to pick out because its stars have so many neighbours. (Aside - the wringer that my Dad & Max overhauled during our off-season is working super-well, and with its new bolts, I have managed to mount it really firmly between our kitchen sinks, unlike last year, when it was always a little loose an precarious. In the spirit of "use what you have" I use 2"x6" pieces of green "scrubby/toughy" sponges(the kind meant for pots) under the brackets of the wringer when I mount it, so it doesn't slip, and I am able to tighten the (new, stainless steel) bolts snuggly without marking the sink).
The highlight of today was the bread that Victoria baked (pretty much by herself). We used the recipe for whole wheat bread in the Fanny Farmer cookbook (that was aboard when we bought the boat ... good thing I kept it when I bought the Joy of Cooking app for the iPad, since it is not working!); however, the mix of whole wheat flour to white was "whatever we have on hand" as opposed to the 1:2 in the cookbook. When I went for my off-watch afternoon nap, she had a bowl of dough; when I woke up, the first tray of braided bread was coming out of the oven, followed by another braided loaf and a yummy cinnamon version of her own concoction (loosely based on Auntie Sarah's yummy bread). This will not be her last batch, I am sure (and now that Max & my dad have fixed the sparker on the oven, she is allowed to light it herself, which makes her even more independent).
It was calm enough this afternoon that Johnathan and Jesus sharpened our knives with a kit that we got at Lee Valley Tools last year. The knife is mounted in a little bracket, which has guides for several different grades (angles) of blade, and it comes with three different sharpening stones. That they managed to do this while Benjamin played at their feet speaks to the conditions today!
Jesus has been learning more and more about the boat and how we do things; he has also spent hours watching Benjamin, preparing meals, and washing dishes. He volunteered to do his first solo night watch tonight since we are motoring, and he has also been in the cockpit while Max and I have been on watch but down below. Given that he was starting from scratch when we left the Town Basin less than a week ago, he is doing pretty well!
You might be wondering when I am going to start describing all the sea creatures we have been seeing ... well, we are wondering when we are going to start to see them! As with last year, there has not been much in the way of wildlife to be seen above the surface of the ocean. We have caught one fish, and two have gotten away (just as well, as the freezer & fridge is already full). We will start fishing again tomorrow, and we will see what we catch. We are hoping to see whales once we get to Tonga, so we will keep you posted :)
That is about all the news for tonight. We are well & happy & all speaking to each other, no one is seasick, everyone's tummy is full tonight of our albacore with rice & veg (we have a tasty but limited menu at this restaurant...), and we are looking forward to arriving in a few days, either at Minerva (becoming less likely) or at Tongatapu (becoming more likely).
Love to all,
Elizabeth
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At 2015/05/21 9:06 AM (utc) SV Fluenta was 28°18.00'S 179°06.00'E
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At 5/25/2015 1:44 PM (utc) SV Fluenta was 21°34.00'S 179°56.00'E
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Friday, 22 May 2015
22 May 15 - Passage to Tonga (not likely via Minerva) - Day 6 - Still motoring
[Note that this post should be read after the Day 5 post that follows]
Hello!
We are still motoring on a glassy blue carpet. It was a good day to do some tidying below decks in preparation for turning this floating campervan back into a sailboat in the next few hours. I collected all the foulies & fleeces - we don't need them at the moment, but we are not necessarily done with them yet - and even swept the saloon floor! When the wind fills in, it is likely to be on the nose, so it could be harder work for the last few days of the passage.
I am not sure I can describe the water as we glide through it. The colour is a deep, deep blue, and it is so smooth at times that it is like we are moving through molten glass. Even the kids were exclaiming to each other about it today.
With the engine running, we had loads of (hot) water, so it was shower day today. (Yes, we can shower on passage, and No, we don't do it very often). We have had continuous problems (ie since Mexico) with the shower drain (one time it was Lego in the hose, but Max blew that through ...) and today was no different. Usually, Max opens up the floor of the saloon to access the grey water system, but since we are on passage (and we have bags and bags of food & supplies stowed there) we used a simpler solution to clear away the water from the shower floor - we used our portable bilge pump into a bucket. Plumbing can wait til Tonga! It may be that there is a length of hose that will need to be replaced, but we will make do with what we have as long as possible, as the "proper fix" would involve removing and re-fiberglassing the entire shower floor. Not fun!
It is kind of like we have sailed into spring from late winter. When we left NZ, I needed two tops, two fleeces, foulie bottoms, a foulie jacket and a woolen cap for night watches, in addition to my life vest and tether (try nursing a cranky baby, who is also bundled for the cold, with all those layers, and you will see why we have headed for the tropics!). It was not much warmer in the daytime. Now we have daytime temps into the mid-20's (shorts & tshirts are more the order of the day) and it is just a little cooler at night (I still need a fleece). I am wondering how much longer we will be sleeping under our duvets and blankets...
No extraordinary kitchen accomplishments to report today (although we are continuing to enjoy Victoria's bread from yesterday). We vacuum-packed some regular deli meat in NZ, so we are still enjoying fresh wraps at noon time (Jesus is a whiz at laying out a tempting buffet of veggies, cheeses, and meats). Dinner was an all-you-can-eat smorgasboard (ie leftovers - pork & rice, fish & rice, and fresh veggies). I have our first batch of yogurt curing on the stove (for the curious, I use 400 mL of whole milk powder, 900 mL of 120 deg water, and sit it in mason jars in a hot-water bath (slightly more than 120 deg) in our pressure cooker for 5 or so hours). With the engine running, our tap water (which routes through the engine compartment) is about 160 deg, so I didn't even need to boil the kettle!
The wind is starting to build, so I think we will be sailing again before long. We are leaning away from stopping at Minerva now, and aiming for Tonga. ETA there is early Wednesday. We shall see.
I feel a tiny bit closer to friends and family tonight - we crossed back into the "Western Hemisphere" today, and are now counting down our longitude from 179 deg W.
Love to all,
Elizabeth
Manual position - 25 deg 43.2 S 179 deg 42.5 W at 1140 UTC 22 May 15
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-----
At 5/22/2015 7:51 PM (utc) SV Fluenta was 25°06.00'S 179°57.21'E
----------
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for information see: http://www.sailmail.com
Hello!
We are still motoring on a glassy blue carpet. It was a good day to do some tidying below decks in preparation for turning this floating campervan back into a sailboat in the next few hours. I collected all the foulies & fleeces - we don't need them at the moment, but we are not necessarily done with them yet - and even swept the saloon floor! When the wind fills in, it is likely to be on the nose, so it could be harder work for the last few days of the passage.
I am not sure I can describe the water as we glide through it. The colour is a deep, deep blue, and it is so smooth at times that it is like we are moving through molten glass. Even the kids were exclaiming to each other about it today.
With the engine running, we had loads of (hot) water, so it was shower day today. (Yes, we can shower on passage, and No, we don't do it very often). We have had continuous problems (ie since Mexico) with the shower drain (one time it was Lego in the hose, but Max blew that through ...) and today was no different. Usually, Max opens up the floor of the saloon to access the grey water system, but since we are on passage (and we have bags and bags of food & supplies stowed there) we used a simpler solution to clear away the water from the shower floor - we used our portable bilge pump into a bucket. Plumbing can wait til Tonga! It may be that there is a length of hose that will need to be replaced, but we will make do with what we have as long as possible, as the "proper fix" would involve removing and re-fiberglassing the entire shower floor. Not fun!
It is kind of like we have sailed into spring from late winter. When we left NZ, I needed two tops, two fleeces, foulie bottoms, a foulie jacket and a woolen cap for night watches, in addition to my life vest and tether (try nursing a cranky baby, who is also bundled for the cold, with all those layers, and you will see why we have headed for the tropics!). It was not much warmer in the daytime. Now we have daytime temps into the mid-20's (shorts & tshirts are more the order of the day) and it is just a little cooler at night (I still need a fleece). I am wondering how much longer we will be sleeping under our duvets and blankets...
No extraordinary kitchen accomplishments to report today (although we are continuing to enjoy Victoria's bread from yesterday). We vacuum-packed some regular deli meat in NZ, so we are still enjoying fresh wraps at noon time (Jesus is a whiz at laying out a tempting buffet of veggies, cheeses, and meats). Dinner was an all-you-can-eat smorgasboard (ie leftovers - pork & rice, fish & rice, and fresh veggies). I have our first batch of yogurt curing on the stove (for the curious, I use 400 mL of whole milk powder, 900 mL of 120 deg water, and sit it in mason jars in a hot-water bath (slightly more than 120 deg) in our pressure cooker for 5 or so hours). With the engine running, our tap water (which routes through the engine compartment) is about 160 deg, so I didn't even need to boil the kettle!
The wind is starting to build, so I think we will be sailing again before long. We are leaning away from stopping at Minerva now, and aiming for Tonga. ETA there is early Wednesday. We shall see.
I feel a tiny bit closer to friends and family tonight - we crossed back into the "Western Hemisphere" today, and are now counting down our longitude from 179 deg W.
Love to all,
Elizabeth
Manual position - 25 deg 43.2 S 179 deg 42.5 W at 1140 UTC 22 May 15
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-----
At 5/22/2015 7:51 PM (utc) SV Fluenta was 25°06.00'S 179°57.21'E
----------
radio email processed by SailMail
for information see: http://www.sailmail.com
Thursday, 21 May 2015
20 May 15 - On passage to Tonga (hopefully via Minerva) - Day 4 - A beautiful day of sailing
Hello,
Up until today, I must admit that I have had a few moments of wondering what on earth possessed us to trade in our perfectly normal existence (jobs, cars, house, life ashore) for rolly seas, cold weather, and a constant need for one more hand than I had (Note for the moms & concerned-something-terrible-is-about-to-happen-to-us folks on the list - I was uncomfortable and grouchy, but things were never dangerous. It was simply the sea doing what the sea does (waves) and the boat doing what boats do (rolling)).
Today, I got my answer to why on earth we not only did this, but dreamed of doing it for years before we left. It was a lovely day from start to finish. We have made enough northerly progress that the grey of sky and sea has evolved into the deep blue that I remember from last season. During the morning, we had steady winds that set us cruising along gently on a broad reach. We could have gone faster, but we still had a reef in from overnight, and sleep trumps speed. We shake out reefs when we are both awake. In the afternoon, we flew our new spinnaker (purchased last season from friends during our stay at Minerva Reef). We put our "ATN Tacker" to use (a plastic thing that lets us fasten the bottom of the spinnaker to the furled genoa), and it worked really well. This evening, the wind has dropped significantly (down to 6-10 kts) but it has also come forward of the beam, so we are ghosting along on a close reach, generally maintaining a boat speed of 5-7 kts. This boat sails really efficiently on this point of sail, so it doesn't take much to move us. The clear blue sky with puffy clouds of the day has given way to a clear starry night. It is still chilly enough that I am glad of layers and foulies, but the wooly hat has become optional. (Victoria is even sleeping in the cockpit). When the winds drop further, I will have to start the engine, but this I will delay as long as possible. There have been several times when I thought we had reached the limit of slowness, and I was gearing up to start making noise, and then the wind picked up and we were doing 7 kts! Thankfully, the current is in our favour at the moment.
The morning had a bit of a funny start, wind-wise. We had consistent winds from the south for most of the trip, and all of a sudden, just as we were about to listen to the morning radio net and get the weather analysis, we had a 200-deg wind shift. We followed the wind, and I hand-steered while Max participated in the net; we basically drove in the wrong direction for almost an hour. Thankfully the winds were light. We decided to gybe the boat to put ourselves somewhere back towards our course, brought in the main sail, swapped the preventer line to the other side, furled the genoa ... and the wind shifted again! It went back to its southerly direction, steady as anything, as if it had never left. We decided not to gybe, swapped the preventer back, let out the main, unfurled the genoa, and found ourselves perfectly following our desired course! (For the weather curious - there seemed to have been some kind of band of clouds / squalls that we passed, so obviously they exerted their influence, then were gone... )
Benjamin is growing up before our eyes. He is steady on his feet now, and maneuvers around the boat with ease. The biggest change is that he has discovered that the big kids have been watching cartoons on their iPod, and now he wants in on the action! It is funny as a card carrying non-video-watching-before-two-years-old mom to see myself letting him watch with Victoria & Johnathan - he heaps himself on top of them, and is instantly absorbed. (Of course, this is why I don't like babies watching videos ... but sometimes it is nice to buy myself some peace!) The phrase "everything in moderation" comes to mind!
We had some whipping cream in the fridge which had an expiry date of today, so obviously, we needed to make pancakes this morning to use it up! Victoria and I made a nice brunch of banana pancakes with whipped cream during our morning watch. It was also a bit of a mid-passage brunch - we still have several days to go.
Dinner tonight was the albacore tuna we caught a couple of days ago, with rice and stir-fried veg. It is so much more enticing to be in the galley when the boat is flat! With the spinnaker run, dinner was late (ie eaten in the dark), so Benjamin and I ate in the galley where he could see his food. He sat in his favourite place - on top of the counter - and shovelled in fistfuls of rice. He wouldn't have been able to do that a couple of nights ago!
Most evenings, just after dark/dinner, Victoria heads for her bunk, and she is then on-deck to help Max not long after sunrise. Johnathan likes to read or visit in the cockpit later into the evening, and joins us later in the morning. When we are on passage, and there is someone awake 24/7, it is nice that both kids can find their natural routine and sleep/wake cycle. This would be another of those benefits of leaving home to travel like this that seemed so far from my mind earlier in the week!
It is a good thing that we are not relying on our iPad for navigation. It has decided to stop working, or at least all the apps that are not native to it crash when we open them. Hopefully we can play with backup/restore (perhaps this is an IOS issue?) when we get to anchor, but it was a good reminder that it is a nice device when it works, but we are glad to have a "proper" chartplotter, laptop, paper charts [and two sextants and tables, and two handheld GPS, and various other bits and pieces. Max] as well! Victoria and Johnathan have done well with only one device the last two days - paper books have absorbed them (both novels and the minecraft "for dummies" books that Johnathan was given at Christmas time), and they have been watching the same five cartoon episodes with Benjamin that we loaded on their iPod in NZ.
That seems as good a place to leave it as any ... the wind is dying, and it is time to start the engine.
Love to all,
Elizabeth
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At 2015/05/20 2:07 PM (utc) SV Fluenta was 29°58.59'S 178°26.13'E
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At 2015/05/21 1:56 AM (utc) SV Fluenta was 28°58.00'S 178°51.00'E
----------
radio email processed by SailMail
for information see: http://www.sailmail.com
Up until today, I must admit that I have had a few moments of wondering what on earth possessed us to trade in our perfectly normal existence (jobs, cars, house, life ashore) for rolly seas, cold weather, and a constant need for one more hand than I had (Note for the moms & concerned-something-terrible-is-about-to-happen-to-us folks on the list - I was uncomfortable and grouchy, but things were never dangerous. It was simply the sea doing what the sea does (waves) and the boat doing what boats do (rolling)).
Today, I got my answer to why on earth we not only did this, but dreamed of doing it for years before we left. It was a lovely day from start to finish. We have made enough northerly progress that the grey of sky and sea has evolved into the deep blue that I remember from last season. During the morning, we had steady winds that set us cruising along gently on a broad reach. We could have gone faster, but we still had a reef in from overnight, and sleep trumps speed. We shake out reefs when we are both awake. In the afternoon, we flew our new spinnaker (purchased last season from friends during our stay at Minerva Reef). We put our "ATN Tacker" to use (a plastic thing that lets us fasten the bottom of the spinnaker to the furled genoa), and it worked really well. This evening, the wind has dropped significantly (down to 6-10 kts) but it has also come forward of the beam, so we are ghosting along on a close reach, generally maintaining a boat speed of 5-7 kts. This boat sails really efficiently on this point of sail, so it doesn't take much to move us. The clear blue sky with puffy clouds of the day has given way to a clear starry night. It is still chilly enough that I am glad of layers and foulies, but the wooly hat has become optional. (Victoria is even sleeping in the cockpit). When the winds drop further, I will have to start the engine, but this I will delay as long as possible. There have been several times when I thought we had reached the limit of slowness, and I was gearing up to start making noise, and then the wind picked up and we were doing 7 kts! Thankfully, the current is in our favour at the moment.
The morning had a bit of a funny start, wind-wise. We had consistent winds from the south for most of the trip, and all of a sudden, just as we were about to listen to the morning radio net and get the weather analysis, we had a 200-deg wind shift. We followed the wind, and I hand-steered while Max participated in the net; we basically drove in the wrong direction for almost an hour. Thankfully the winds were light. We decided to gybe the boat to put ourselves somewhere back towards our course, brought in the main sail, swapped the preventer line to the other side, furled the genoa ... and the wind shifted again! It went back to its southerly direction, steady as anything, as if it had never left. We decided not to gybe, swapped the preventer back, let out the main, unfurled the genoa, and found ourselves perfectly following our desired course! (For the weather curious - there seemed to have been some kind of band of clouds / squalls that we passed, so obviously they exerted their influence, then were gone... )
Benjamin is growing up before our eyes. He is steady on his feet now, and maneuvers around the boat with ease. The biggest change is that he has discovered that the big kids have been watching cartoons on their iPod, and now he wants in on the action! It is funny as a card carrying non-video-watching-before-two-years-old mom to see myself letting him watch with Victoria & Johnathan - he heaps himself on top of them, and is instantly absorbed. (Of course, this is why I don't like babies watching videos ... but sometimes it is nice to buy myself some peace!) The phrase "everything in moderation" comes to mind!
We had some whipping cream in the fridge which had an expiry date of today, so obviously, we needed to make pancakes this morning to use it up! Victoria and I made a nice brunch of banana pancakes with whipped cream during our morning watch. It was also a bit of a mid-passage brunch - we still have several days to go.
Dinner tonight was the albacore tuna we caught a couple of days ago, with rice and stir-fried veg. It is so much more enticing to be in the galley when the boat is flat! With the spinnaker run, dinner was late (ie eaten in the dark), so Benjamin and I ate in the galley where he could see his food. He sat in his favourite place - on top of the counter - and shovelled in fistfuls of rice. He wouldn't have been able to do that a couple of nights ago!
Most evenings, just after dark/dinner, Victoria heads for her bunk, and she is then on-deck to help Max not long after sunrise. Johnathan likes to read or visit in the cockpit later into the evening, and joins us later in the morning. When we are on passage, and there is someone awake 24/7, it is nice that both kids can find their natural routine and sleep/wake cycle. This would be another of those benefits of leaving home to travel like this that seemed so far from my mind earlier in the week!
It is a good thing that we are not relying on our iPad for navigation. It has decided to stop working, or at least all the apps that are not native to it crash when we open them. Hopefully we can play with backup/restore (perhaps this is an IOS issue?) when we get to anchor, but it was a good reminder that it is a nice device when it works, but we are glad to have a "proper" chartplotter, laptop, paper charts [and two sextants and tables, and two handheld GPS, and various other bits and pieces. Max] as well! Victoria and Johnathan have done well with only one device the last two days - paper books have absorbed them (both novels and the minecraft "for dummies" books that Johnathan was given at Christmas time), and they have been watching the same five cartoon episodes with Benjamin that we loaded on their iPod in NZ.
That seems as good a place to leave it as any ... the wind is dying, and it is time to start the engine.
Love to all,
Elizabeth
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At 2015/05/20 2:07 PM (utc) SV Fluenta was 29°58.59'S 178°26.13'E
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At 2015/05/21 1:56 AM (utc) SV Fluenta was 28°58.00'S 178°51.00'E
----------
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for information see: http://www.sailmail.com
Tuesday, 19 May 2015
19 May 15 - Passage to Minerva Day 3 - Finding our groove
Hello!
We are finding our groove. As much as we will all be glad to relax at anchor in Minerva Reef, we have had pretty good conditions for crossing an ocean today. Winds have mostly been in the 15-20 kts range, with a few spells higher than that to keep us on our toes. The sea state has been friendly - the odd funny roll, but mostly pretty benign. Boat speed has been in the 6.5-7.5 kts range, which is just right.
Johnathan contributed in a new way today - we were having interference problems again between the HF radio and the autopilot, and it was Johnathan who sat at the nav table and did our upload/download of email traffic, with Max at the helm.
Over the last few weeks, Victoria has taught herself to crochet (with the help of various online tutorials) and she has nearly finished her first project. It is lovely to watch how she perseveres when she has set her mind to something.
We are over 1/3 of the way to Minerva, and tomorrow we should be approximately half way. Despite the vastness of the ocean, we are still in and out of VHF range with some of the boats who left Whangarei when we did. Now that everyone seems to be out of their early-passage inertia, there may be some interest in something yummy for brunch. We shall see ...
A short note for tonight, but it gives you a little insight into our daily routine, and lets you know that we are doing well and thinking about you.
Love,
Elizabeth
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At 2015/05/19 1:52 PM (utc) SV Fluenta was 31°29.00'S 177°00.00'E
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At 2015/05/19 2:40 PM (utc) SV Fluenta was 31°26.63'S 177°04.94'E
----------
radio email processed by SailMail
for information see: http://www.sailmail.com
We are finding our groove. As much as we will all be glad to relax at anchor in Minerva Reef, we have had pretty good conditions for crossing an ocean today. Winds have mostly been in the 15-20 kts range, with a few spells higher than that to keep us on our toes. The sea state has been friendly - the odd funny roll, but mostly pretty benign. Boat speed has been in the 6.5-7.5 kts range, which is just right.
Johnathan contributed in a new way today - we were having interference problems again between the HF radio and the autopilot, and it was Johnathan who sat at the nav table and did our upload/download of email traffic, with Max at the helm.
Over the last few weeks, Victoria has taught herself to crochet (with the help of various online tutorials) and she has nearly finished her first project. It is lovely to watch how she perseveres when she has set her mind to something.
We are over 1/3 of the way to Minerva, and tomorrow we should be approximately half way. Despite the vastness of the ocean, we are still in and out of VHF range with some of the boats who left Whangarei when we did. Now that everyone seems to be out of their early-passage inertia, there may be some interest in something yummy for brunch. We shall see ...
A short note for tonight, but it gives you a little insight into our daily routine, and lets you know that we are doing well and thinking about you.
Love,
Elizabeth
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At 2015/05/19 1:52 PM (utc) SV Fluenta was 31°29.00'S 177°00.00'E
-----
At 2015/05/19 2:40 PM (utc) SV Fluenta was 31°26.63'S 177°04.94'E
----------
radio email processed by SailMail
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18 May 15 - Passage to Tonga (Minerva) - Day 2 - Catching fish and getting our sea legs
Hello!
We had a lovely day on passage today. Max and the kids caught a fish just after sunrise, and when it was filleted, we had seven bags for the freezer and two for the fridge. I was relieved to find that many nooks and crannies in the freezer, because I already had it pretty full of NZ beef, lamb, and chicken...
Benjamin is getting his sea legs, and has been brave enough to stand up and try to move around. His new harness is easier to adjust, so he wears it constantly in the cockpit, but we are able to take it off down below.
We are still decked out in all our foulie layers (jackets, pants, fleeces, leggings, wooly socks and boots). Even Benjamin is wearing his MEC "pumpkin suit" (which makes him orange and round) when he is upstairs. We have just gybed and set a course of 330 deg M, which has a good northerly component, so things should hopefully warm up considerably over the next 24 hours. Although it is still cool, it is not nearly as cold as it was when we left NZ.
Our winds have been steady at 15-20 kts, and we had some gusts into the high 20's overnight tonight. While everyone else was sleeping at the handover of our watches, Max and I worked together to reef the main and then gybe it across (while the autopilot decided to take a break for awhile). Given that it was nighttime and rather rolly, we furled in the genoa completely before the gybe, which meant that the lines did not get fouled on the inner forestay, cleats, etc that lie in wait for them on the foredeck. The whole operation worked well (and was rather fun, in fact), and it made me realize that I *like* sailing when I don't also have three children clambouring for attention. In a rolly sea after two hours of wrangling both baby and boat earlier in my watch, this was a surprising revelation!
Said baby is now calling me, having slept on the port settee during our evolutions, so I will sign off!
Love to all,
Elizabeth
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At 2015/05/18 4:25 PM (utc) SV Fluenta was 33°18.00'S 176°39.00'E
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At 2015/05/18 10:06 PM (utc) SV Fluenta was 32°43.71'S 176°32.39'E
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radio email processed by SailMail
for information see: http://www.sailmail.com
We had a lovely day on passage today. Max and the kids caught a fish just after sunrise, and when it was filleted, we had seven bags for the freezer and two for the fridge. I was relieved to find that many nooks and crannies in the freezer, because I already had it pretty full of NZ beef, lamb, and chicken...
Benjamin is getting his sea legs, and has been brave enough to stand up and try to move around. His new harness is easier to adjust, so he wears it constantly in the cockpit, but we are able to take it off down below.
We are still decked out in all our foulie layers (jackets, pants, fleeces, leggings, wooly socks and boots). Even Benjamin is wearing his MEC "pumpkin suit" (which makes him orange and round) when he is upstairs. We have just gybed and set a course of 330 deg M, which has a good northerly component, so things should hopefully warm up considerably over the next 24 hours. Although it is still cool, it is not nearly as cold as it was when we left NZ.
Our winds have been steady at 15-20 kts, and we had some gusts into the high 20's overnight tonight. While everyone else was sleeping at the handover of our watches, Max and I worked together to reef the main and then gybe it across (while the autopilot decided to take a break for awhile). Given that it was nighttime and rather rolly, we furled in the genoa completely before the gybe, which meant that the lines did not get fouled on the inner forestay, cleats, etc that lie in wait for them on the foredeck. The whole operation worked well (and was rather fun, in fact), and it made me realize that I *like* sailing when I don't also have three children clambouring for attention. In a rolly sea after two hours of wrangling both baby and boat earlier in my watch, this was a surprising revelation!
Said baby is now calling me, having slept on the port settee during our evolutions, so I will sign off!
Love to all,
Elizabeth
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At 2015/05/18 4:25 PM (utc) SV Fluenta was 33°18.00'S 176°39.00'E
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At 2015/05/18 10:06 PM (utc) SV Fluenta was 32°43.71'S 176°32.39'E
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Monday, 18 May 2015
17 May 15 - Passage to Tonga (likely via Minerva Reef) - Day 1
Liz Letter End of Day 1 (17 May 15)
Greetings and salutations!
It is a long time since I last sat at the chart table during a night watch to catch you up on our doings. For old times' sake, Benjamin woke up just as I started typing, so once again, I am typing one-handed with a (much larger than last season) baby nursing in my lap. The one change is that now he sometimes sleeps in the bunk, so he is not on my chest in the carrier all night. I feel much lighter :)
After months of maintenance, travel, visitors, stowing, provisioning, etc, we have made it off the dock, and have had an ideal day of sailing to get our sea legs back. Despite the 8000 nm he has already done, the whole experience seems new to Benjamin. He is *not* impressed by his harness or tether, and he is a bit wobbly on his feet. I guess this is understandable, since he wasn't even walking when we got to NZ. So far, there have not been too many crashes below decks, so it seems that we have done pretty well at "securing for sea". A few days ago, I said that we would need a miracle, and it would seem that we got one. Hundreds of cans and over 100kg of dry goods (rice, flour, oats, and sugar) all found their way into cubbies and compartments. Both saloon benches are available for sleeping on during the passage. It feels good to be ready!
Our departure just before 2pm went smoothly. The wind had picked up, but we had a lull in the wind when we went to spring off the dock. A lad from a neighbouring boat appeared to handle our lines from the dock, and we slipped away with no issues. Everyone had a turn on the helm as we were leaving the bay. It is fun to see Victoria and Johnathan confidently handling the boat, steering by the channel markers and avoiding traffic. Jesus coiled lines and stowed fenders, and is now monitoring the cockpit on his first night watch. We have good conditions for now - 15-20 kts behind us, and we have the autopilot (Sammy) on wind-hold, within about 10 deg of our desired course. Our track is expected to take us on anything but a straight line, as we follow the wind to Minerva reef.
There were about 15 boats leaving Marsden Cove Marina this morning, but we only have two contacts left on our AIS - the fleet has already dispersed. We will see some folks in Minerva Reef, some in NZ when we return, and some at some unknown future date. Such is the cruising life.
Dinner tonight was our own canned chicken (thanks Dad & Mom for lids and pressure cooker gasket) with pasta and veg. We snacked all day on the apple & cinnamon muffins that Victoria made us before we left.
I am (so far, touch wood, etc, etc) feeling pretty good. This is likely due as much to the calm sea state as it is to the "Sealegs" (Bonamine), essential oils, and homeopathic remedies I have been using; however, I will not make this long, as I want to keep things that way!
Love to all,
Liz
-----
-----
At 5/18/2015 7:42 AM (utc) SV Fluenta was 33°26.01'S 175°28.74'E
----------
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for information see: http://www.sailmail.com
Greetings and salutations!
It is a long time since I last sat at the chart table during a night watch to catch you up on our doings. For old times' sake, Benjamin woke up just as I started typing, so once again, I am typing one-handed with a (much larger than last season) baby nursing in my lap. The one change is that now he sometimes sleeps in the bunk, so he is not on my chest in the carrier all night. I feel much lighter :)
After months of maintenance, travel, visitors, stowing, provisioning, etc, we have made it off the dock, and have had an ideal day of sailing to get our sea legs back. Despite the 8000 nm he has already done, the whole experience seems new to Benjamin. He is *not* impressed by his harness or tether, and he is a bit wobbly on his feet. I guess this is understandable, since he wasn't even walking when we got to NZ. So far, there have not been too many crashes below decks, so it seems that we have done pretty well at "securing for sea". A few days ago, I said that we would need a miracle, and it would seem that we got one. Hundreds of cans and over 100kg of dry goods (rice, flour, oats, and sugar) all found their way into cubbies and compartments. Both saloon benches are available for sleeping on during the passage. It feels good to be ready!
Our departure just before 2pm went smoothly. The wind had picked up, but we had a lull in the wind when we went to spring off the dock. A lad from a neighbouring boat appeared to handle our lines from the dock, and we slipped away with no issues. Everyone had a turn on the helm as we were leaving the bay. It is fun to see Victoria and Johnathan confidently handling the boat, steering by the channel markers and avoiding traffic. Jesus coiled lines and stowed fenders, and is now monitoring the cockpit on his first night watch. We have good conditions for now - 15-20 kts behind us, and we have the autopilot (Sammy) on wind-hold, within about 10 deg of our desired course. Our track is expected to take us on anything but a straight line, as we follow the wind to Minerva reef.
There were about 15 boats leaving Marsden Cove Marina this morning, but we only have two contacts left on our AIS - the fleet has already dispersed. We will see some folks in Minerva Reef, some in NZ when we return, and some at some unknown future date. Such is the cruising life.
Dinner tonight was our own canned chicken (thanks Dad & Mom for lids and pressure cooker gasket) with pasta and veg. We snacked all day on the apple & cinnamon muffins that Victoria made us before we left.
I am (so far, touch wood, etc, etc) feeling pretty good. This is likely due as much to the calm sea state as it is to the "Sealegs" (Bonamine), essential oils, and homeopathic remedies I have been using; however, I will not make this long, as I want to keep things that way!
Love to all,
Liz
-----
-----
At 5/18/2015 7:42 AM (utc) SV Fluenta was 33°26.01'S 175°28.74'E
----------
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Saturday, 16 May 2015
Off to Tonga!
We cleared customs today, and are part of a convoy of over a dozen boats headed north.
Anticipating a week or so on passage, then we will catch our breath at Minerva reef.
Both kids got a chance to drive for a few minutes. Fun to be on our way again!
Liz
Wednesday, 13 May 2015
Mother-Daughter Rigging Team and other passage preps.
After I had checked over the rig it was time to get our nice leather spreader covers put back on. Victoria has been asking for ages to help up the mast so ... Liz and Victoria were up the mast today to put the spreader covers back on and to sort some chafed spots.
Ladies' Rigging Team
New harness put to work (and shiny new OCC burgee)
Rigger at work
Johnathan winched Victoria up the mast.
Vacuum packing victuals
More ...
Meanwhile I continue to argue with Windows reinstalling the satphone driver.
And Benjamin helps with the laundry.
And a day to play tourist. The oldest kauri tree in New Zealand.
And a rustic spa visit
Monday, 11 May 2015
Boat Maintenance and Homeschooling - The Sequel
Most of time in New Zealand has been taken by boat maintenance and home schooling. Neither is conducive to photos or at least we do not some to take many pictures of either ...
After the photos there is an output from my maintenance spreadsheet showing the tasks conducted from our arrival in New Zealand in December until now. The spreadsheet is perhaps only interesting reading for the real boat-geeks...
After the photos there is an output from my maintenance spreadsheet showing the tasks conducted from our arrival in New Zealand in December until now. The spreadsheet is perhaps only interesting reading for the real boat-geeks...
 |
| Precise maintenance on the now deceased inverter/charger |
 |
| On our way to an early morning haulout. |
 |
| Hauling out |
 |
| Not all bad being in the boat yard - lots of kid boats ! |
 |
| Computer class - Victoria takes top prize for your morse code program. You can just see her robot blinking on the right. |
 |
| Johnathan working on his program with his friend Dillion. |
 |
| Back into the bilge |
 |
| Oh, I love plumbing |
 |
| Always a comfortable place to work |
 |
| Not the Health and Safety recommended approach |
 |
| Aluminum and steel not playing well together. I neglected to take a picture after the acid etching, wire brushing, epoxy primer, epoxy filler, and an insulating and sealing layer ... |
 |
| Benjamin is such a big help |
 |
| Working with Grammpy. |
 |
| Stitching and looking stylish at the same time. |
 |
| Old (3 years) Magma BBQ |
 |
| New Magma BBQ - Our old one deteriorated so bad Magma gave us 50% off a new one (but at NZ prices so about the same as full price in Canada. Groan) |
 |
| EMI issues with the Pactor modem solved thanks to Doug's advice. |
 | ||
Overhauled Injection Pump - it even works without leaking diesel everywhere
|
 |
| After shots ... new propspeed paint on the prop and shaft. |
 |
| Luxury ... the infill between the bimini and dodger gives a bit more living space during the frequent rains here. |
 |
| Oh, where did I put my anchor ... should be easier to find next season when freediving to check its holding. |
 |
| Look Daddy ! I am reorgansing your tools ! |
 |
| New lifeline netting and yet more diapers. |
 |
| Rig inspection time and repairs to the top of the furler |
 |
| Cyclone Pam (the cyclone not my mother who also came to visit but was helpful) came to visit which was not helpful |
 |
| Not helpful but not as big of a deal as it could have been, |
 |
| Paddling out to check on a friend's boat during the start of the storm, |
 |
| Johnathan putting the new zincs on, |
 |
| Liz's Dad came out to help fix things (and to visit). |
 |
| Rig inspection. |
| Done | Maintenance Action | Periodicity | Due | Category |
| 04-Dec-14 | Engine zinc | 60 days | Dec-14 | Engine |
| 04-Dec-14 | Oil (100 hrs) | 125 | 4480 | engine |
| 04-Dec-14 | Oil Filter Change | 125 | 4480 | engine |
| 04-Dec-14 | Oil cooler zinc - 1/3 worn or less | 60 days | Dec-14 | |
| 07-Dec-14 | Damp under bed - storage area | |||
| 07-Dec-14 | Prop/shaft zincs | Monthly | Dec-14 | |
| 07-Dec-14 | snatch blocks etc clean | Dec-14 | ||
| 08-Dec-14 | fresh water flush engine | |||
| 13-Dec-14 | Battery water - aft - 60 days | 60 days | 41986 | |
| 13-Dec-14 | Battery water - fwd - 60 days | 60 days | 41986 | |
| 13-Dec-14 | Prep Honda generator | |||
| 13-Dec-14 | Prep outboard | |||
| 01-Feb-15 | Battery water - aft - 60 days | 60 days | Feb-15 | |
| 01-Feb-15 | exhaust elbow - new plus spare | engine | ||
| 01-Feb-15 | heat exchanger clean | 12 mon | engine | |
| 02-Feb-15 | deck drain leak | |||
| 02-Feb-15 | replace propane sensor | |||
| 03-Feb-15 | coolant change | 250 | 4505 | engine |
| 03-Feb-15 | Battery water - fwd - 60 days | 60 days | Feb-15 | |
| 03-Feb-15 | heat exchanger inspect | engine | ||
| 03-Feb-15 | hose clamps - exhaust hose to waterlift | engine | ||
| 03-Feb-15 | leaking pressure water filter | |||
| 03-Feb-15 | oil cooler clean | 12 mon | engine | |
| 03-Feb-15 | Pressure water filter | 3 mon | Dec-14 | |
| 03-Feb-15 | sail survey | sailmaker | ||
| 04-Feb-15 | water lift muffler - leak ? | engine | ||
| 04-Feb-15 | Engine - coolant and test engine | |||
| 07-Feb-15 | measure size of aft tank ? | |||
| 07-Feb-15 | top up coolant | |||
| 08-Feb-15 | Mainsail cover | sailmaker | ||
| 09-Feb-15 | Clean bilge | |||
| 09-Feb-15 | exhaust elbow hose leak and double hose clamps | |||
| 09-Feb-15 | Fuel return lines - replace. With Banjo fittings | engine | ||
| 09-Feb-15 | waterlift/trans chafe protection | |||
| 10-Feb-15 | replace main sail cover | |||
| 11-Feb-15 | foot guide for furl boom | ss | ||
| 11-Feb-15 | Lifelines - resplice and end for end | |||
| 12-Feb-15 | clarkpump leak - approx 1 drip every | WM | ||
| 12-Feb-15 | order simcard | |||
| 12-Feb-15 | Watermaker Clark pump - fittings and overhaul with Intertech | WM | ||
| 13-Feb-15 | Trickle - pins for oar lock | |||
| 13-Feb-15 | Trickle - pins for rudder | |||
| 13-Feb-15 | Trickle - rudder rope | |||
| 14-Feb-15 | Compass sticks - repair or replace ? | |||
| 14-Feb-15 | preventer bungee storage | |||
| 15-Feb-15 | boom - end plate at end - 1 of four screws stripped | Rigger | ||
| 16-Feb-15 | Watermaker carbon filter | 6 mon | Nov-14 | WM |
| 16-Feb-15 | check engine hoses | 12 month | engine | |
| 16-Feb-15 | diesel leak - injector pump | engine | ||
| 16-Feb-15 | water maker - rerurbish clark pump | |||
| 16-Feb-15 | watermaker leak ? | |||
| 16-Feb-15 | wd40 - engine key | |||
| 16-Feb-15 | wm carbon filter leak | |||
| 17-Feb-15 | WM Pickle | |||
| 18-Feb-15 | Grease rudder reference bearing | 12 mon | lazerette | lazerette |
| 18-Feb-15 | autopilot - cross bar | |||
| 18-Feb-15 | autopilot rudder response failure - talked to Tom 1 Aug 14 | lazerette | ||
| 18-Feb-15 | coord haulout | haulout | ||
| 18-Feb-15 | coord liferaft/mom8 inspection | |||
| 18-Feb-15 | counter sunk bolts for autopilot | lazerette | ||
| 18-Feb-15 | order - bluetooth headset, etc from amazon | |||
| 19-Feb-15 | epoxy damage to fwd fairleeds | |||
| 19-Feb-15 | fridge door | |||
| 20-Feb-15 | header tank - replace flange | engine | engine | |
| 20-Feb-15 | tighten engine valve cover | engine | ||
| 20-Feb-15 | anchor roller replacement | ss | ||
| 20-Feb-15 | companionway stairs screw - lower | |||
| 20-Feb-15 | dodger repair | sewing | ||
| 20-Feb-15 | emergency tiller access panel - open threaded opening | vingear | ||
| 20-Feb-15 | Honda generator - new foot | |||
| 20-Feb-15 | MOB strobe | |||
| 20-Feb-15 | retap emergency tiller access screw holes | fiberglass | ||
| 21-Feb-15 | bimini - water proofing | |||
| 21-Feb-15 | chaps repair | sewing | ||
| 21-Feb-15 | dodger cleaning | |||
| 22-Feb-15 | Stanchion - stbd fwd of gate | |||
| 22-Feb-15 | Stanchions - stbd pushpit | |||
| 24-Feb-15 | aft cabin wiring | lazerette | ||
| 24-Feb-15 | mount light in "shaft" closet | |||
| 25-Feb-15 | 12v jack - aft cabin | lazerette | ||
| 25-Feb-15 | anchor chain - markings | |||
| 25-Feb-15 | paint anchor bright colour | painting | ||
| 25-Feb-15 | paint anchor chain end ? | painting | ||
| 25-Feb-15 | rebed - aft chainplate | |||
| 25-Feb-15 | rebed - HF wire | |||
| 25-Feb-15 | rebed - weather fax wire | |||
| 25-Feb-15 | replace corroded terminal bar in lazerette | |||
| 25-Feb-15 | touch up raw water pump, spare | |||
| 26-Feb-15 | 12v jack - saloon port side | wiring | ||
| 26-Feb-15 | Galley lighting with dimmer | |||
| 26-Feb-15 | Pactor below 4000 issues | |||
| 26-Feb-15 | sailmail - confirm funcion | |||
| 26-Feb-15 | USB charger | electrical | ||
| 27-Feb-15 | Broomholder | |||
| 27-Feb-15 | Flashholder - fwd head | |||
| 27-Feb-15 | move pressure water filter | |||
| 27-Feb-15 | OP10 autopilot controllor | electronics | ||
| 28-Feb-15 | Anchor chain - end for end | |||
| 28-Feb-15 | anchor shackle - seizing wire and wire tie | |||
| 04-Mar-15 | Bimini extension - side and gap | sewing | ||
| 05-Mar-15 | mast rake angle : 1.5 deg as per Yachtspar | rigger | ||
| 05-Mar-15 | Oven valve replacement | oven | ||
| 05-Mar-15 | rig inspection - C Spar - Matt | Oct-14 | ||
| 06-Mar-15 | mat for port deck | |||
| 08-Mar-15 | Check rudder bearings | |||
| 09-Mar-15 | Engine zinc | 60 days | Mar-15 | Engine |
| 09-Mar-15 | Oil cooler zinc | 60 days | Mar-15 | engine |
| 09-Mar-15 | clean head hoses with vinegar | Haulout | Haulout | |
| 09-Mar-15 | clean sink hoses with vinegar | Haulout | Haulout | |
| 09-Mar-15 | bilge clean - degreaser and engine compartment | |||
| 09-Mar-15 | PSS shaft seal - clean face | 12 mon | haulout | |
| 09-Mar-15 | resecure fuel return line within 4" of end | |||
| 10-Mar-15 | fuel line chafing - cut out damage and spliced. Rerouted with new wire ties | |||
| 10-Mar-15 | replace hose clamps x 2 - PSS shaft seal | Haulout | ||
| 10-Mar-15 | reroute and clamp fuel line from aft tank | |||
| 10-Mar-15 | staysail bag | sewing | ||
| 11-Mar-15 | Bottom Paint | Haulout | Haulout | |
| 11-Mar-15 | Corroded T fittings - T fitting for reefer and watermaker brine | |||
| 12-Mar-15 | cotter pin fwd lower shouds | |||
| 12-Mar-15 | MOB light - new D cell x 5 | |||
| 12-Mar-15 | Prop/shaft zincs | Monthly | haulout | |
| 12-Mar-15 | steering cable - oil sheaves - biannually | 6 mon | Feb-15 | |
| 13-Mar-15 | center helm to a spoke | |||
| 13-Mar-15 | quadrant cross bar interference | |||
| 13-Mar-15 | top up paint - dock box | |||
| 14-Mar-15 | Remove benmar drive | rigger | ||
| 15-Mar-15 | driver - usb gps | |||
| 16-Mar-15 | calibrate depth sounders - 4.29`for depth sounder and 3.67`for fisherfinder | |||
| 16-Mar-15 | change prop angle ? | haulout | ||
| 16-Mar-15 | prop - ding ? | |||
| 16-Mar-15 | Service max prop - Oct 14 | 12 mon | Haulout | |
| 17-Mar-15 | Lubricate steering chain and cable | 6 mon | Apr-15 | |
| 17-Mar-15 | PFD - recharge - 2x PFD with tether points | Mar-15 | ||
| 17-Mar-15 | PFD - recharge - spinlock - replaced CO2 and bobbin - due March 2018 | Dec-14 | ||
| 17-Mar-15 | Steering cable tightness - check quarterly | 3 mon | Dec-14 | |
| 18-Mar-15 | anchor shackle - replacement and reseize. | |||
| 18-Mar-15 | Backup anchor shackle with spectra | |||
| 18-Mar-15 | Overhaul winch - stbd 28 | 6 mon | Aug-14 | |
| 18-Mar-15 | portable watermaker – annual maintenance | 12 mon | Mar-15 | |
| 18-Mar-15 | reglue cockpit light | |||
| 18-Mar-15 | rudder leak - ground down to inspect. Fiberglass with vinelester. Epoxy paint and then antifoul | |||
| 18-Mar-15 | Skeg bolts - permanent fix ? | haulout | ||
| 18-Mar-15 | steering - replace end stops | |||
| 19-Mar-15 | aft head - overhaul | |||
| 19-Mar-15 | Overhaul winch - port 28 | 12 mon | Sep-14 | |
| 19-Mar-15 | Overhaul winch - port 36 | 12 mon | Jul-14 | |
| 19-Mar-15 | Overhaul winch - stbd 36 | 12 mon | Aug-14 | |
| 19-Mar-15 | rebed port cheek block due to corrosion - tuff gell | rigging | ||
| 19-Mar-15 | rebed stbd cheek block | rigging | ||
| 20-Mar-15 | Overhaul winch - Anderson | 12 mon | Sep-14 | |
| 20-Mar-15 | paint props | 12 mon | haulout | |
| 20-Mar-15 | PFD - recharge - old mustang | Nov-14 | ||
| 20-Mar-15 | Windlass - bimonthly | 2 Mon | 08-Dec-14 | |
| 20-Mar-15 | Windlass Service - preseason service - every 6 mon | 6 mon | Feb-15 | |
| 22-Mar-15 | Battery water - aft - 60 days | 60 days | Mar-15 | |
| 22-Mar-15 | check depth calibration - calibrate depth sounders - 4.29`for depth sounder and 3.67`for fisherfinder | |||
| 22-Mar-15 | Overhaul winch - stbd 27 main sheet | 12 mon | Jul-14 | |
| 22-Mar-15 | Overhaul winch - stbd 27 outboard | 12 mon | Jul-14 | |
| 22-Mar-15 | steering safety nuts | |||
| 24-Mar-15 | inverter/charger failure - replaced with Xantrax Prosine 2.0 | |||
| 24-Mar-15 | OAT sensor | |||
| 24-Mar-15 | replace manual fresh pump | plumbing | ||
| 24-Mar-15 | replace manual salt water pump | |||
| 25-Mar-15 | generator foot | |||
| 25-Mar-15 | new VHF ? - installed SH GX2200 | electronics | ||
| 25-Mar-15 | rebed aft head window | rebed | ||
| 25-Mar-15 | rebed chart table window | rebed | ||
| 25-Mar-15 | Rebed port fwd window | rebed | ||
| 26-Mar-15 | 12V jack - chart table - lower | |||
| 26-Mar-15 | rebed - emergency steering | rebed | ||
| 26-Mar-15 | Traveller repair | rigging | ||
| 26-Mar-15 | waterproof - bimini infill | |||
| 27-Mar-15 | compass LED | |||
| 27-Mar-15 | port saloon reading light | |||
| 28-Mar-15 | 12v plug - cockpit - rewire | |||
| 28-Mar-15 | aft water tank indicator | |||
| 28-Mar-15 | autopilot - heat shrink | Apr-15 | ||
| 28-Mar-15 | rebed - back stay chainplate | rebed | ||
| 28-Mar-15 | rebed - hf cable | rebed | ||
| 28-Mar-15 | rebed - shroud chainplates | rebed | ||
| 28-Mar-15 | rebed - stanchion pushpit | rebed | ||
| 30-Mar-15 | engine air filter check | 100 | 4525 | engine |
| 30-Mar-15 | Fuel Filter - Primary | 250 | 4580 | engine |
| 30-Mar-15 | Fuel Filter - Secondary | 250 | 4460 | engine |
| 30-Mar-15 | bleed fwd fuel tank line - open valves at manifold and tank. Bleed at primary filter | |||
| 30-Mar-15 | rebed again - aft chain plate and stanchion | |||
| 30-Mar-15 | replace aft head taps | plumbing | ||
| 30-Mar-15 | rubber sound suppression - wind gen struts | |||
| 31-Mar-15 | alternator x 3 and starter - check wiring | 100 | 4515.4 | engine |
| 31-Mar-15 | engine exhaust temp alarm replace | engine | engine | |
| 31-Mar-15 | Engine zinc | 60 days | May-15 | Engine |
| 31-Mar-15 | Impellor replacement | 250 | 4460 | engine |
| 31-Mar-15 | Impellor speedseal disc replacement Nov 14 | 2 years | engine | engine |
| 31-Mar-15 | end for end genoa furler line | rigging | ||
| 31-Mar-15 | genoa halyard - wear in knot - re fisherman bend | |||
| 31-Mar-15 | Oil cooler zinc | 60 days | May-15 | |
| 31-Mar-15 | reefer filter leak and clean | |||
| 31-Mar-15 | sink - recaulk | |||
| 01-Apr-15 | cleats on pushpit | |||
| 01-Apr-15 | helm turkshead | |||
| 01-Apr-15 | WM overflow hose | |||
| 02-Apr-15 | engine stop - spring | engine | engine | |
| 02-Apr-15 | oven - valve assy | oven | ||
| 03-Apr-15 | rebed - heater exhaust | rebed | rebed | |
| 03-Apr-15 | dodger repair - center panel - sew and new zipper pull plus ss stopper | |||
| 03-Apr-15 | propane solenoid controller bulb | |||
| 03-Apr-15 | rebed - bimini infill track bolts | |||
| 03-Apr-15 | reshim top and bottom vang | rigging | ||
| 03-Apr-15 | vang - plastic insert replace | rigging | ||
| 05-Apr-15 | Outboard anode | 6 mon | Dec-14 | |
| 06-Apr-15 | check lock stich on running backstays | up mast | rigging | |
| 06-Apr-15 | check under spreader covers | up mast | rigging | |
| 06-Apr-15 | check washer for furler top - temp repair | up mast | rigging | |
| 06-Apr-15 | genoa extrusion bolt check | up mast | rigging | |
| 06-Apr-15 | vang lower attachment - back up | rigging | rigging | |
| 06-Apr-15 | witness mark - standing rigging tangs | up mast | rigging | |
| 06-Apr-15 | aft head leak | |||
| 06-Apr-15 | washboards - translucent | |||
| 07-Apr-15 | Tranmission oil change (every 400 hrs or annually) | 400 | 4609 | engine |
| 07-Apr-15 | generator- replace with stainless steel bolts | generator | ||
| 07-Apr-15 | Honda generator - Clean air filter | 3 mon | Dec-14 | Generator |
| 07-Apr-15 | Honda Generator - Fuel Filter | 6 mon | Generator | |
| 07-Apr-15 | Honda generator - oil change | 6 mon | Dec-14 | Generator |
| 07-Apr-15 | Honda Generator - spark arrester | 6 mon | Generator | |
| 07-Apr-15 | Honda Generator - spark plug | 12 mon | Generator | |
| 07-Apr-15 | aft head tap - tighten | |||
| 07-Apr-15 | rubrails for bow fairleads | ss | ||
| 07-Apr-15 | small crack in gelcoat outside of cockpit - stbd side | |||
| 08-Apr-15 | Outboard fuel filter | 6 mon | Dec-14 | |
| 08-Apr-15 | Outboard gear oil | 6 mon | Dec-14 | |
| 08-Apr-15 | Outboard greasing | 6 mon | Dec-14 | |
| 08-Apr-15 | Outboard sparkplugs | 6 mon | Dec-14 | |
| 08-Apr-15 | rub rails for cleats in cockpit | ss | ||
| 08-Apr-15 | traveler - replace bent bolts and add reinforcement both sides | |||
| 09-Apr-15 | Absorbent pads under engine/transmission | Engine | Engine | |
| 09-Apr-15 | big bilge pump - silence switch | electrical | ||
| 09-Apr-15 | download nautical almanac data | IT | ||
| 09-Apr-15 | engine pan clean | |||
| 09-Apr-15 | external buzzer for AIS | electrical | ||
| 09-Apr-15 | Reading light - aft cabin | |||
| 10-Apr-15 | hatch - kids cabin - rebed | |||
| 11-Apr-15 | coconut husker | |||
| 11-Apr-15 | outboard - troubleshoot rough running | |||
| 11-Apr-15 | rebed aft head window | |||
| 11-Apr-15 | rebed fwd head hatch | |||
| 11-Apr-15 | rebed leak above chart table | |||
| 12-Apr-15 | shorter pendant for genoa. | sails | ||
| 13-Apr-15 | cockpit light - rewire | electrical | ||
| 13-Apr-15 | fwd head - ceiling hooks for spear gun | |||
| 13-Apr-15 | purge extra POL - fuel stabilizer, corrosion preventative, coolant | |||
| 14-Apr-15 | bilge clean | |||
| 14-Apr-15 | block and tackle for anchor | |||
| 14-Apr-15 | chafe guards on turnbuckles | |||
| 14-Apr-15 | fwd head reorganize | |||
| 14-Apr-15 | mainfurl - Grease the grease nipple on the aft end of the spar. | 2 Mon | 08-Dec-14 | |
| 14-Apr-15 | Windlass - bimonthly | 2 Mon | 20-May-15 | |
| 15-Apr-15 | end for end genoa sheets | sails | ||
| 15-Apr-15 | helm tape | |||
| 15-Apr-15 | longer pendant for staysail - full hoist minus 6" so sheet lines up with send clew strap | sails | ||
| 15-Apr-15 | mainsail chafe repair | sails | ||
| 15-Apr-15 | replace mainsail tack and clew lines | 12 mon | sails | |
| 15-Apr-15 | staysail repair | sails | ||
| 15-Apr-15 | storm staysail pennant | sails | ||
| 16-Apr-15 | better waterproofing - dodger solar wiring | rebed | ||
| 16-Apr-15 | epoxy and caulk aft hatch | rebed | ||
| 16-Apr-15 | Fan - kids room | electrical | ||
| 16-Apr-15 | infill bolt rebed | rebed | ||
| 17-Apr-15 | rebed - pad eye kids room | rebed | ||
| 17-Apr-15 | rebed - stanchion kids room | rebed | ||
| 17-Apr-15 | rebed - toe rail kids room | rebed | ||
| 17-Apr-15 | restow - dockboxes | |||
| 18-Apr-15 | Battery water - fwd - 60 days | 60 days | Mar-15 | |
| 18-Apr-15 | OpnCPN and Polars | IT | ||
| 18-Apr-15 | Pressure water filter | 3 mon | May-15 | |
| 18-Apr-15 | restow - v berth | |||
| 20-Apr-15 | clean water tanks | 12 mon | ||
| 20-Apr-15 | water sender attachment | |||
| 21-Apr-15 | liferaft recertify | 3 years | Safety | |
| 21-Apr-15 | MOM8 recertify | 12 mon | Safety | |
| 21-Apr-15 | rebed pulpit bow stanchions x 4 | rebed | ||
| 21-Apr-15 | Teak bungs - screws | |||
| 22-Apr-15 | rebed pad eyes fwd x 3 | rebed | ||
| 22-Apr-15 | rebed spin pole holder fwd | rebed | ||
| 22-Apr-15 | rebed staysail tack pad eye | rebed | ||
| 23-Apr-15 | windlass - lower circlip replace | |||
| 23-Apr-15 | windlass - tighen bolts | |||
| 23-Apr-15 | Windlass Service - preseason service - every 6 mon | 6 mon | Oct-15 | |
| 24-Apr-15 | BBQ replacement | |||
| 24-Apr-15 | change rusted nuts on kayak holder | |||
| 24-Apr-15 | toggle on top of back stay ? | rigger | ||
| 24-Apr-15 | windlass - repaint | |||
| 26-Apr-15 | HF ant wire - re fit | |||
| 26-Apr-15 | Lifeline netting | |||
| 27-Apr-15 | download SAS Planet | IT | ||
| 27-Apr-15 | Nautical almanac - move to nav computer | IT | ||
| 29-Apr-15 | commission watermaker | |||
| 30-Apr-15 | test 2hp outboard | |||
| 01-May-15 | autopilot recalibrate | |||
| 01-May-15 | test preventer | |||
| 02-May-15 | back up tack line for mainsail | |||
| 02-May-15 | check fuel filter bowls | Monthly | May-15 | |
| 02-May-15 | test spinnaker | |||
| 07-May-15 | battery equalization | electrical | ||
| 07-May-15 | Battery water - aft - 60 days | 60 days | 22-May-15 |
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