Nov
23, 2015 New Caledonia to New Zealand
Two
days ago we left Noumea on our way to Iles des Pins. We didn’t go far before we
turned around and grabbed a mooring off Ile de Maitre. The wind was directly on
the nose, blowing about 25 knots, with lumpy seas. Motoring full speed we were
only going 2.8 knots. We had been warned that the normal SE trade winds make it
difficult to get to Iles des Pins, but Gary didn’t believe it would be that
bad. Anyways we had a nice afternoon at Ile de Maitre.
The
following morning, yesterday, we headed out for New Zealand. We left first
thing in the morning to be ahead of the building trade winds and cleared the
pass with no issues. We had nice ESE-SE winds blowing about 10-15 knots, which
meant we had to sail upwind. We sailed about 50 degrees off the wind which made
things comfortable below. Now we just have to wait for the wind to shift left,
which it is supposed to do in a day or two.
I’m
happy to report that no one has been sick and everyone is in good spirits. We
have 700 miles to go, or about 5 days, until we reach Opua.
Fair
winds and calm seas,
Julie
Nov
24, 2015 New Caledonia to New Zealand
The
last 24 hours we have been sailing nicely about 45 degrees off the breeze in
8-18 knots of ESE wind, doing about 6.5-8 knots. This morning the wind has
lightened to about 5-10 knots from the east and is supposed to stay this way
for a day or 2. So for the first time since we left New Zealand last year, we
unlashed the first reef in the main, and are sailing with a full main and
genoa. The seas have been calm making for a pleasant sail.
Everyone
is doing well, and we are eating plenty. Last night Gigi made homemade
tortillas for our chicken and bean tacos. She has also baked chocolate chip
cookies. We have 575 miles to go, or about 4 days, until we reach Opua.
Fair
winds and calm seas,
Julie
Nov
25, 2015 New Caledonia to New Zealand
Some
you may be wondering to yourself, weren’t they planning to go to Australia this
year? We were, but we changed our plans. Actually the Australian government
helped change our plans. The Aussies have a lot of regulations, all of which
include onerous fees. I would love to cruise the Great Barrier Reef and sail in
Sydney, but the cost was too steep.
Any
foreign boat cruising in Australia is charged $400 to enter, $300 per bag of
garbage or food that biosecurity will destroy, plus the cost of visas for 4
people is over $1000. Then because Nirvana is made of wood, she would most
likely have to be fumigated (about $2000), possibly hauled out, plus anything
else the officials decide needs to be done. We would need to install a head
macerator pump on the holding tank and consistently use it, as they do spot
checks in the Great Barrier Reef area. Then the minute we list her for sale we
would have to pay duty/GST of 17.5% of the value of the boat, which would
import her into Australia, even if the boat doesn’t sell in Australia or she
sells to a foreigner.
New
Zealand doesn’t charge anything to enter the country and you only have to pay
duty/GST if you sell the boat to a New Zealander. Plus New Zealand is a
wonderful place to visit, so back we go. We are looking forward to sailing to
some of the areas we missed last year, like Great Barrier Island and the
Coromandel Peninsula, and spending more time in places we really enjoyed, like
Whangaroa, the Poor Knights, and Auckland.
Last
night we sailed so close to Norfolk Island it felt like we could reach out and
touch it. We debated back and forth whether to stop or not. Norfolk is a
territory of Australia and we weren’t sure what might be required of us
stopping there. We knew for sure that you are supposed to have a visa for
Australia before you stop, but we also know that yachts frequently stop if they
have boat or medical issues. We figured at best they would charge us $50 a head
for a short-term visa, which would be fine, but at worst biosecurity would take
all our food and we would have to go through a more rigorous visa process, and
other possible fees. At most we would spend 2-3 days, so ultimately we decided
to skip the stop at Norfolk Island based on a real or perceived view of Aussie
regulations. It really is too bad that the Australians are so unfriendly to
yacht.
Yesterday
we were sailing nicely on a close reach going 6-7 knots. This morning we have
about 5 knots of breeze and are not making such good progress. We probably will
motor most of today as the wind is supposed to fill in this evening. We are
past the half way mark with only 420 miles to go, about 3 days, until we reach
Opua, can’t wait.
Fair
winds and calm seas,
Julie
Nov
26, 2015 New Caledonia to New Zealand
Happy
Thanksgiving! We plan on celebrating on board Nirvana with a pork roast,
cranberry sauce, veggies and Gigi’s apple pie. We are eating really well. Actually
we are eating a lot, as I provisioned for the passage plus 4 days at Iles des
Pins, so we have too much fresh food and we are trying to eat it all before we
get to New Zealand and they confiscate it all.
Yesterday
we motored for about 6 hours, then the wind came up nicely and we have been
going 7+ knots for the last 16 hours. We are still sailing with an apparent of
45-60 degrees, but today the wind is forecast to shift more to the north. We
have about 260 miles to go.
Fair
winds and calm seas,
Julie
Nov
27, 2015 New Caledonia to New Zealand
We
are off North Cape right now, so only 70 miles to go to Opua. Everyone is
excited to see New Zealand and ready to get to land. The wind has finally gone
north of east, plus as we round the cape we will be bearing off to follow the
coast south. We are sailing beautifully on a broad reach doing 8 knots.
I
have spent the entire day cooking to try to use up the last of our fresh food,
dry beans and other random items they will confiscate. I have also cleaned out
the cupboards and fridge, I don’t want to give biosecurity any reasons to
search further.
It
has been a good passage and tomorrow we will be on land.
Fair
winds and calm seas,
Julie
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