Thursday October 28, 2010 Arrive in Whangarei (New Zealand)
After 6 days at sea, Islands Poor Knights Islands, off the coast of New Zealand, has emerged the eye of the Captain shortly after his breakfast. The night was calm but the wind eased gradually leaving us completely to 5:00 am. Gennaker blue had replaced the Solent near midnight. Cold is more pungent, 15 ° in the middle of the night, no more than 20 ° to the best of the day. We are more accustomed. Barbara promised to show the quilts, stored under vacuum for many moons in waterproof bags intended for that purpose. At daybreak, I started a Volvo, then an hour later, another. We meet one NZ trawler fishing, boat size for storms. Sea water has become green bottle, and since this morning, we see little penguins splashing in the water and dive at our approach. The great albatross Kermadec are more numerous. In the morning, they took turns beating around the boat, and landed in the wake, probably hoping to find some waste (biodegradable of course). Around mid-day, the dolphins came to welcome us to New Zealand.
Coast has emerged gradually, the visibility was very good. We announced our arrival to the authorities by VHF and Marin sent to starboard of the mast the flag Q of the International Code of Signals, yellow, meaning "I request free pratique", which is no small case here. This flag calls the authorities to come on board to inspect the boat and the crew .... No question of putting one foot on land before obtaining clearance. I first met at sea several forms that should save us some time. Since this morning, we began to hunt for dead insects, cleaning, laundry, store, history of not running afoul of the agency's inspector BIOSECURITY NEW ZEALAND. I even polishes a pair of Dockside, rather moldy. The last time I put real shoes, it must be at La Rochelle! It is 3:00 p.m. local, we approach Bream Head, the rocky headland that extends beyond the mouth of the river Whangarei. In 2 hours, we had to quai Custom berth "Marsden Cove, New Zealand!
The GPS indicates that we have come a little less than 18,000 miles since our departure from La Rochelle.
Half of our trip around the world.
Barbara is smiling again, I take him to drink Steinlager tonight.
Children are bright.
Olivier
(End of messages daily crossing of Tonga - New Zealand)
0 comments:
Post a Comment