Punga Cove
We slept until around 9:30. After the surreal chopper invasion of the middle of the night, it was a little re-assuring to find everything as expected in the morning.
The ship's stove produced a passable coffee, and that combined with my Coke (it's the holidays - these calories don't count) out in the cockpit overlooking the stunning mountain views of the Bay of Many Coves made for a perfect beginning to the day.
This is a couple of sleepyheads showing the interior of Zachary Hicks.
We set off around noon for Endeavour Inlet, which was not very far from Bay of Many Coves. The hope was that we would arrive reasonable early and we would have time and energy for a swim.
The trip to Endeavour Inlet proved to be more arduous than expected as the wind was not particularly cooperative.
We motored out of Bay of Many Coves, mostly to recharge our batteries and to re-cool the icebox, but also because the seas were very calm and the sails weren't going to do us much good. After about 40 minutes, the wind seemed to pick up, so we hoisted a single reefed main and furled out all of the jib.
After 20 minutes of bobbing around, we re-started the engine, and proceeded onward to Endeavour inlet. Another 10 minutes later the winds picked up again, and we shut off the motor and bobbed along a little quicker, but not very quickly. Eventually the wind picked up, but it kept diverting around a different peak surrounding the Sound, changing its direction every 5 minutes or so.
We persisted and eventually the wind settled into a gentle blow that drove us comfortably up the sound.
The wind began to pick up around the time we approached the opening Endeavour Inlet makes off of Queen Charlotte Sound. The wind went from comfortable to brisk in a big hurry, and although we kept the main at a single reef, we furled the jib back to about 20%. Even at this, we were hard pressed to keep a comfortable heel. In addition the wind shifted direction such that it was coming from exactly the direction we wished to go, and were forced to tack back and forth to make headway.
Why, one might ask, would you not switch on the engine and proceed forthwith to your destination. If you ask that question, you just don't get the sailing experience. It's not about the destination. It's about the journey.
We spent a couple of hours tacking back and forth, first to jockey ourselves through the narrow-ish entrance to Endeavour Inlet, and then up the narrow inlet to Punga Bay, our destination. By the time we got halfway up the inlet, the wind had freshened further, and we were forced to furl the jib in completely and sail on with main only.
Here are some funky clouds that accompanied the brisk winds, and a shot to illustrate the chop the brisk winds stirred up.
A radio call to the Punga Bay Resort gave us another set of ambiguous instructions, but this time we decided to wing it and picked a likely target. Despite the by-now howling wind, we hooked up to the mooring quite smoothly, and after settling in retired once again to the cockpit for a congratulatory cocktail. Needless to say, we were no longer in the mood for a swim or snorkel, but here is shot of the waves on the fairly nice, if shallow, beach at the resort.
We called in for restaurant reservations, but were told the restaurant was fully booked, but that there was a BarBQ to be held at the Beach Bar, and we agreed cheerfully to that.
Here is the beach bar.
Once again, the motorized tender arrived punctually (this time at 6:00) and we were delivered safely, though less dry, to the jetty.
Dinner was served hot and plentiful, the drinks cold and flavourful, and the view unbeatable. All in all and excellent experience.
Here is our view for dinner and a pic of Zachary Hicks on her mooring.
A motorized trip to Zachary Hicks put us back in time for a couple of episodes of Alias before Debbie faded. The laptop and I had enough energy left to do a couple of blog updates.
A gale is forecast for Wednesday, and we are expected back at Waikawa harbour to trade Zachary Hicks back in for the presumably now not-stinky Southern Endurance. We are told the gale will hold off until later in the day, so we are off early.
Until then ...
Don
The ship's stove produced a passable coffee, and that combined with my Coke (it's the holidays - these calories don't count) out in the cockpit overlooking the stunning mountain views of the Bay of Many Coves made for a perfect beginning to the day.
This is a couple of sleepyheads showing the interior of Zachary Hicks.
We set off around noon for Endeavour Inlet, which was not very far from Bay of Many Coves. The hope was that we would arrive reasonable early and we would have time and energy for a swim.
The trip to Endeavour Inlet proved to be more arduous than expected as the wind was not particularly cooperative.
We motored out of Bay of Many Coves, mostly to recharge our batteries and to re-cool the icebox, but also because the seas were very calm and the sails weren't going to do us much good. After about 40 minutes, the wind seemed to pick up, so we hoisted a single reefed main and furled out all of the jib.
After 20 minutes of bobbing around, we re-started the engine, and proceeded onward to Endeavour inlet. Another 10 minutes later the winds picked up again, and we shut off the motor and bobbed along a little quicker, but not very quickly. Eventually the wind picked up, but it kept diverting around a different peak surrounding the Sound, changing its direction every 5 minutes or so.
We persisted and eventually the wind settled into a gentle blow that drove us comfortably up the sound.
The wind began to pick up around the time we approached the opening Endeavour Inlet makes off of Queen Charlotte Sound. The wind went from comfortable to brisk in a big hurry, and although we kept the main at a single reef, we furled the jib back to about 20%. Even at this, we were hard pressed to keep a comfortable heel. In addition the wind shifted direction such that it was coming from exactly the direction we wished to go, and were forced to tack back and forth to make headway.
Why, one might ask, would you not switch on the engine and proceed forthwith to your destination. If you ask that question, you just don't get the sailing experience. It's not about the destination. It's about the journey.
We spent a couple of hours tacking back and forth, first to jockey ourselves through the narrow-ish entrance to Endeavour Inlet, and then up the narrow inlet to Punga Bay, our destination. By the time we got halfway up the inlet, the wind had freshened further, and we were forced to furl the jib in completely and sail on with main only.
Here are some funky clouds that accompanied the brisk winds, and a shot to illustrate the chop the brisk winds stirred up.
A radio call to the Punga Bay Resort gave us another set of ambiguous instructions, but this time we decided to wing it and picked a likely target. Despite the by-now howling wind, we hooked up to the mooring quite smoothly, and after settling in retired once again to the cockpit for a congratulatory cocktail. Needless to say, we were no longer in the mood for a swim or snorkel, but here is shot of the waves on the fairly nice, if shallow, beach at the resort.
We called in for restaurant reservations, but were told the restaurant was fully booked, but that there was a BarBQ to be held at the Beach Bar, and we agreed cheerfully to that.
Here is the beach bar.
Once again, the motorized tender arrived punctually (this time at 6:00) and we were delivered safely, though less dry, to the jetty.
Dinner was served hot and plentiful, the drinks cold and flavourful, and the view unbeatable. All in all and excellent experience.
Here is our view for dinner and a pic of Zachary Hicks on her mooring.
A motorized trip to Zachary Hicks put us back in time for a couple of episodes of Alias before Debbie faded. The laptop and I had enough energy left to do a couple of blog updates.
A gale is forecast for Wednesday, and we are expected back at Waikawa harbour to trade Zachary Hicks back in for the presumably now not-stinky Southern Endurance. We are told the gale will hold off until later in the day, so we are off early.
Until then ...
Don
posted by Don at
11:13 pm
3 Comments:
Everything sounds so fantastic although I must say, a lot of work. Hope you'll find your land legs before you get back. Can't beleive how the time has flown by. Was happy to see new entries today. Missed you.
By
Anonymous, at 8:13 am
Last entry from Terry.
By
Anonymous, at 8:14 am
Hi Terry - and others. Don will be making a formal update probably later today. It's Tuesday at 1:40 pm. We've just arrived back in the small town (Picton) where we'll catch the ferry to the north island tomorrow morning. Train riding adventures the past couple of days.
Lot's of young people travelling around - reminding me of Adrienne and JP. The hostel life isn't something I'd enjoy now - but I can see that it would have had appeal about 25 years ago! I like my comforts!
Gotta' check out our bank, etc. info in the 15 minutes alloted to me. Bye for now
By
Anonymous, at 7:46 pm
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