mv Texel

  Freight arrived neatly packed. Both cranes of the ship needed to lift and move the parcel, With 3 of these valuable parcels mv Texel (Onego Merchant) set sail from USA to France. Since it's the holiday season they can go slow enough to miss the storms around them. 

Xmas 2014

MYLADY and crew are in SavuSavu, Fiji. Skipper is away skippering big ships. Seawife is tending to home chores. No not scrubbing the waterline, but chasing birds and rolling thumbs... (Really?). 
We wish for you a wonderful festive season. Thanks for visiting us from time to time. We do appreciate. My gift to you is the OCEAN SONG. Your gift to me is watching/listening it. Thanks. Be blessed.

NAIRAI and OVALAU in Fiji

Where on earth is NAIRAI ISLAND?  Well we didn't know until now. It happens to be in the vicinity of Koro Island, in Fiji. One can see the lights of Suva from there. Yet only one ferry in the month services the island and pretty expensive to ride. When the ferry arrives, the people of Tovulailai village jump in their longboats and take merchandise for transport to Suva and bring back shop supplies. We had a great time at Tovulailai. The dolphins guided us into the good sheltered bay. And the flying stingrays, slapped the water in a special welcome. I spread my maternal wings around Ana and in the process got skipper involved to do magic. Making one working sewing machine out of two old,

broken and useless machines.  I gave her a crash course on sewing and she's full of smiles. More machines appeared from no-where, asking some attention please.  We'll return to Tovulailai frequently in our memories.


OVALAU
We finally made it to Ovalau Island during our fourth visit to Fiji and thoroughly enjoyed the island and its people. The first capital of Fiji - Levuka - is now a world heritage site. The wind caught us

on the wrong side of the fish factory and made our first day a memorable stinking one. Apart from that the few old shops give an interesting atmosphere to the town. There is only a handful of people yet the town has a distinctive buzz. 

KORO ISLAND in FIJI

Hans and Dory

KORO Island is big and high and dominates the Koro Sea in the middle of Fiji. We had an interesting sail to there. Leaving Nasasobu Bay where we visited some local friends was perfect. Weather was calm. It was early in the morning and the forecast for 15knots easterlies. Just what we needed for our sail to Koro which was 48 miles away. Dolphins guided us through the pass and I made a very good movie of them. Soon out of the reef, the wind died away. Horrible seas and swell played havoc with us. I surrendered to seasickness and feeling bad while skipper was the top of madness which the seamans vocab couldn't make better. And then it happened. A gale of a blow. (the terrible swell and sea must have had a reason). 25-30 knots, with the wind abeam, with full sails, and with me down and out - not to interfere, skipper was gaining what time and speed we had lost earlier. An hour before sunset, skipper tacked her into the northwest bay of Koro Island. Another Pacific paradise - where we walked under the fern tree where snakes crawled over each other. We moved with haste away from danger. And everybody we show the film to, is in disbelief.

RABI ISLAND FIJI CIRCUMNAVIGATION

RABI ISLAND FIJI CIRCUMNAVIGATION

We visited the new Banaban Virgin Coconut Oil Factory at Nuku and found it very interesting. Spent a week in Elizabeth Cove where the king tides and coral reef made going ashore not at convenient hours. However, Ketike showed us the spring and that in itself was a safari to remember. At Fatima we attended the Roman Catholic song and dance contest which was absolutely wonderful. And then spent a night at Tabiang anchorage,which was good. The bio-fuel plant was not open when we wanted to visit it. This morning we left with moist air (drizzle) but had a great sail - full on - through the pass and back to Catherine Bay. Our circumnavigation of Ra[m]bi Island has been completed.

RABI ISLAND FIJI

RABI ISLAND FIJI

We left from Budd Reef to Ra[m]bi with good trade winds. It was a perfect sail. Good wind from a good direction, comfortable, sunny sky and short sleeve temperature. We even had a bite on our fishing line. (But he got away.) We sailed all the way around the top of the northern reef of Ra[m]bi and then followed the reef closely as we went down to Albert Cove. There are few things as beautiful as a reef on a sunny day, visible from a good angle, with poloroid sunglasses. Albert Cove is the traditional Pacific beauty - white beaches, waving palm trees and turquoise water.

SAILING BUDD REEF

SAILING BUDD REEF

video

We left for Budd Reef from Ra[m]bi with light winds. The reefs were good visible. But around the bottom-end of Ra[m]bi the bouncing currents and fluctuating winds made sailing a nightmare. In fact, we drifted in circles. We really should have just put the anchor down and waited. But we didn't, trusting that the wind will get firm in strength, which eventually it did. Just as we were out through the reef, a group of dolphins joined the ride across the Rabi Strait. It was hard to windward all the way. The reef at Budd Reef was not visible at all. Once inside, we had a good sail to School Bay, where we anchored for a couple of days. As the wind changed, we anchored in many bays around the islands of Budd Reef. We visited the Yanuca village and saw the meke twice. It was very good.

VISITING THE DATELINE

VISITING THE DATELINE

At Somosomo, on Taveuni, we anchored and went to town the next morning. Calm conditions. We took the taxi up the hill to the hospital where we waited in line for our turn to see the dentist. Fortunately it was a quiet day and just one lady patient infront of us. Skipper has lost a tooth filling the day before (probably due to some fresh coconut we ate which can be very hard), and we were lucky enough that Taveuni was a big island with medical facilities serving the communities of the many islands around it. The dental job went without fuss and was very afordable. Then it was time to play tourist again and we walked halfway down the steep hill, then accross a football field to get to the official 180 degrees meridian. And a few yards further, a complete tin shack church compound. It is one of those things that you know about and never think of since it's part of life. But standing physically with one foot in yesterday and with the other foot in today, came as a reality check about the amazing feats of the human race developement. Eelco has visited Greenwich in London many years ago and now also in the Southern Hemisphere. For him it was a completion of one event.

SAILING DIRECTIONS

We are in Fiji at the moment. After exploring some wonderful new bays and its people we sailed to Taveuni Island off the northeast of Vanua Levu, the northern big island. It was lovely weather - sunshine and a soft breeze. As soon as we were over the reef, the sails went up and we glided along in a seducing waltz. Our destination was just seven miles away and in view. Slowly but surely the tempo of the waltz decreased but we kept going. It was nice to be out 'sailing'. After lunch we had a look on our track and what do you know? We sailed at 1.2 knots backwards! The current in the strait was just so much more than the little wind there was. The old Volvo had to bring us where we wanted to be.

VOYAGE 2014 - water bombs

Left New Zealand with no wind. Storm. Damage. Change destination from British Columbia to South Africa. 30 kn winds all the time. Water bombs almost constantly. More damage. Arrive Fiji with no wind. 

WINDS OF CHANGE

End of May is a bit late in the season to start crossing the deep Southern Ocean on the long journey to British Columbia. But sometimes that's how it is. We cleared from New Zealand with clear skies and no wind. At the heads of Whangarei we drifted the whole day on mirror water. Large schools of fairy penguins were about and we watched them playing and hunting. I just love the sound they make. Sundown a thought of wind filled the sails lightly, sometimes. Came dawn the next morn, we could still see the coast. During day two, the winds became steady and MYLADY flew. All the work skipper has done on her underwatership is visible. Day three, lovely. By late afternoon the wind was gone. With suspicion skipper paraded in the cockpit, snifing the air. On the weather map we seemed to be borderliners - not belonging to any of the high or low pressure systems around us. Skipper decided we should stow the used spinnaker pole. Whilst on deck with this job the wind sprung up from another direction. Unbelievable but during a count of ten its force was a dissasterous 40 knots. I finished the job on deck while skipper went to try and steer MYLADY. Fortunately the genoa was furled away and the mainsail already with a double reef. Bounching seas shook us around in pouring rain. The boom came over in a crashing gype. Flew back and crash gype again, smashing its travel stops open and took the travelrunner with it, trailing all this valuables at the end of the main sheet in the sea next to the boat. We were both outside and in danger zone but thank God, were spared the feared, neck-braking hit. Forecasted only more headwinds, lows and blows. Recollecting ourselves afterwards in the cockpit we wondered how can we be like our friends Valhalla, contentedly pottering about? One answer is - go downwind - not against. We turned MYLADY on a new course - towards hopefully an easier life - and in search of a homeground where also we may potter around.

FLYING START

Due to some medical issues with skipper, our departure of New Zealand was postpone with a month. The month was used extensively for private last minute jobs. Even some of the long-term jobs were tackled. And I could get a couple of paintings done. The last Monday arrived. Doctor said Eelco was good to go. We cleared the deck and stowed all other bits of our lives in intriguing small spaces. Dinghy was strapped on deck and the alarms set for 5h30. It was a falling tide and we had to catch the bridge before the early morning traffic to the city started. We woke the next morning at 6h30. Our bridge opening was scheduled for 6h45. Skipper was up and dressed before I could say 'yes'. The hardly ever used motor roared into life. Firs the aft-line came in, then the bowline. With a hard push, off the pile mooring, MYLADY swung into clear water. We sped up the alley and with a tight u-turn around the red marker we started our chase down river to the bridge while calling on the VHF " Bridge control, we're coming!" As we rounded the last bend the bridge began to lift. It was 6h45. We made it. We sure had a flying start to our cruising season. Dawn became daylight. It was 4 degrees Celsius.

STORMS

We arrived back at MYLADY midst forecasted prolonged very wet weather. I raised against the odds to get all the big things washed and dried on the lines. Between squalls, skipper could finish up the underwater paint and other have-to's for our big splash. Very early in the morning during a dry spell, David and Kevin of the boatyard gently let MYLADY back into the water. How good to be floating again. And off we went, down river to the bay outside by the heads. There the sea and wind were not favourable so we dropped the hook next to the land-wall in an eddy out of the heavy current. It was a surprisingly comfortable 'uncharted' anchorage. 
When we heard 60 knots forecasted on the marine radio channel, with swell of up to 4 meters, we decided a nearby marina might be a more protected option. With haste we heaved anchor and motored back up-river for half-an-hour whilst the rain and wind increased. Pat and her husband took our lines and helped to settle us in Marsden Cove Marina. It blew and blew - the whole night through.  Our fenders got pushed out as MYLADY was squashed on her side to the pier. A jib on another boat ripped out and flapped like a turreting gun, to pieces.  Morning came and skipper put another line to shore to pull MYLADY off our pier. The storm intensified. According some locals, this was worse than the Lucy cyclone which came through about a month ago. Lunchtime weather improved to the point where we dared sticking our noses out from our covers. Today, a day later, we will leave once again for the bay at the heads to sail direction Great Barrier Island tomorrow.

Steering pedestal - refit on the go

Hello to you! No we didn't disappear of the face of the earth. We are just catching up with ourselves. Thanks for checking up on us. My trip to Texas visiting the children, was as good as I could have wished for. Eelco had enough time with mom in Holland after his duty of collecting freedom chips for us. And we both arrived back 'home' in New Zealand beginning of March. There were just sooooo many people at the airport going through customs. We almost missed our connecting bus to the town where our boat is. Running-running with luggage-loads bigger than ourselves, we made the bus with three minutes. Phew. In the midst of night we arrived at our dear MYLADY - home sweet home. 

Mylady is being loved and care for to no limits. Her owner scraped and scraped her bottom till she was clean and almost naked. Then he dressed her with layer upon layer of different qualities and colors of paint. She got a new coat on her hem above the waterline. If you listen good, you can hear her purr. Up and down he runs through her top shaking up the rigging and replacing with new. That the mast steps are showing signs of wear and tear, we shall not worry about now. Even her steering he did not forget. Never in thirty years, but this time for sure. Dug up from the deep dark, hidden below the pile of fenders and extra lines in the aft storage, came the steering rods and the what-have-you-nots. And this all started because the steering pedestal in the cockpit kept on naging about the salt corrosion creeping between it's base-rings. Skipper said solemnly, a bad foundation is no good, removed the steeringwheel, and forced the poor steering colom with brute force and seaman's vocabularly off its sealant-glued-fixture-base in the centre cockpit. Some time passed. At the moment he ever so gently sands and paints and carries that same heavyweight pededstal like a baby up and down the many steps of the very high and narrow ladder, refitting it proudly on its important place.  

Now that our hard earned freedom chips have been used up in a good way on good MYLADY, we are going to take a break for a few days to experience some more of New Zealand. On our return, we splash asap, go for a test sail and then leave for British Columbia.

GALES

EELCO'S BAD LUCK WEATHER VOYAGE ON mvAvalon

What initially seemed a simple trip down south turned out in a trip with in the first part gale after gale after

even a stronger gale and shortage of fuel . It was unbelievable how much bad weather we had from the start. Half a day after we left Skutskear, Sweden, we had our first good gale . So our Christmas celebration had to be delayed for a day till the gale tamed a little. We went over the top from Denmark at Skagen . There we made our first bunker-stop . We dropped anchor behind a small island to have some lee from the full blowing gale, but the bunkering went on . A bunker ship same size like ours came alongside and by means of a hose connection we bunkered 60 Cubic meter gasoil . Just before we left and once past the top we had our first North Sea gale but it was not too bad because the wind was southerly so we had some lee from the shore . The middle part from our North Sea crossing went fine . But while we came near the Dutch coast we had one gale after the other. It did not stop anymore. Looking at any weather chart made me and everyone else depressed. This weather with gale after gale continued one day after the other and of course we made not much progress down south at all but the gauge from the fuel tanks went steadily down . Near Chergourgh there was a gale with force 10 Bft coming so it was time to look for shelter what we did by mean of dropping anchor in the anchorage of Baie Du Seine . There we stayed 5 day's . The anchorage was full and even very big containers vessels were waiting for better weather . On Tuesday the wind went down . That morning we went to Le Havre in order to bunker again and to get some provisions on board. The bunkering took the whole afternoon and by evening time we were underway to Turkey again and up till now it is a good and normal trip .

TRASH FREIGHT

WASTE and SALT

Household waste is burned in Delfzijl Holland, to produce electricity. In Cork we were moored in the middle of the city. The first pub was in close proximity of the accommodation of the ship - what a shame??? – had to go and invest. The loading of the waste took 1.5 days. We took this cargo to Delfzijl in the north-east of the Netherlands. Discharging of the waste took 2 days of 24 hours nonstop.

After that was out we had to clean the hold very good in order to get the smell of the waste out. In Delfzijl we also had to load again, this time

3300 mt of salt in bulk. And according the information I got from my company we had to load "wet "salt. Which meant we did not had to stop loading while it was raining. Good. On Sunday we shifted from our original berth to the loading jetty of AKZO NOBEL, the salt company. Once alongside there we started to take our ballast out, to make way for the cargo, which took a few hours. Only then a man from AKZO came onboard to have a look at the holds and said "sorry, you first have to paint the sides of the hold as now it's not good enough". So we started straight away but halfway through the day they told us to move away because

they needed to load another ship at that jetty. But in order to move we first had to ballast the ship again what took 5 hours! Only then could we move to a waiting berth. This was in the evening and the next morning – the paint job was done and dry – we moved back to the jetty and after some of the ballast was out again, we started to load the salt. The rate of loading was approximately 700 mt / hour so that went fast. Six o'clock that night the last of our ropes were free and we underway to Stockvik in Sweden. This trip went by the Kieler Kanaal again and took us 4 days. Once empty in Stockvik – after one and a half day – we sailed 110 nautical mile south along the Swedish coast to Skutskaer and there we loaded a full load – 3500 mt – of woodpulp for two harbours in the Sea of Marmara in Turkey. 

LA ROCHELLE france

CHAPTER 4 OF EELCO'S JOB ON mv Avalon

This time I walked from La Pallice to La Rochelle and back what took me 45 min each way. But before I went to La Rochelle I visited the local market in La Pallice what was a nice one with all kinds off stuff and food for sale. In the second world war La Pallice was a big U boat base . The bunkers where those U boats were moored are

still there . They can not be removed simply because they are to massive . We were just moored in front of them.

La Rochelle was wonderful too and I spent a few hours walking trough the narrow old

streets and the area around the old harbor. Once the ship was empty on Tuesday we sailed for Cork in Ireland to load a full load of "Waste in Bales "Yes, regular household waste.

GENT , Belgium

GENT - CHAPTER 3 OF EELCO'S JOB ON mv AVALON

Gent is a beautiful old city and everything is in walking distance

from each other. I went ashore around 11h00 and only came back to the ship around 17h00. Two shipmates accompanied me and we were picked up by the bus of the wonderful seamen's mission in Gent. They also arranged a good taxi service for us to go back to the

ship. The next day we started to discharge at 06.00 and at 11.00 we were empty. Once empty we had to shift to another berth in the port of Ghent and in that berth we had to load fertilizer for La Pallice, the commercial port of La Rochelle in France. But before we could load again we had to clean the hold very good. This took the whole Sunday and most of the Monday. Monday

afternoon the surveyor checked the holds and they were approved. Loading started Tuesday afternoon by means of a big crane with a grab that shifted the fertilizer from canal barges to our hold. In total there were 4 barges that had together the cargo we were to load. On Wednesday afternoon we sailed for La Pallice where we arrived on Saturday early evening and we went straight alongside inside the small dock, lucky us again. Why?? Because discharge only started on Monday so I could play the tourist once again. 

ALL WEATHER TERMINAL mvAvalon steel loading

CHAPTER 2 OF EELCO'S JOB ON MV AVALON

While alongside in Dordrecht NL, we discharged a part of the cargo of wheat mv Avalon brought from northern Spain. The rest of the load we discharged in Zwijndrecht, a port just around the corner of Dordrecht. Once empty, we received orders to sail for IJmuiden –

also in the Netherlands – to load a cargo of 3480 mt of steel coils. The place we loaded those coils was a special place. Due to the fact that those coils are not aloud to get wet you can not load them while there is a drop of rain. So Tata Steel in Ijmuiden made a shed where ships like the Avalon can go inside up to their accommodation and then they can load whatever the weather. Yes you can guess the name of that place: 'The All Weather Terminal'. The loading goes on 24/7. Once we were loaded we left for our discharge port of Kolding in Denmark, Solvesborg in Sweden and Stettin in Poland. Kolding was our first port and in order to reach it we had to pass through the "Kieler Kanaal". In all the ports the discharging went efficient and quick. 

mv Avalon, where Eelco is.

Hello Family and Friends,

This newsletter I write while working as master onboard mv Avalon in order to earn some freedom chips to keep Mylady and crew going. But let me start with updating you about what happened the last few months. At the beginning of October we came back from our sail to Tonga and Fiji. This time we did not clear customs in Opua, New-Zealand as usual, but in Whangarei. While underway to New-Zealand we booked a spot on the hard at Norsand Boatyard in Whangarei. This time we want to let Mylady dry out and do a proper job on her underwater ship. From the moment she was out I

only had 10 days before I had to join the Avalon. So after a week working on Mylady I left for the Netherlands while MisAle stayed on board before she flew to Corpus Christi in Texas USA. 28 October the Avalon was moored in Dordrecht in the Netherlands and that is where I joined her. 

The Avalon was built in 2008/2009 and came in service in

2009. Her overall length is 88.90 meter and she is 12.50 meter wide. Her gross tonnage is 2545 mt and her summer deadweight 3850 mt. She has a good strong 280 Kw bow-thruster and a 1250 Kw main engine with a big pitch propeller. Her bridge is full of the most modern stuff like two good radars, two ECDIS screens etc. 

If you have a look on www.marinetraffic.com and punch in the following IMO no 9387322, you will not only find out where we are but can also see lots of pictures of the vessel. Now at this stage we have a crew of 7. Master and Chief Mate are Dutch. The Chief Engineer and one of Abs' are both from the Cape Verde Islands. The other AB is from the

Philippines and so is the cadet. The cook is originally from Cape Verde but he has a Dutch passport. Yes a real mix of nations again but we have a good team. The size of the hold is, 62 meter long, 10.12 meter wide, 8.43 meter high. Here the empty hold is being prepared for the next load.

Xmas 2013

Eelco's ship is sailing full steam ahead at the moment to make it in time to Stockvik in Sweden before they close for the xmas holidays. If they are in time, they will off-load and re-load and be on the North Atlantic Ocean during Christmas. If they are too late, they will have a relaxed and cold white Christmas in a harbour in Sweden being unproductive till the beginning of next year.

We wish you a wonderful time during the holiday season and pray that you will be save and healthy. Thanks for your part in our memories. 

 Eelco  and Mi-sá-lê -  blessed & happy  

Pawns in a chess game

One of the green pawns is my dearest earning our freedom chips. I pray his eyes are open.

Norsand Boatyard, Whangarei, New Zealand

Norsand Boatyard will go the extra mile and hang-on to your boat. Really. 

Click the pic for a short video.

sv MYLADY's travels during 2013

Mylady had a great year. Sailing was perfect. Repairs we made before leaving New Zealand for the islands proofed to be well done. I practiced my survival skills and skipper practiced his sea-steading skills. Mylady just quietly rocked, or rodeo-ed. He got a tan and I made some videos. 
Share our wonderful memories of 2013. Click on the picture. Enjoy.

RABI Island, Fiji

In the northeast of Fiji is Ra[m]bi Island. It is officially spelled without the [m], but you have to pronounce the [m]. It is part of Fiji. 1945 the English bought it to relocate the people of Banaba. Or as it is known in English – Ocean Island – in the Kiribati. The English have exploited Banaba to the extend that normal subsistence living was not possible anymore for the locals. There are about 5000 people on Ra[m]bi. We met the people in Nukuritsi busy with the RC Youth Project of a new piggery. Every night choir song would fill the pitch dark night. In the very big Christina Bay were many colourful canoes fishing.
We sailed to Elizabeth Cove and Albert Cove and returned to Christina Bay where we started. And we ended at the capital, Nuku, where we enjoyed being present at a big choir and dance competition. Ra[m]bi has touched our lives.
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Waypoints Southern Lau Group

Ogea Driki ( Ongea Ndriki )

From outside to the inside of the lagoon.
01 19.10.747 S 178.27.520 W
02 19.10.833 S 178.27.327 W
03 19.10.914 S 178.27.185 W
04 19.10.905 S 178.27.010 W

Oneata
Pass we entered
01 18.24.941 S 178.32.068 W
02 18.25.245 S 178.31.810 W

Our anchor pos
18.25.737 S 178.28.282 W

Fulanga
Pass from out to inside the lagoon
01 19.07.254 S 178.32.347 W
02 19.07.901 S 178.32.401 W
03 19.07.392 S 178.32.465 W
04 19.07.668 S 178.32.588 W
05 19.07.727 S 178.32.587 W

Anchor pos near village visible inside the lagoon
19.07.271 S 178.35.606 W

Anchor pos near anchorage to go by foot to main village
19.08.997 S 178.33.755 W
Entrace to anchorage above
19.08.735 S 178.33.850 W

Pass to east side off the lagoon ( from W to E )
01 19.08.141 S 178.32.693 W
02 19.08.225 S 178.32.575 W
03 19.08.280 S 178.32.471 W


Totoya
18.57.262 S 179.52.989 W

Matuku
Pass from outside inside the lagoon
01 19.09.264 S 179.43.899 E
02 19.09.25 S 179.44.033 E
03 19.09.237 S 179.44.164 E
04 19.09.218 S 179.44.799 E
05 19.09.545 S 179.44.971 E
06 19.09.587 S 179.45.035 E 07 anchor pos 19.09.661 S 179.45.129 E

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FROM TONGA TO FIJI

Still in the Ha'apai in Tonga. Behind Uiha Island we road out the strong winds of the next days. From there we went to Paradise Island. No, it's not the real name. It's our name for a small island where we had the feeling of being in paradise – many years ago. It's small enough that one can walk around it. It's big enough to give protection. Apart from the south-easter, then we sailed to Tofango again. And that became our circle of sea-steading for the next months. Tofango for the SE, Uiha for the E and N, and Paradise for all the other wind directions. There are no people on Tofanga and Paradise. Uiha has two big villages and a large school.
We cleared out from Pangai in the Ha'apai and left Tonga via Kao Island. It is an impressive cone shaped high vulcanic mountain. Our good fortune for the day was an equally impressive yellow fin tuna. We arrived in FIJI five days later. If we were sailors chasing the wind, it could have been a four day trip.
Savusavu on the northern big island of Vanua Levu in Fiji, is an excellent place to catch up with internet and other commodities like shops, markets and people. Out at the point we spent a few days before drifting to Bakabaka. What a lovely place that was. We walked on somebody's dream island and took a dinghy ride to the salt lake but turned around at the white waters under the bridge.
When there was wind again we sailed to Somosomo at Taveuni. An interessting busride with beautiful views around the northern point took us to the nature park at the otherside of the island. There after we sailed to Kioa Island. Deep water with solid mangrove walls and coral. Our sail to Catharina Bay at Rambi Island was adrenaline pumping. Hard to windward, with the poorest of light, hugging the reefs and stampeding through the gap. We arrived still on our portside ear and are since in contrast, on flat calm water in a windless bay, repairing the engine and meeting the people. Beautiful outrigger canoes colour the big bay.

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Tongan Ha 'apai Islands Sailing

http://youtu.be/_vpaC7W8Mmc

We sailed with calm and good weather from Tongatapu to Kelefesia in the Ha'apai. That means I don't get sick - wonderful! And we had  almost a week of lovely weather and good time there. The beach was littered with coral. It must have been from a bad storm that had battered the island which has done the damage.  But was the coral (in sea) ever so beautiful - fascinating beautiful. It was the first time for me to see the big fans with lace fringes. Unfortunately we don't have an underwater camera yet. Our next stop was Fonoifua where last year they had only one visiting boat and this year we're the first. We had a good time and the children enjoyed the entertainment by the visitors. The highway footpath which winds in the middle through the village will bring you to all the things in the short video. Enjoy.
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From Fonoifua it was on to Limu which is situated on the outer reef. The beach is covered completely with tracks. Tracks of crabs and snakes. In thirty meters distance three snake tracks.....! The weather turned rough during the night and we left in a hurry to a more protected anchorage. Skipper got soaken wet from a formiddable rainstorm while we sailed. I was allowed to keep dry inside... - isn't he kind? 

Whale POO

The gale was whipping the waters white with foam when we went anchor up midday in New Zealand. The neighbour yachties were all 

on their boats, watching.  We motored out of the port of Opua and then rolled out half of the furling genoa. The gale subsided slowly 

but surely.  Apart from the tall ship Tucker Tomson who had a youth school class on board, we were the only boat out there. Just 

before dark, the yacht Mizar which was going the same direction, passed us. The voyage was good. There was a big high spreading all 

over our sailing grounds and we had light, little or no wind for days. We enjoyed it. An unexpected storm got us in a tight knot, but it 

blew over quick enough. Light winds again but all from a good direction. Then a low popped up, just on top of us. We were two days from reaching our destination. But the low was apparently going to interfere with head winds the last part of our trip. So we decided to sail with the low, round the bottom and up the west side of it, where the winds would be the good direction. 

Unfortunately for us, the low stalled and grew and grew and went a different direction. It pulled us into its hell hole and gave us the ride of our lives. 

Needless to say, my prayer-line to heaven was non-stop open and we received blessings untold. We arrived in Tonga 17 days after leaving New Zealand all in one piece. Just the nameflap on starboard side got a torn in one corner. 

Finalizing to leave for the Pacific Islands

The sailmaker from Willis Sails came onboard at the Stone Store to take the measurements for our new sails. Having fresh water available, we washed the old sails before stowing them.  It was ideal weather for it, lovely sunny and quiet water and Mylady sure looked different with all the cloth sausages draped from her mast. We frequently did the healthy uphill walk to town to buy provisions.  Being pushed down hill on the return trip with our heavily laden trolleys is always fun. And then the stowing dance to find space for everything.

We replaced our water tank with new. It was a thirty-four year old stainless steel. Twelve years ago it got a new bottom in Turkey and a baffle inside. All the crashing we do out on the oceans had the water rush slamming out this barrier and it made the worst noise you could think of.  We feared it would slam a hole in the tank. So we turned the boat inside out. The old water tank is out and the new solid plastic tank (not rubber) is in. All the connections and hoses to and from were also replaced. It was one of those typical jobs suppose to take a couple of days that turned into a fortnight drama.  

As always, never a dull moment and actually not much to show for all our being busy. It’s just us who will enjoy greater peace of mind in the knowledge of all the maintenance and improvements, and Mylady who smiles along.

It’s time for us to sail across the sea. We are off to some sunshine and warmth on the Pacific Islands of Tonga, Wallis and Fiji. 

Take care of yourselves and write us a note. 

On the move again

We have had a lovely time the last month in the Historic Stone Store Basin. Mylady had her anchor out with two aft lines to the shore. Our refit-on-the-go-project had us ended up in Kerikeri to get Craig of Willis Sails on board to measure our new sails. Then the township of Kerikeri was just so handy to do a few more jobs... We replaced the fresh water tank with new made by Hercules Tanks of Tauranga.   Sophie of Kerikeri pumps was ever so helpful in supplying all our hoses and connections and much more. Good weather prevailed with the big man crawling around in small spaces. The wind generator came down for some lubrication and check-up and now swings with less struggle.  Whilst I was rolling thumbs, the polish man came around and gave Mylady a super shine. Oh, and there was also time to meet new people and old friends. The motorman had two long days in the engine room changing all the old for new, supposedly she's 

purring perfect now.  We left the Kerikeri River on a run with lots of wind from behind. The new storm sail was tested and found to be good. And after coming on anchor the little riding sail immediately went up to keep Mylady steady in the wind. We are so happy with so many of our little this-and-that things. Like for instance the furling genoa cover which we finally figured out and now works good. Will be testing our new sails in the coming days.  Following is my easy bread baking on top of the gas stove demo.  Enjoy !

Yacht Captain DUTIES

What are you doing all the time ? The ever familiar question.  Well here's some of the things keeping the captain busy.

Cavalie Islands NZ

We have a wonderful time here at the Cavalie Islands in Northland New Zealand.  Weather is summary and visibility excellent. Slowly heading south.

Swinging around the mast

Skipper gets into the mast of our off-shore going Compass34 cruising yacht Mylady, with the very handy mast steps.  It was time to remove the baggy-wringles after about ten years.  The boson chair is very handy.  He found that the baggy-wringles left a mark on the stainless steel rigging - probably a bit of oxygen deprevation.  I’m fortunate that Eelco doesn’t mind to climb the mast.  Only if my life depends on it will I try it.  

christmas 2012

We wish you a very good Christmas and a happy New Year. In New Zealand the red flowers of the Pohutukawa are out in abundance and the hillsides full of more promises.  It's gonna be a wet xmas but promises to be pretty.  Blessings and love.
Eelco and Mi-sA-lê

Back on Mylady on Kerikeri River, New Zealand

The crew of MYLADY are back on board in New Zealand.  I had a great time with my son and his family in Texas and Eelco had a good, productive time collecting freedom chips.  With the sheets and ropes and sails back on deck and in the rigging, we’re starting to feel and look like a sailboat again.  In the meantime the big man has started to demolish the boat from the inside in order to get to the main bulkhead under the floorboards where we have to do repairs.  Soon we’ll leave the Kerikeri River to go to Ashby’s Boatyard in Opua, Bay of Islands, where we’ll do most of the work.  Weather is good, chilly for us, but by all standards – good.

our backyard. 

mv SAMIRA freedom chips

Eelco left his previous ship in Ceuta and flew home for the night. His luggage showed up a few hours late. The following morning his pre-ordered taxi to take him to the train didn't show up.  On arrival at the port his new ship was in a complete different location than where his transport dropped him off.  All in all a smooth transfer with a lot of hick-ups. Fortunately he's a giant in body and in mind.  mv Samira is loaded with steel and they are underway to Sweden. She handles the rough North Sea well.  Less crew this time therefore longer watches.
photo credit: http://photos.marinetraffic.com/ais/showphoto.aspx?photoid=837162

Sailing voyages with mv Sirocco

They didn't sit stil.  Sailing loads of rice, or sugarbeet, or steel, or trash or urea. Sailing the Black Sea, the Mediteranean Sea, the Atlantic Ocean, Bay of Biscay, passed the white cliffs of Dover, the North Sea and the Baltic Sea.  In general, weather was fair. and onboard relations good.

mv Sirocco freedom chips

We were preparing to go to the islands when we discovered significant damage below the floor on the main bulkhead.  Combined with that a far gone rusted mast support and keel frame left us with no option other than to arrange for extension for Mylady and do repairs.  Whilst we do the visa dance, Eelco is collecting freedom chips for us again and I’m visiting in Texas.  When we’ll be back in NZ, we have to do serious structural repairs.    

This time Eelco works as relief captain on a Dutch cargo ship m/v Sirocco, the third ship of Dutch owner Geert Tilma.   Geert and his wife have captained and cooked for many years on his ships.  While discharging in the homeport of Delfzijl, in the north of Holland, the ‘family’, that includes other staff members who were on holiday, came all onboard to assist and share in the work and joy of new stores. 

Sirocco is a 2004 model with the vessel’s LOA 111.40 m, Beam 13.40 m and max draft 5,80 metre.  She uses 9 mt of heavy fuel a day if sailed at full speed.  With the wind on the bow the speed drops dramatically.  We can carry about 200 mt of fuel.  In the Mediterranean we can use fuel that has a high Sulfur level (cheaper) but up north in the North Sea and British Channel we have to use fuel with a low Sulfur level. Yes and that is a puzzle if you have only 3 tanks for fuel. Our fresh water tanks are each 25 mt.  This ship has two.  Normal use aboard is between 1,5 and 2 mt a day.  We have a water maker that can make about 2 mt a day so we have to watch the amount and if we go low we have to fill up from shore.
In every port is an agent who takes care of the whole shore organisation like the paper work between ship and shore and immigration and customs.  He pay's the bills like harbour dues etc. After the ship is gone he sends a bill to the operator of the vessel in this case "Wagenborg Shipping".  From the freight agent at the operator, the ship gets info about the cargo and from them the ship also get sailing orders.  The cargo loading plans are made by the chief officer aboard the vessel and captain has to approve it all and take responsibility. 

Next time more about the voyages...   Until then.

Cruising New Zealand

A lot of time has passed.  Sorry for not keeping in touch.  Following is a brief summary of what’s been happening with us.  First and foremost – we are well.  After Eelco’s time on the Janette last November, we spent some family time in Holland.  No it didn’t snow. 

We explored the inland of Netherland by train and had a great time.  I fell in love with the quaint town of Delfts.  Maastricht in the south was super interesting.  For instance the ‘wall of Jerigo’ around the old city – fascinating.  I didn’t realize the walls were so wide.  We walked on top of the wall where they had veggie gardens and fruit trees growing between the canons.  They had bakeries where people queued in the streets and the bread bought by its weight – absolutely memorable delicious.

End of January we were back in New Zealand and did the regular haul out, scrub and paint.  Also some major maintenance like galvanizing the anchor and chain and installed a new anchor winch.  Yes, the old one said ‘ten years were enough’.  And then we could finally take off to explore the northern tip of New Zealand.  We enjoyed our cruising time there.  The Cavalie Islands were great, Whangaroa a sheer delight and Doubtless Bay fascinating.  In Mangonui was an art gallery in the old courthouse where I could stay forever.  The air, the feeling, the life of the place, the paintings, the crafts, were vibrant, different, alive and inspirational.  And there was this Maori goddess swirling from out of the sea with all kinds of sealife mingling with her long wavy hair.  Her features were fine, clear, delightful and powerful – Mother of the Sea.  

I loved it.

 

On our way back we were homesteading in sea anchorages.  In one such place we rode out a severe gale coming from the SSE.   However when the storm decided to turn to the west, we all of a sudden had a problem.  In wind of 50 kn(100km/h) and flattening rain, we scurried to weigh the two anchors back on board and motored to the leeside of the bay.  But there it was open to the sea and big swell was running.  Judged by the onlookers arriving on the beach in their cars in the pouring rain, seeing a yacht there, and especially in those conditions, was not an everyday occurrence.   We survived it all, thank God.   

We connected again with old time sailing friends, caught a few tuna and revisited beautiful bays.  Even Dingo from Oz caught up with us and we were honoured to receive a warm loaf of the best home baked bread.  Mylady is now resting quietly on the Kerikeri River in New Zealand.  I’m visiting my granddaughter in Texas and Eelco is collecting freedom chips for us.