The South Island Circumnavigation we have just embarked on was originally scheduled for early 2022. COVID lock downs put a stop to it and it was rescheduled for 2024. The majority of the crew on Silver Fern have patiently waited an extra 2 years, so it was a huge night of excitement for us all when we gathered for the Silver Fern and Salt Lines crew dinner at the Oxley Hotel in Picton last night. With 22 in all, the night was abuzz with conversation as our crews met their fellow cabin mates, who they’re spending the next 16 days with.

“School camp for big kids” is how I describe it. The excitement of a new adventure, new personal challenges and the ability to escape from everyday life for a while. After dinner we headed to the Salt Lines saloon and squeezed in all 22 crew from both yachts for a weather briefing and initial sailing plan for the first few days at sea.

The El Nino weather pattern, has back-to-back, low pressure systems rolling eastward round the southern ocean and they just refuse to give us an even break if we are anywhere near the bottom of Australia or New Zealand. 5-7 days from now we are expecting 6m seas, freezing rain, snow and 55+ knot winds to hit much of the south island of New Zealand.

We may be hardy sailors, but we are not crazy enough to go anywhere that type of cold, windy, dangerous weather. We’ll spend the next few days exploring the Marlborough Sounds, D’Urville Island and Abel Tasman areas and do our best to anchor in sheltered spots as this weather rolls northward and over the top of us. We are hopeful a window will open up on the 29th or 30th of March to head south to Fiordland.

We rose from 6am onwards on this 6 degree, Picton morning, with the some crew headed to Picton for coffee and toasted sandwiches, while others rose later and ate cereal onboard. The crew gathered at 8am for a session to share their prior sailing experience and talk about expectations for this adventure.

At 9am Matt Marscheider kicked of the safety briefing, while Matt Perry and his team from Hurricane Rigging fitted two new lower shrouds, to replace the existing 3-year old shrouds, with wire breaks, that have done 45,000nm already. Yesterday Matt and I replaced the 9-month old Jabsco toilet macerator pump that has already worn out, due the thousands of flushes it gets each year.

With provisions stowed yesterday. all that remained this morning was to take on 500 litres of diesel and we could head out of the Picton Marina in get the fun started. We love berthing at the Picton Marina and Mark the manager goes out of his way to make room for all 3 yachts and accomodate our crew. The Picton waterfront is just 200m from the marina with cafes and restaurants an easy stroll.

Matt Marscheider helmed Silver Fern out of the berth in the 14 knot cross breeze and had organised the crew brilliantly for the casting off process and re-tie at the fuel dock. He did such a good job, demonstrating his helmanship, that the crew gave him a round of applause for the perfectly executed touch down, at the fuel pier.

With the fuel onboard, we headed out of the marina and into the Picton Harbour. Salt Lines had waited patiently outside, after departing earlier, so we could hoist our sails together for a sail in the gorgeous autumn sun, to Resolution Bay for the first night at anchor. With 22 knots of breeze out in Cook Strait, we elected to put a reef in the mainsail.

It was never supposed to be a race, but another yacht always provides the chance to hone your skills and focus everyone’s attention on trimming sails, helming to the wind shifts and making the yacht go faster. We criss-crossed our way up Queen Charlotte Sound and tacked our way into Resolution Bay. We had to duck Salt Lines stern on 4 occasions as we crossed paths, providing all the excitement of a match race as we bathed in the warm sun. Kevin helmed the bulk of the leg and did an excellent job of responding to the endless wind shifts and gusts.

After 4 hours of sailing and many tacks, we were overlapped with Salt Lines as we headed into the anchorage. Eventually we tacked away, dropped our sails and found a nice spot at the based of an imposing hill, that should protect us from the NW-N wind forecast overnight.

Our crew wasted no time getting out snacks and a cheese platter, with a couple of cold drinks, before getting our BBQ dinner underway. Tonights weather update from Matt, shows more of the same next week and reinforces our plan to stay safe and stay warm until the weather abates.

David