The band has broken up

Hi everyone. It's Matt Harvey here, returning after a brief hiatus spent at home with the family and back to Skipper Silver Fern to Auckland. Our next adventure involves sailing with Te Kaihōpara up the East Coast of the North Island, finally bringing us into warmer weather after our escapades in the South Island. Salt Lines, Silver Fern, and TK are all docked in Picton, presenting a fantastic opportunity for the crews to explore all three boats simultaneously.

Our intrepid crew gathered throughout Tuesday afternoon, having travelled from Australia and various locations around New Zealand. With five individuals onboard, plus myself and Fabio (some of you may recall him as our former First Mate on Salt Lines), we have a total crew of seven for our voyage to Auckland.

Thumbs up as we sail out of the Tory Channel

Despite a chilly start to the day, Picton welcomed them with blue skies and sunshine upon their arrival (I suspect it was trying to lull us into a false sense of security!). Di, Chris, and another Matt (yes, we now have three Matts onboard – quite confusing) arrived first, just in time to assist with loading the provisions, conveniently arriving in the same truck for all three vessels. With some help from David to uncover all the hiding spots, we managed to stash away all the provisions in no time.

Taking advantage of the opportunity to bring all three crews together, Timmy and Te Kaihōpara’s crew organised a crew dinner for early evening onboard. As our last two crew members, Roger and Ray, arrived, we all strolled around Pier 3 and Te Kaihōpara. With nearly thirty people to accommodate, Te Kaihōpara’s spacious proportions allowed us to gather comfortably. Over a buffet-style dinner, the crews mingled, swapping stories, and sharing a few drinks.

Following a brief welcome speech, Salt Lines' crew, who were heading up to Opua via the West Coast, returned to their boat for their own weather update from Jess. We stayed with Te Kaihōpara’s crew for a joint weather update and an overview of the plan for the coming days. By 8:00 PM, we had concluded and headed back to Silver Fern for an early night.

I’m not sleeping, just resting my eyes

The next morning, as we began to stir, the Salt Lines crew, berthed next to us, were already underway with their safety briefing. By 9:00 AM, they set off toward Opua with Jess in command and Jason as the first mate. This marked the last time all three boats would be together for the foreseeable future. As they motored out of the harbor, we held back our tears – the band had finally broken up.

After brewing some coffee and overcoming a minor mishap involving saltwater tea (the culprit remains unidentified), we swiftly recovered. Conducting our own safety briefing, we ran through the processes and procedures to ensure everyone's safety.

Almost glassy in Tory Channel today

By 10:45 AM, we were ready to cast off and embark on the 50-metre journey to the fuel dock. Assisted by some of Te Kaihōpara’s crew, we were tied up alongside in no time. To save time, I had planned to top up the water tank while refuelling. However, upon reaching the fuel dock, I realised our hose wasn't long enough to reach the tap. Another great plan bites the dust... So, once we finished refuelling, we had to return to our berth to top up the water before departing.

As we bid farewell to Picton and ventured into the Marlborough Sounds, we set our course toward the Tory Channel, which would lead us out into the Cook Strait. Known for its strong currents, we aimed to arrive there at 1530, at the turn of the tide.

Traveling in convoy with Te Kaihōpara, we sailed on in light winds, capturing snapshots of the breathtaking scenery along the way. Assisted by favourable currents, we were poised to arrive an hour ahead of schedule. After a brief discussion with David on Te Kaihōpara, we decided it was prudent to anchor for an hour and wait rather than sail the additional 20nm detour out of the Queen Charlotte Sound.

It’s snack o’clock just before we head into Cook Strait

Once anchored, we brewed fresh tea and reviewed the process for raising the mainsail. After completing a couple of minor tasks, we were ready to weigh anchor, hoist the mainsail, and venture toward the channel. Still motor-sailing, we timed our exit from the channel perfectly. With Ray at the helm, following Te Kaihōpara, we cruised out into the Cook Strait. Just as we emerged, we were greeted by a pod of dolphins swimming across our bow – a perfect start to our journey!

Having just finished our roast leg of lamb dinner, we are passing Wellington, en route to Napier. With light winds forecast, we anticipate motor-sailing throughout the night. However, that may change as we round Cape Palliser and head up the East Coast – an area renowned for gusty winds and choppy seas. Time will tell...

Matt