The sea can be a cruel mistress or a tender lover, either way, Te Kaihopara and I always seem to find our way back to her soft embrace. After departing from Minerva Reef, getting back into the sea routine of watches and using the heads whilst being inclined, wasn’t very difficult for the now seasoned veterans onboard Te Kaihōpara. The only matter of controversy was, who would regain command over the bluetooth speakers? Matt revealed the true cowboy within him, as his country tunes transported us to the winding roads of Alabama. Music truly has a way of decorating time. The iron sail was brought into action in the late hours of the night as the wind seems to be determined to play peek-a-boo. My deepest desires and Matt’s birthday coincided, as a decadent chocolate cake made a sudden appearance! Ah, the sweet wonders of cocoa!

As our approach towards Fiji wound down to its final few days, there was a definite undertone of an unhealthy competition between the watches and their last dinner preps (I like it!). Watch A and B, both made some mind-bending curries whilst watch C, maintained their clean record of the best salads, I’ve ever had the pleasure of consuming at sea. There was much ado about nothing, as Barry managed to avoid his nemesis, the blocked aft heads, by employing a new technique beyond the scope of this blog and its humble writer.

As the final night of our adventure crept up upon us, I knew I had to sneak in some kip before we entered Vuda marina in the early hours of dawn. However, I would be denied that tiny bit of sleep, for a cause worthy to lose one’s sleep over. Just as were to to commence our pilotage into Fiji’s inner sanctum, Debbie and Becks saw a pod of dolphins following Te Kaihōpara’s starboard side. However, I was much too busy to join in on their moment of ecstasy, as it was the vessel’s port side view that held my attention. The night sky’s lucidness and the ocean’s surface tension had finally nodded to each other, to bless me with a sight I’d never seen in all my years at sea. The stars shone perfectly on the dark, velvety surface of the sea and seemed to form a never ending field of diamonds levitating in unison. As I looked around me, enchanted, three consecutive shooting stars painted themselves across the sky, daring me to make a wish. But, why would I? Wasn’t I already in paradise?

This….is why we go to sea. It is not madness, it is a burning desire to dance with the unknown and romance adventure, till the very end of time.

As our entrance to Vuda marina came forth, a medley of guitar melodies and harmonious voices welcomed us, to paradise. Many shed a tear as we realised that the great adventure had finally come to its glorious conclusion. Well, for some, at least. As Jason and I spent the afternoon hours tackling immigration and custom agents, the crew cracked open a few cold ones at the marina bar, making sure the locals were aware that Te Kaihōpara had arrived! Government officials satisfied, Jason expertly turned us around from the ‘welcome berth’ and brought us alongside to our final berthing location.

As the goodbye speeches were kept short and the warm embraces long, the crew parted ways. They return to different corners of the world, to a life which would now, always carry the spark of a memory of having crossed the South Pacific sea, having been fearless and brave, whilst they had sailed, nay glided, onboard the beautiful Te Kaihōpara. Peter will leave, a better sailor and an even better sous-chef.

Matt will be relieved to not be surrounded by faffers and bunks that betray him, at the least expected moment. Rob will return home, disappointed that his tuna melt recipe is now known to all of us. Mo will make the long walk back home, a prodigal daughter returns, triumphant after a decade. Andrew and Becks will hold each others hands a tad tighter, for their love has grown fonder at sea. Debbie will dazzle all at clown college. Maybe, if I’m lucky, I’ll see her perform someday. Barry will grow in strength and endurance, as will his nemesis. Kat will be a content-kitty, now that her late father would be even prouder of her than he ever had been, for the sailing skills she had displayed on the erstwhile, ‘The Dove’ and ‘Te Kaihōpara’ had been exemplary. At this point in the story, I too must part ways with Te Kaihōpara, for we must explore the wonders of Fiji on our own separate paths. Another adventure awaits all those that seek it!

- Arjun Thimmaya, Chief Mate, Te Kaihōpara