Thursday 26th January
We haven’t done a lot lately, well up until yesterday. We have a new crew member arriving on Tuesday, so we did a big shop yesterday to stock up the boat. Dinghying to shore, borrow a car to get to the supermarket, several trips back and forth to Imagine in the dinghy with the groceries, took just about all day. On Tuesday we will get the fresh fruit and veggies before B arrives.

On the way back from the shops I dropped our phone. Now it has a crack across the back and a growing crack in the corners of the screen. So we have had to order a new one.

Today the weather has turned bad and is getting worse in the next two days, so we hauled anchor and headed to Kawau. Already a large swell had developed. Several of the waves pushed us over 45 degrees according to our floating compass. One of those waves created a slight problem. The rack behind the stove holding all the sauce bottles and oils gave way. Soya sauce, olive oil, vinaigrette and many others, across the stove and galley floor. They had to stay there till we could anchor.

Sue just turned to look out the back of Imagine as the dinghy painter (rope) gave way. Off the dinghy went surfing the waves. We had to drop the sails and turn around and do a man (well dinghy) overboard! Sue guided Imagine alongside of the dinghy on the windward side, to protect it from the high swell. Andrew was able to hook the dinghy and retie it to the back of Imagine.

Next the engine temperature gauge started climbing. A quick look at the engine revealed the salt water intake pump was pouring water out. Oh oh! Three hours from the mainland, a storm coming and a stuffed water pump. Luckily we were only two minutes from the anchorage.

It’s time for a Bourbon. I’ll look at the pump tomorrow when the engine has cooled down.