day 2

Late in the night I saw lights from the gas platform, or it's loom over the swell. That was as close as I got. In the morning, the wind had calmed, and I was both feeling better and getting better at controlling the queasiness. I had caught a fish yesterday, a medium sized Kahawai, but did not attempt cooking it. But I did scale a gut it. I've been trying to figure out the best way to make fish last. Back in the sounds, I had caught a large kahawai, filleted and kept the fillets in plastic bags. 48 hours later the fillets were not edible, but the soup that I made within 24 hours was still tasting good 4 days after that! The next fish I caught I was shortly before I anchored, so I just kept the fillets on a plate in the galley. I gave 1/4 of the fillets away, but the rest were still edible on the second day. Maybe plastic bags is not good? This fish I decided to leave as whole as possible until I needed it. The first day it was gutted and scaled, then hung up. First I hung it inside, then moved it out under the solar panel. If fell down from there into the cockpit, and still feeling sick left it there.

In the morning I cut a fillet of and had it for lunch. Resting a bit in between filleting it, cooking it, eating it to control queasyness. The wind eased enough to take out the reef and raise the jib.

I listened to the radio to keep abreast of the pandemic. Tonight, NZ is going into full lockdown. I heard on the radio that everyone got a text message from civil defense that where they stay tonight is where they must stay for the remainder of the month. I have not heard any specific guidance for cruising sailors! my other neighbour in tarakohe harbour had been about to sail to tonga, but now all the borders were closed, so instead they were gonna go and spend several months in the sounds. One exception is that you are allowed to travel home. My home is the boat, which is moving right now. At sea, everything is constantly moving. My plan is to go and wait it out in great barrier island, which is technically part of Auckland, which on paper is my home. So if anyone does question me I think I have a reasonable story to tell.

Any my cupboards are pretty deep with things like beans and rice. I might have to get a bit creative in places but if I supplement it with seafood I'm sure I can make it last a month.

One very pleasant part of this trip, once I left wellington was being given food by various people I had met. I had received a box of apples from Ed, my friend in golden bay, they were bumpy and too ugly for a supermarket, but also much more flavorful. Never having been refrigerated they should last longer too! I packed them carefully.

Earlier, I'd also met Frank and his family in Pelorus sound. I mostly skipped Queen Charlotte sound, as it's more crowded, and has the ferries, and I've already been there, but pelorus sound I'd only been just inside the entrance. I sailed in further... originally planning to go in one direction, but then the wind changes so I decided to just go to some other part. The sounds are very deep, often 50 meters deep in the middle of the channel. Normally, 15 meters is the limit that I'd consider anchoring in. But finding that in the sounds is not so easy. Also, all the hills are enormous. The tallest mountain in great barrier island is only 600 meters tall, but in the sounds there are hills over 1000 meters that come straight down into the water. (although, this is nothing compared to the much steeper and deeper fjordland, but that's not gonna be this trip!) I thought I had finally found a suitable bay, but when I sailed into it, the wind was on shore there. The hills effect the wind a lot. It can blow different directions in different parts of the sounds. Sometimes wind blows down a bay, but sometimes a hill completely blocks the wind. Local knowledge is required. Glancing at the chart, the next bay looked really good, but then the cruising guide basically said "this by is no good don't go there". But by that time I was just wanted to drop anchor and given the weather was currently mild was about to just go there anyway. Then I saw a wharram catamaran also sailing into that bay. A wharram is a proper sailboat, and I know I can paddle up to a wharram and say hi, and probably make friends instantly. That Wharram was Frank's! The next morning Frank and his family came by in their dinghy. Explaining that I had sailed down from Auckland, he asked where I normally hang out up there... the answer is really "around" but I mentioned I had a mooring in little shoal bay. He said you must know Andrew, of Swirly World? Yes I did. Actually Swirly World was one of the first sailing stories I was recommended, and so was a huge inspiration to me. And when I went to look at cleo the first time was amazed to see it two moorings over! Frank was actually mentioned in both Swirly World books and he later showed me his signed copies. He and his family had been living on various islands around the sounds for years, and had a share in some land in this bay... actually attached to the mainland, but without road access. Since the cruising guide says it's no good, it keeps it from ever getting crowed too. (I'm not mentioning the name of the bay, so it stays that way ;) They gave me a jar of bush honey (from their hives) a very large Zuchini (currently half finished), and a bag of excellent lemons (way better than the supermarket ones!). Am also delivering a jar of honey for Andrew, just because it would be funny to have delivered it not just by sail but completely enginelessly. Because of this jar of honey I must absolutely not accept any tows (not that I ever do). If Andrew receives it and drives home in his car, that will be the first time this honey has been propelled by fossil fuels, but that's his business.

Writing this, 2054 wednesday night, making good progress with full main and jib, already north of New Plymouth, and should be west of Raglan in the morning.