Aloha friends -
I have been back in New Zealand since Friday. I literally got off the plane and jumped on a canoe...Hikianalia, this time. I was picked up at the airport, driven to the dock, and Kealoha and I caught a dinghy out to where Hiki was sailing past and we got on. We spent three days testing her out...centerboards, tacking, sail trim, engines, the works. We were very lucky to have captains Frank and Magnus on board, as well as Nick Peal from Salthouse Boat Builders, who also has been most hospitable with his time, mana'o and tools. It was a lovely three days, although the cold was a real wake-up call. The first night was not only freezing cold, but wet as well. A lot of us discovered that what we thought was waterproof wasn't really, including my boots. I wore wet socks for the next two days, which I really wouldn't recommend to anyone. The weather is very changeable...from cold mornings to sunny daytime hours in the high 60s, where we put on shorts and sailed barefoot. On Monday, I joined Fatiarau and Moeata from Faafaite. The two of them have been doing a tremendous amount of work to get her ready. Titaua, who was participating in captain's training, joined us the next day. He is missing his captain's exam, but for him the more important trip is to take Faafaite home. I told him we'll grade him when we get there. Faafaite is starting to look like a real waka again. When I first saw her, she seemed pretty bare in comparison with brand-spanking-new Hikianalia. Yesterday (Tuesday) we had her masts reinstalled...with a beautiful rainbow appearing for each mast. We also put her engines back in place and set in the safety nets. It was a fairly productive day, despite intermittent rain squalls and near gale force winds on occasion. At one point, it even hailed on us briefly. We've learned to watch for the rain and time it's arrival...and we run for cover. I have been working in two layers of pants and rain pants over that (so much better to sit on a wet deck). I wear boots and ski socks, two shirts with a waterproof, insulated jacket over that, a scarf and a hat. It's MUCH different from surf shorts and a capilene shirt for Hokule'a dry dock. Currently, we're a bit short on crew...9 confirmed, and waiting for a possible 3 more. Our minimum comfortable number is 12. We'd like 14, and we were mentally preparing ourselves for 10. It was a real treat for us to have Kalepa Baybayan arrive today...we thought he would be arriving tomorrow! Having him here makes us all feel a little bit better.
It's been so natural to get back on the wakas. Like coming home...and also a treat to see friends like Kalei, Greg, and Numa. A little bit different situation than what we had this summer, but a treat to see them. Being with the Faafaite girls has also been great - that crew was like family over the summer, and I look forward to strengthening that bond. We seem to have bonded nicely in the past few days. The boys arrive tomorrow, so we'll see how that goes. We've been staying in a motor lodge camp ground; Our first room had two bunk bed sets, a table and a sink. I think it was 6 ft wide and 15 ft long...tiny, but cozy. The beds were the old style spring bottom beds, and may not have looked like much, but were VERY comfortable. With Kalepa here, we moved into a larger unit: two bunk bed sets and a small bedroom for him. We even get our own bathroom, instead of having to use the communal one. We still have to go there for showers, though, which are $1 for 9 minutes of water. Moeata speculates, very correctly to my mind, that it is actually a waste of water, because we enjoy every minute of the hot water, rather than shutting it down when we're done. The benefit of the larger room is also not having to rent pots and pans to cook...this is definitely budget sailing. From tomorrow night, to save money, we'll be sleeping on the waka and sharing one shower. we are thinking, though, of stocking up on shower tokens and driving back for real showers.
The joy for me has been in getting back to what I love...working on wakas. Lashing nets, sanding and varnishing, inventorying (is that a word) food and supplies and worrying over course lines...have done a tiny bit of studying, but not much. It seems natural to wear the same clothes two or three days in a row. In this cold, you don't sweat, so it takes longer for clothes to smell (except the socks that were wet for two days). A last good wash of everything possible is also on the agenda prior to departure.
It's been a bit frustrating getting our heads around the idea of a small crew...finding bodies to fill the spots has been hard, as most of those we'd like to take are involved in the captain's class. Others have passport issues or family commitments. Faafaite chooses who she will, and the right people will come. We're hoping that includes a cook, as the watches are going to have to cook AND steer. It's going to be a very hard journey with a lot of work for everyone. It will be one that defines each of us as a person...where you see people's true colors. I am hoping this will be a chance to shine and to find out more of what I am all about, as well as to show others.
Lots of work over the next few days, as our tentative departure date is the 8th...more to come!!
No comments:
Post a Comment