Credit : Camper
"In actual fact, I guess I’m yet to experience enough sailing to really know what I can class as good and bad. I know from our around NZ voyage that 35 knots on the nose with big seas is bad news, and from our Fiji trip that racing downwind at 25 knots in nice warm sunny weather with flat water is good news. I know enough to know there is a hell of a lot of in between the good and bad on my spectrum right now.
The forecast was for a nice sail testing out past Great barrier Island and through the night to the North East of East Cape- and landmark we are all to familiar with for the wrong reasons- which only adds to my apprehension. Then the breeze would go soft for 12 hours or so while we sit and wait for the big ‘Southerly Blast’ booming up the coast from Antarctica, which would catapult us back to Auckland in no time at all, albeit very wet and very cold.
Again, as always Will Oxley’s report is spot on, well almost; the bit about the sitting around resting in light wind for 12 hours or so, that didn’t happen as the southerly blast was more intent on smashing its way up the country quicker than expected.
Luckily I had quite a good sleep, and loaded up on a new seasick remedy to prepare for the trip home. That morning to add to my apprehension Mike Pammenter flippantly commented, “You haven’t experienced anything yet Hoops, today is what I call sailing in fire hydrant conditions”. I asked myself what that was supposed to mean.
An hour later I got a pretty clear impression of what he meant. As clear as spade to the head, or in this case a constant wall of water to the face.
It was quite of a ride back to Auckland, Nico, Stu & Chuny all went nuts on the wheel, now I understand a frequently used term “sending it”.
Life on deck is not so simple when “sending it”. It’s dangerous, exhausting, painful but all the while exhilarating. I was nearly winded by a wave which hit me, even though I was 70 foot away from where it hit the boat. Trae was knocked over, Stu was struggling to remain upright at the helm, and everyone’s eyes were so red and sore from the salt spray it looked as though we were all on illicit substances.
Then within the blink of a sore red eye, we were back in Auckland harbor. I think I can firmly place this trip smack bang in the middle of good and bad- well on second thoughts- definitely closer to good than bad."
From : Hamish Hooper / CAMPER MCM
