A shout out to Karen

 Have to send a huge shout out to Karen for the loan of her wonderful Gill foul weather gear!  Today, in particular, has been a hideous day.  Crawling on my knees on deck retying mooring lines in the torrential rain.  Rivers running along the deck.  Keeping me warm and dry.  First time today for wet feet, understandable bailing a dinghy half full of water!  No GenSet at the moment so unfortunately no heating to dry out our wet and sodden gear.

Thank you Karen!!  Keeping me dry when I need to be dry!

Midnight, the rain came in!  Heavy downpours, drip drip drip on the hatches but not so cold so less condensation this morning.  Looked outside to see the cliff faces we had moored in the shadow of, now looking like a cliff of vertical rivers. Multiple waterfalls dropping into the water and with a deafening sound of rushing water.  9am gusty SE winds getting up, dinghy half full of water, 100ml has fallen today.  It’s going to be a miserable day. Urgent jobs - dinghy to be bailed, need to shorten the hawser line as we are seesawing around the buoy, meal prep for the next leg of our journey.

Now who is going to get their feet wet?

Severe gusting squalls picked up, coming straight off the cliffside beside us.  Full foul weather gear for Skipper and First Mate including PFD’s for deck and dinghy work. Discovered dinghy more than half full of water from the heavy rain overnight and we wonder whether there is a problem with the bung which should be a one way valve.  Bailed and bailed then hoisted the dinghy onto the davits with bung out to be constantly draining.

 

Surrounded by deafening, torrential rivers of water from the cliff face behind us.

Bowen Falls throwing water out horizontally.

The Cleaddau River beside us is in severe flood.

Mimu seesawing in the gusts so we made plans to bring the hawser on deck to shorten the scope thus preventing us from moving around so much.  Tricky task in horrid conditions.  Resorted to driving the boat forward to gain some slack in the line.  Took us over an hour out in the severe weather to get the boat ship shape.  Both wet and no way to dry off with the GenSet out of action therefore no heating. You hear the gusts, see the churning water coming towards you and then it hits with a vengence.  Mimu healing over in the gusts, Raewyn down below cooking but needing to hold onto her ingredients till the gust goes through.

Dragged the hawser across the deck to tie off on cleat amidship. Pulled in inches at a time in between the gusts and using the engine.

Moored to a Real Journey's tourist boat buoy so plenty safe enough, just hoped one of their boats didn't need it.

Jobs to do today.  The GenSet waiting on a new fuel filter, no heating nor oven till this is sorted, Mimu needs a clean and tidy up, food prep for the next leg.  New crew of Cam and John arriving 5pm.  Had planned for a settle in then dinner at the Milford Lodge but the weather may prevent this.

5pm Cam and John due but we sent a message through to them via the Iridium letting them know that it was actually too dangerous to launch the dinghy with 40+ knots of wind gusting.

Meeting now first thing in the morning.  This weather front should go through overnight, fill up with water and we are off to Wellington (3 days) possibly via D’Urville Island.