…and that’s a wrap, folks! After 4 weeks and 2 days, Mike Delamore and trusty Cavatina returned to Matiatia wharf at around 6pm on Wednesday 7 October. Friends, family, and admirers alike came out to greet Mike on the pier to mark the end of his incredible voyage circling the country.
Making their way home up the last portion of the east coast wasn’t easy, and while there were no intense storms or 60 knot winds to deal with, there was consistent headwind pushing against Cavatina which required Mike to tack quite frequently. The makeshift water pump shaft setup (version 2.0) that Mike had jury-rigged last week luckily held firm and remained usable without overheating. Unfortunately, the bigger concern became supply of diesel fuel. Unable to tell with 100% accuracy how much he had left, Mike began to conserve fuel where possible. Passing Gable End Foreland on Sunday 4 October, things were particularly slow…
“I was further out to sea but the headwind got up to 15knts and the short chop made progress really slow as we hobbyhorsed into the troughs and up over the crests. I could have got out and walked to East Cape faster.”
– From “Sunset at Gable End Foreland” blog post on Sunday 4 October 2020
Mike made great progress on Tuesday despite realising his fuel was getting very low and an enraged AIS beeping frequently. Passing by his childhood home of Great Mercury Island, Mike reminisced in blog post:
“To me it is also a portal of sorts, between the outside and home, and as I pass through it, coming this way, I always feel a sense of arriving in a place that is part of me, that I know, that formed and defined who I am now.
As I pass and salute Old Man Rock, the lone sentinel who guards the centre of the channel, the moonlight shimmers on the sea and all around lie the sleeping hummocks of the scattered islands of the Mercurys; all islands that I have explored, scrambled over and absorbed into my being with that breathless sense of adventure that one has as a child. Some of that has never left me and so here I am, many years later, passing by my old stamping ground and close to concluding yet another adventure.”
– From “The Hole in the Wall” blog post on Tuesday 6 October 2020
From there, Cavatina made strides around Cape Colville on Wednesday 7 October and surprised family and followers by his fast progress towards home. At 11am he had rounded the last cape of his journey and started on the straight leg towards Matiatia. Winds were still against him, though, and long tacks were required but excitement was certainly growing.
“I can almost smell the coffee and freshly baked bread from here. And the vegetables – well not quite yet – that will be more of a taste experience. I hear the asparagus are pushing up from under their mulch and the new potatoes are ready. I can’t wait to get there and see my family and friends. To talk to someone other than myself and my boat.”
From “The last cape” blog post on Wednesday 7 October 2020
In the early afternoon, Mike phoned Waiheke Working Sail trustee Bernard Rhodes with the news he had completely run out of diesel fuel. From there on out, it was wind-power only but Mike and Cavatina pushed ahead steadily. At around 5.30pm, they came sailing quickly into Matiatia under bare poles with no engine power. Greeted by friends, family and journey followers – including Allpress Coffee founder Michael Allpress – with WWS trustees Bernard Rhodes and Bill Kinghorn for assistance, Mike stepped out of Cavatina to finally mark the completion of his epic adventure.
“On the dock, as I glide in on the wind, finally engineless simply because I have run out of fuel, are my dear friends and family. They come to help and share in what is for me a very moving moment. Their kindness and care touches me deeply.”
– From “The Circle is complete” blog post on Wednesday 7 October 2020
Mike was emotional at the welcome home and was obviously relieved to be back where he started. When asked if he would do another solo circumnavigation again, he adamantly replied “No.”
A feast of fresh vegetables awaited Mike that evening and he happily ate his fill of new potatoes and broad beans from his home veggie garden as well as asparagus and smoked salmon while sharing stories with his family. Mike couldn’t resist launching into stories and was in excellent spirits retelling tales of his adventures into the night.
Mike travelled more than 2000 nautical miles to go from Matiatia to Matiatia, all to raise awareness of Waiheke Working Sail’s restoration of the classic trading cutter Kate as well as the importance of seafaring skills and boatmanship that Waiheke Working Sail is sharing with youth on Waiheke Island. Mike outfitted Cavatina entirely with his own funds and no monetary assistance from WWS. All funds raised from the Givealittle fundraiser held during Mike’s journey are going 100% to WWS Charitable Trust and their restoration of the Kate. And yes, believe it or not, all of Mike’s blog posts on his tracker page were typed one letter at a time with his index finger via his smartphone.
Mike and WWS thank everyone for their support of this epic voyage and well wishes along the way. We’re sure you’ll be able to see Mike out and about soon on Waiheke Island once he’s got his land legs back and is fattened up a bit!
The Givealittle fundraiser has been very successful and raised more than $7000 towards the restoration of the Kate and training apprentices to assist. WWS is so humbled by the generous donations from our local community and supporters abroad. If you’d like to contribute to this cause Mike feels so strongly about, please consider donating to the fundraiser.
From Mike and everyone at Waiheke Working Sail: thank you all so very much for your support!!