The essential maintenance was done, and Covid red meant we could go sailing if we all tested negative, so the Mahurangi Regatta became our target – fortunately not cancelled, but without the usual prizegiving, barbecue, marquee, dance band and other shore activities.
Our departure was delayed for a day due to a SW gale, but on Friday 28th January we got away on the afternoon tide with a nice north-easterly and bright sunshine. Good to feel the old ship come alive under us again. The crew was Mike Delamore, skipper, myself as mate, Davina Menduro mate in training, Paul Carew deckhand, and Luca Colace, (16) cadet.
As we rounded Park Point we found the wind was north of north-east, meaning we couldn’t lay our course for Tiri, and had to tack. A moderate 15-20 knots with a swell under the chop, it was lively, pleasant sailing.
I came on deck after my afternoon nap and looked around, to find the dinghy gone! Our beautiful gig, too big to carry on deck so we have to tow it. We bore away immediately, re-tracing our course, trying to guess how long it had been missing. It was there when we last tacked, half an hour ago. (Note to self: spend more time with the crew on learning knots!)
We ran down to Billy Goat Point on Motu Tapu, and coasted along the rocky shore, searching. Luca spotted it, stranded among the rocks by the falling tide, but how to retrieve it? A dangerous lee shore, no place to anchor.
“I can swim in and get it”, Luca said.
We gave him the hand-held VHF radio, and he clipped it to his shorts. Mike steered us close in, parallel to the shore. “Careful, Mike!” “Don’t worry, I know this shore, we explored it with Coastguard as part of our training”.
As we came opposite the dinghy, Luca dove in and swam ashore, finding a way between the rocks onto the beach, while we hove-to heading off shore. He radioed “All good, no damage, only a few scratches.” A few minutes later he came rowing back. Phew!
By then it was too late to make Tiri by nightfall, so we beat up to Rakino and anchored next to the Three Sisters, rocky islets that can be seen from the Waiheke ferry.
Saturday morning brought the wind more in the east, a fair wind for Mahurangi. Great sailing, we felt we had earned it! We arrived at 1100, and anchored for lunch among the fleet of around a hundred boats.
The A class keelers were first away, a magnificent sight with their jackyard topsails set. This is not strictly a race, being sailed under the Collision Prevention regulations rather than the racing rules, so no aggressive tactics allowed. More a parade of sail.
Our turn to start came 20 minutes later, our own modest topsail set.
There’s no doubt the modern Bermuda rig is more efficient to windward. Kate‘s gaff rig is the result of centuries of evolution, the best that could be done with the trees of the forest, before modern glues enabled hollow masts. Build as a humble work boat, she did her best. We didn’t win (in fact we were second to last!) but we had a great sail.
Anchored afterwards for a cuppa tea and a nap, then Mike said “It’s a fair wind, how about heading to Tiri before nightfall? So we did, and we made it just on sunset, and anchored among a crowd of boats.
On Sunday morning there was time for a leisurely walk ashore, up the Wattle Track to the lighthouse. I never tire of visiting Tiri Tiri Matangi island, it’s an inspiration with its re-planted forests and abundant bird life, many species that are rare or extinct on the mainland. A beautiful, magical place.
More good sailing on the way home, the topsail set to a nice north-easterly. Luca took the helm tacking up Putiki Bay and the inlet, learning fast how to work the wind shifts. We were early on the tide, and twice ploughed furrows in the mud as we went about; but as the wind filled the sails and the Kate heeled over she lifted her keel clear, and carried on to anchor just short of the mooring. We tied the dinghy alongside, mounted the electric outboard on it and motored the last 100 meters.
Logging on to the Mahurangi Cruising Club website next morning, I found we had been awarded the “Old Gaffers Bell” trophy, for the first gaff rigged boat on handicap in our class!
A good time, with lessons well learnt.
Over the next few weeks the expected spread of Covid makes it unwise to sail together, so we’re planning to drop the engine in as soon as funds allow, modify the structure to take it, and be working on the fuel, exhaust and control systems while fund-raising for the propeller and shaft. We need another $9,000 to complete her, and private donations are our only source at present, so please consider. With the engine in we can do so much more!