“Moturekareka, that’s the one with the wrecked ship on it,
Motuketekete, it has a nice quiet anchorage during southeasterlies, the next
one we’ll sail near is Motoura, an old farm that’s now a reserve and camping
spot. And if this wind stays light, we can anchor and take a walk on my
favorite, Tiri Tiri Matangi.” My running commentary is augmented by pointing
out our course on the chartplotter. We are on board Sahula, running
south before a light, but slowly increasing northeasterly. With David and I are
two of his dearest friends. Di Mah and Ben Boer had flown from Sydney to spend
ten days with us.
The days had sped by as they added to our life at our North
Cove home. Walks along the tracks behind the house, meanders along the
foreshore at low tide, a Saturday night
gathering of half a dozen friends full of lively discussions, and then the
special treat of a Sunday picnic and fine jazz on the Mansion house lawn. But,
even before they arrived in New Zealand both Ben and Di had expressed their
desire to once again sail somewhere on Sahula.
They had, in the past, rendezvoused with David to sail in Indonesia and again
in Europe when he was a solo voyager. Just two years ago they joined us on Sahula
in New Caledonia for a ten day cruise to the Isle of Pines. So I knew we’d all
enjoy any excursion we could organize.
As chief coordinator of visitors, I was a bit concerned
about getting Ben and Di safely to the airport on time while also showing them
some interesting sailing destinations. If we planned to drive them to the
airport, we’d have only two days to left for sailing because we had to be sure
we got back to Kawau with time to take them to the mainland and then to the
airport. After a careful look at the long range weather forecast, I came up
with an alternate plan that was eagerly accepted by all – sail south to the
islands near Auckland and enjoy three days afloat, then, on the fourth day,
sail into Westhaven Marina where Ben and Di could easily catch a bus or the
train to the airport.
A foray ashore at Tiri Tiri Matangi not only delighted our
friends, but reminded David and I of why we are supportive of the regeneration
work now being done on Kawau. The island had been predatory free for more than
25 years. Native bush had regenerated and an array of extremely rare,
endangered birds resettled. The birdsong was so varied and loud, it the raucous
sounds carried right out to where Sahula lay at anchor.
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Nothing like having guests on board to remind you of the pleasures of exploring under sail.
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Crew and the dinghy back on board after their Tiri Tiri
excursion, a fast run before a freshening northeasterly sea breeze and three
hours later we sailed into the lee of Motutapu Island. Though we’d already
decided to carry on to a favorite anchorage at Islington Bay between Motutapu
and Rangitoto island, I couldn’t resist thumbing through the sailing guide,
each page holding memories of anchorages we’d visited, anchorages we might
visit some day in the future. The sun had almost dipped below the distinctive
summit of Rangitoto when we came to anchor that evening. Di is a successful
water colourist and art teacher. I eavesdropped as she and David, who spends
part of each day working with pastels or other art mediums, spoke of the best
colours to use to catch the ever changing sunset and transform the elegant
lines of Rangitoto island into an image on paper.
Three days later, when we upped anchor to head towards the
bright lights of the city and a promised farewell dinner ashore, I realized I’d
been privileged to have guests on board. I reveled in our guests expressions of
delight as we skimmed through flocks of fishing birds between the green clad
islands, their pleasure in diving right off the boat to cool off after a long
walk ashore, their huge appetites after a day spent out in the breeze and
sunlight. This short foray with friends reminded me once again, of that
wonderful quote from Wind in the Willows, “Believe me my young friend, there is nothing – absolutely nothing –
half so much worth doing as simply messing about in boats.”
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