Week 5 blog log of living on a boat.
Sitting around the table of knowledge.
Saturday the 27th of April:
After our little mishap with the out board motor we had a day of R and R but we did go ashore to get a few supplies. At Russell, there is a large supermarket called '4 Square'. I thought the name was clever as it insinuates 4 square meals a day, where as most people only have 3. They stock most things, a small selection of fresh fruit and veg, some meats, plenty of dairy and a bottle shop with a good selection.
So our routine is to tie up the dinghy at the wharf, and take rubbish ashore and dispose in bins on the main drag. Then off to shop. Now this day we bought a few extra things and we had 3 full bags of groceries. We opt to push the trolley to the wharf and then unload into the boat and I push it back.....as I like to get as much walking in as possible when ashore. Zoom back to the boat, and I have mastered getting off with rope in hand to tie her up and then David hands me the shopping. Only this time as I lent over to get the bags, my reading glasses fell off my T shirt neck....where I wear them so I can read things on labels.
Our second donation to the water gods, the first being David's watch when tying up in Opua Marina, his watch band broke and fell into the abis. So now king Neptune can read small print and tell the time.
28th April 2024:
Back to Opua Marina today to meet with some friends, do some washing and buy a fishing rod. We have finally mastered getting into the Marina and into a berth safely and without too much stress. We go in on a slack tide, which is one hour either side of a high or low tide. Then there is nothing to push you around except wind and this day was calm and still. Steering with engines' only and not using the wheel is something the harbour master suggested last time and it works well. We got close and my nerves kicked in so I called out to our friend Jerry, in the berth next to ours and he came out to catch a line. So did 2 other friendly neighbours, so I was relieved when we safely tied up and no boats were hurt. Yay!
Table of knowledge, Opua Cruising club.
This group of fellows are our neighbours on wharf H at the marina. Bryce next to David has a 52ft Fountaine Pajot, then Duke in the yellow shirt has a 38 ft Lagoon, Tom has a 42 ft mono hull and Jerry has an Antares 45. So a wealth of experience and knowledge over dinner and a beer and a wine was so worthwhile. Tom and Jerry, ha ha and their partners and crew, Bryce and his family and Duke are all leaving soon to join a rally to Fiji. We will go next year but they have already helped us with small questions about battery storage and the electrical circuits on the boat. I think the boys get so excited as they all have the same toy, aka a boat, and they can chat and share and know exactly what you are explaining when you talk about an alarm going off, or the windlass not working. As I said, you meet a better type of bum at a marina.
At Burnsco, (same as BCF in Auz), David bought a you-bute fishing rod on special with all the bits and bobs and I got a $50 childrens rod that I was told I could catch a snapper with. That's all I wanted.
Next day we re fuelled at the Marina on a slack tide. It was our first time fuelling up in Mai Tai. She is so big and floaty, and any wind can blow her around. We had the harbour master Mark come and help and just as well as we were blown off the wharf while fuelling. All was OK and he helped pull us in.
4th May 2024: We were off on an adventure to Mosquito Bay where we were told there is an excellent chance of catching a fish. Gary, the owner of the fish and tackle shop in Russell told us to use this bait and you will catch a snapper. So I thought he would produce a small packet of prawns as bait, but no. He handed us 2 very large frozen mullet. Just chop a bit off and put the leathery skin piece on the hook and away you go.
So we found a beautiful spot on a calm, blue, forever sky day. We passed fairy penguins and lots of sea birds before we baited our hooks and let loose into the bay.
I never profess to be great at anything although I'm good at somethings and I would not have included fishing as one of my skills. But within 4 minutes of throwing my line in I caught a fish, then another and another. I caught a total of 6 fish on my $50 childrens rod and David caught ZERO. Ha Ha. Because of his injured finger, I un hooked the first 5 as they were Kahawai, which need to be bled before eating and we were told they are very messy. So I threw them all back and they swam away healthy but with a new piercing in their lip. Then I was out to catch a snapper. I said if we don't catch a snapper we would go and we will have sausages for dinner. Well well well. I caught the biggest snapper I have ever seen. 62cm.
I said thankyou for your life Sammy snapper and did the scaling, gutting and filleting all on my own. Then I froze half and we had fresh snapper for dinner, that I cooked. WOW talk about a first time day.
With my excitement overflowing, we motored to Army Bay and dropped the anchor and I went for a swim. The water was icy but refreshing after all that fish guts and scales flying everywhere. It was a great day and we really enjoyed the boat. This is what its all about. Finding out that you can do things you never thought you would. The thrill of a first time catch, clean and cook. I'm sure there will be plenty more.
Until next week.