Dream Times

Crew: Dennis, René, Mette and Gunnar

Since the last time you heard from us we have been running about in most of New Zealand’s forests playing warriors or preparing the boat for new adventures.

Dennis and Susan spent a month alone on the boat and it is said that they enjoyed it very much, but holding hands as the only activity became tedious and they started a refitment of the boat and Susan made a real nice awning and a new cover for our gear placed on the deck. Besides this Dennis worked on the electric equipment, inconceivably how often you have to fix that.

In the beginning of March René and Mette arrived and we went on a small climb, Mount Maunganui, a small vigorous volcanic island with a lot of trek possibilities and a lot of sheep. We could see Dream from our view, only as a little red spot.

Now it was time to beach the vessel and give her an overhaul. Andy, the crane driver, brought her safely high and dry and she actually looked quite good considering the fact that she had not been on land for the last 18 months. The bottom paint was worn down but it had been able to keep away algae and roach. We removed the greater part with a high pressure cleaner. The “to-do-list” was very long but first and foremost we had to paint the boat and unlike the last time in Portugal (read: experience) we started with the red paint on the freeboard. We had paint enough for two treatments and the result was very good. Nice to have the right colour again, as you know everything fades in the sun.

We put on protecting tape at the edge and started using the bottom paint. The only problem was that the paint was not poisonous enough. The paint they produce here is good enough for NZ waters but when we arrive in the warm tropical waters things look quite different. Here you need poison to keep the bottom free from fouling. A local man told us to put 5-10% Round-Up in the last coat of bottom paint… we did so- and now we’ll see.

In order to make everything perfect we hired a man to make a while water line all the way round. Now the lady became a queen again. Besides the painting we had to change the sea valves in the lavatory. We used some made of plastic and hope that they will not become coated with verdigris in the closing mechanism, which was the problem in the old ones. It is quite annoying that you must pump the toilet dry every hour when you stand on the starboard tack and the heeling is big. After a lot of trouble and purchase of a various amount of pipe stubs Dennis managed to make everything fit- the toilet is not designed according to modern standard measurements!! The rudder got a new grease string, the helm was looked after, the cable was heaved out and painted every 5 metres, the cooker was improved, a couple of lower riggings were changed, a new generator for the engine was installed… and we could go on! After 10 days on the ground Andy placed our home nicely into the water again. The sea valves were checked once again before we turned the thumbs up and he finally let go. This Friday we celebrated the fine results with very fine beers and food at the yacht club.

Flemming had invited the whole crew to a deer hunting. We all got a rifle and camouflage clothes, so now we were ready to take the bush. Barbara had prepared some excellent food we could bring with us in our rucksacks- high class! Friday morning at 5 we left for Lake Waikaremoana a 3 hours drive and the last 100 km was a dirt road in the mountains. After this we made a 2 hours walk in the bush before we reached a place that Flemming had chosen to be our base camp. It was a journey through dense wood and we had to cross Lake Waikaremoana 10 to 15 times- and as a digression the water was not particularly warm or to put it mildly it was beastly cold.

Flemming taught us some rules of the chase. Who knows that it smells sweetly when a deer is nearby and that you get a strong fug in your nostrils when a wild boar is around? We looked for footprints and found plenty but saw no animals. Here you need no game licence. all you have to do is to get hold of a gun/rifle and then you are ready to shoot at everything wearing fur. We also tried hunting after nightfall. We succeeded in shooting a possum! You have to take care and not go astray the forests are the size of Denmark. On the 2^nd day Dennis and René lost their way and had to walk about 5-6 km in a heavy bush because of their “short cut” and the last 3 km in the cold river.

We were exhausted and hadn't the strength to drive home Sunday night and then we were offered to stay at Flemming and Barbara.

The next day on our way back we passed one of the natural thermal hot-pools. It was nice to drop into the warm water and just relax. The only thing missing was a cold beer and a masseuse.

Dennis has tried to get an opportunity to sail a 17 footer ever since he came to New Zealand and now he got a chance- someone needed a hand for the Java-class yawl. The boat looks like a 14 footer only a bit smaller. It took place at Taupo. The sail was terrific but the wind was a little tricky and the last race was cancelled. Marty and Dennis had a fine fifth place.

Gunnar, our web-master, arrived 28 March. He was Dennis´ former colleague. We met him at the airport and brought him back in a nice car we had borrowed from Fritz( Thank you Fritz). Gunnar had been looking forward to this trip for a long time. When you have a family, a house etc it is always more difficult to go for your own dreams.

Again we were invited for hunting; so far we had done no harm to the game! A goat hunting in the national park Whaganui.  We shot 10 goats. We thank Craig and Flemming, it was a terrific adventure and good fellowship. We also want to thank the McKensies for lending us their hut and also for transportation. The kiwis are very hospitable.

The next week we had a Danish weekend. Dream and Flemming and Barbara moved in at Fritz´ nice house and we enjoyed it very much.

We all have had so many nice experiences in New Zealand and one thing is for sure we all want to come back.

We went shopping; it is difficult to buy for the next 3 months. We filled 2 trolleys and when we had unloaded everything in the boat we all went to visit Adrianne and Tim and enjoyed a nice meal and the friendly atmosphere. We were rather tired and had a good night sleep. Fritz picked us up and we went for ninepins and there they all were! Tim, Adrianne and a couple we had met at Tonga and finally Alieson. We had great fun- René was the big winner and we went to celebrate at Fritz´  -a huge barbecue- everything was arranged – a great party. The next day we had a hung over but it had been a terrific party.

Monday, a quarter past 10, we were all ready on the landing stage to take a tender farewell to – even the harbour master had come to see us off. We have enjoyed our stay in Tauranga and everybody has treated us superlatively well during our stay. Thank you all!! In particular we want to thank Fritz, Alison, Tim and Adrianne- you all helped us so much, and the parties!! We will never forget Flemming and Barbara either- they provided us with experiences far above the common measure.

We went off and it was nice to be on the water again and feel the wind in the sails. First we went to Slipper Island and had a swim in the clear water and Mette had now got her first sail. It looks as if all our changes are capable of functioning it is always exciting to test the result when you have altered quite a bit. The next day we went to Great Mercury Island- Gunnar and Mette had a nice walk on the island and René and Dennis tossed around onboard. The forecast service predicted a cyclone to hit New Zealand on Thursday and Great Mercury Island was not the ideal place to meet with a fellow like that. We left for Great Barrier Island, a magnificent island with lots of heavily forested mountains and they could afford shelter from the coming cyclone. On our way we saw a Maersk containership and Dennis seized the VHF and had a nice talk with the captain on Maersk Nikolaj. Of course they  talked about the cyclone and it had actually hit them on their way to New Zealand and they told us to take care because they had measured a continuous wind force of 25m/sec and a rather heavy sea. But there was every probability that it would abate when it had hit the mainland. We got an exact barometric height and calibrated our barometer. Nice to talk with a Danish ship especially in this case. We needed an updated weather report at a time like this.

We found a cosy little creek at the village Port Fitzroy. Dennis and René meant that this location would provide us with the best conditions for a nice evening whilst the cyclone howled in the rigging. Soon a couple of ducks came to visit us, and as we had no meat for dinner, René and Dennis meant that we should get them. René shot one of the ducks with the harpoon. A quarter later it was lying in our pot. Mette prepared a delicious duck meal and another feast was indulged.

The next day the depression sat in and the rain increased. We dropped another anchor and everything on board was secured for sea. The first breath of air arrived but it was not as heavy as they had predicted but we got gusts of 30m/sec but only in periods of 10-15 seconds. It could have been a lot worse. The rain did last the whole night and we had a heavy lightening but the next morning the sun was shining and all our wet clothes were dried. We all left for town to call friends and family. It is always nice to receive news from home. Mette called her brother Thomas and we found out that Dennis actually had celebrated Christmas together with him in 1996 at Martinique. It is definitely a small world.

We went on to Opua the town Dream arrived at almost 6 months earlier. We will buy vegetables and diesel and then go towards warmer skies. New Caledonia here we come.