Passage from Tonga to New Zealand.

OCTOBER 19 – 28, 2014

PASSAGE FROM PORT MOURELLE, TONGA TO OPUA, NEW ZEALAND

We awoke in Port Mourelle to a beautiful, calm day. We drank our coffee and reflected on the fact that we were leaving paradise for a notoriously rough passage to New Zealand. Theo and I had been preparing ourselves mentally for it the entire week and we felt as ready as we ever would. We left around 10 o’clock am with our friends Joyce and Bob just ahead of us on the sailing vessel Chara.  Bob called us on the radio and said “It doesn’t get any better than this”! It was a spectacular day for sailing… for a few hours... then the only way I can describe it is that our boat got “hammered.” We did not have our sea legs yet, so the result was that we all got seasick (even poor little Isabel). I was lying on the couch with my eyes closed cursing our decision to do the passage. We were travelling 1,300 nautical miles to New Zealand and I could not begin to deal with having  9 to 10 days of that crazy ocean!

The "Magic Reel" chewed, bent and broken by a 50 pound Mahi...it is officially retired.

Theo talking to Bob during our passage

Thankfully, the next day was calm, and the next, and the next.  Actually, there was hardly any wind at all until the last few days and we motored for half of our trip. The very last day and night we got “hammered” again. We experienced a very confused ocean and huge waves crashed into the cockpit and over our bow, but we never felt in danger. Our boat was built to withstand this type of treatment… Theo, Isabel and I are another matter. It was extremely uncomfortable and we were very tired from alternating night watches for 8 days. Theo tried to sleep, but was not able to on that last stormy evening. When we finally entered the bay, we didn’t even speak to each other. We sat up on the flying bridge (comforting Isabel) in our foul weather gear and just stared at the land around us. It was grey and raining, but the beauty of New Zealand was undisputable. We had completed the passage and we felt exhausted, relieved and rewarded.

Our first glimpse of New Zealand (Scary weather)

Pine Island as seen from Opua Marina

 

Theo proudly raising our New Zealand flag

October 28, 2014

Opua Bay Marina, New Zealand
Quarantine Dock

We were immediately guided to the quarantine dock and had officers on board as soon as we tied up. Theo and I looked a mess, we still had our foul weather gear on and bewildered expressions. Isabel was not happy with the strangers boarding her boat, so she was doing her best angry bark. She was wearing a black fleece with a hoodie, so you can imagine that she got laughed at! Everyone was welcoming and friendly. The whole check in process took about an hour and a half and was painless. They did go through all of our storage on the boat and removed quit a few things from the galley. Our quarantine inspector, Mike, was rummaging around in our stateroom and finally came up and asked “Do you have any more of these”? He was holding up two cans of bear repellent that Theo had stashed away for our protection. This stuff is great... it is a bear pepper spray and can shoot up to 20 feet away. We have no fire arms on board, so that was all we had if someone ever approached Et Voila without being invited. Since we forgot to declare them, Mike seized the cans of bear repellent and said we would not be able to get them back.  He assured us we would not need them in New Zealand anyway… he said “No need for that here Love”!

Isabel trying to look scary in her black hoodie

Next was the discussion about getting Isabel on a flight to Los Angeles. We still had to apply for a permit to travel and then she would have to see a veterinarian to get more paperwork stamped and signed so she could leave. This will take a while!

The final people to come on board were a man and a woman who basically welcomed us to New Zealand and told us about services that were available in the Opua Marina. I was told with a sympathetic smile that there was a spa where I could get my hair and nails done… if I wasn’t so tired, I would have cried with happiness!!

October 28 – November 5, 2014

Opua Bay Marina, New Zealand

We decided to anchor by the Opua marina instead of picking up a mooring.  After anchoring all over French Polynesia we felt very comfortable and had never experienced any problems. We were exhausted, so we went to sleep early. When we woke up we were sooooo cold. There were three blankets on our bed and we were wearing beanies, sweaters, pants and socks. Springtime in New Zealand! I know” hate” is a very strong word, but I can confidently tell you that Theo hates the cold. This man has crossed an ocean with all of its squalls and various other challenges. Now, he looks outside like he is about to walk into a hungry lion’s den. It is only cold weather… Oh brother!

Big, strong, courageous man becomes whiny baby boy in the cold

 After we had our coffee, we realized we were not in the same location as the night before. Theo said “Wasn’t that boat behind us and on the other side”? Oh S*#T! The wind had picked up while we slept and our anchor did not hold. We knew it was a muddy bottom and we put out a lot of chain, but the wind was very strong. We were extremely lucky to have not collided with another boat! We called the marina and asked for a mooring ball. They had one left that could hold a catamaran, so we took off immediately to pick it up. The problem was that the wind was over 20 knots and gusting. It was difficult to control Et Voila. We managed to find the mooring, but we lost our hook along with our patience… there was even a bit of cursing (okay, a lot of cursing and some finger gestures as well).  This was a scary and frustrating experience and is NOT to be repeated. We finally tied up to the mooring and went on shore to blow off some steam…

My first green juice in three months!

There is not much to do in Opua. We came here because we were told that quarantine is better equipped to handle the situation with Isabel, and that turned out to be the case.  Opua is also an ideal place to work on your boat. There are marine parts stores, sail makers, welders, mechanics, etc… Other than that, there is a yacht club were we could mingle with other cruisers, one cafe (which was actually delicious), a beauty salon and a convenience store… Yep, that’s it. So, we decided to rent a car and explore  the other towns close to Opua. Once Theo got somewhat comfortable driving on the left side of the road, we found a great farmer’s market.  There was live music, avocados, mushrooms, strawberries, green vegetables and we even had a green juice!!!  I love New Zealand…

      

We had been waiting for the paperwork and veterinarian appointment for Isabel. It took a week to prepare, but finally on November 3^rd, the pet transport company got the okay to pick her up for her flight home. This was melancholy for Theo and I. We were comfortable and happy having Isabel with us, and to send her off on a flight across the world alone was nerve wracking. They took her away in a van for the four hour drive to Auckland (in the rain) and then she took the long flight to Los Angeles. We were so relieved when we got the phone call from our son Jonathan saying that she was safely home. Now it was time to move Et Voila to Marsden Cove Marina where she will stay for a few months while we go home for the holidays.

November 5 – 9, 2014

Marsden Cove Marina, New Zealand

The sail to Marsden Cove was uneventful. Calm until the end, as usual. We are now docked in our slip and have spent the days getting our boat cleaned and ready to stay put for a while. It is a strange feeling for us. Theo and I have completed our first season of sailing! We have our passports and backpacks ready for our flight home to Los Angeles. I will be having my one year follow up with my oncologist. I feel great and know he will have good news for me. Theo will return to New Zealand in January to begin working on  the long list of repairs needed for Et Voila. I will join him in February and we will explore New Zealand by land for a few months before we sail the Bay of Islands. Until then, Happy Holidays to everyone. We hope you have enjoyed reading our blog so far. Wishing you good health and happiness every day!

 

REFLECTIONS ON BREAST CANCER – October 2014

Just before Thanksgiving will be one year since I completed treatment for breast cancer. Four months of chemotherapy, surgery and 6 weeks of radiation. When I was first diagnosed, my doctor told me that I would never fully forget that I had cancer, but someday it would be in the back of my mind…not the main focus of my every waking moment. I was skeptical. I am not in that place yet, but I understand what he meant.

Like many diseases, cancer can feel very isolating, so it was so wonderful to see the global awareness of breast cancer in the month of October. In Tonga there were pink ribbons and clothing.  Back home in Orange County, our children Jonathan and Stephanie and their friends Kathryn and Kevin walked for breast cancer awareness… thank you! Here in New Zealand, there was the Paddle for Hope in Auckland. Over one hundred paddle boarders in pink… I love it! As a breast cancer survivor I would like to say “keep going”… It is very, very helpful. Feeling the love and support makes us happy, and happiness is healing…

Before Theo and I left Catalina Island for the Marquesas, I had my appointment with Dr. V (oncologist). He is a stoic man that hardly ever smiles (unless you mention medical insurance), but his no nonsense disposition makes me feel safe. He puts his hands on my shoulders, looks me in the eyes and tells me I am doing well. The last time I saw him in April we did the usual blood work… etc. I told him we were about to sail our catamaran to Tahiti. He pulled up a chair and sat very close to me and asked for details of the trip. When I was done he smiled and said, “Enjoy, I can’t wait to hear about it”.  Dr. V saved my life, one of many, and I remind him of that every time I see him… It is because of him that I was able to sail to New Zealand and appreciate every moment along the way.

At the time of diagnosis and treatment, cancer dominates your every move and moment. This dissipates with time.  I will never feel it was a "gift" as some survivors say. If it was a gift , I want a gift receipt so I can return it ASAP! That being said, cancer is not always the end of the world... It could actually be the beginning of a new one. 

I now see breast cancer as an invitation to reevaluate my life. It has made everything crystal clear. I know who I love, I know who my friends are, and I know what I want and what I don't want. Easy...

LESSONS:

-New Zealand has extreme weather. You can experience the four seasons in one day here. Layer your clothing!

-Do not anchor in a muddy bay with strong winds, get a mooring instead.

-Declare your bear repellent so they will give it back to you before you leave the country.

QUOTES:

-“We all have that voice that tells us we are too old or too busy to try something new. Now, for me, I have a new voice that says, “Why not? Give it a go”. I feel more adventurous, not as cautious”.         Breast Cancer Survivor

-“This is my Journey and I am letting it happen. Whatever will be, will be. I just need to go through this test. Now I only make short term plans. Live for the moment, you don’t know what is around the corner.” –Breast Cancer Survivor