It’s been a long, wet winter, but things are gearing up for another attempt at reaching the Auckland Islands!
We arrived in NZ last week and started getting the boat ready and provisioning.
You’d think there was little to do given the boat was ready to go in January, but more time means more jobs, so Alex busied himself with a few improvements (upgraded USB chargers, new Jonbuoy danbuoy, new EPIRB) and a few check-ups (update charts, recharge handheld VHF’s, check grab bags, refill gas, petrol, diesel, check/run outboard, replace old outboard fuel with fresh new), and documentation checks and updates, replace domestic water filter, check windlass, activate Iridium and Starlink satellite comms.
And then there were the unplanned jobs, including replacing some carpet studs and dealing with a mould outbreak in a rarely used locker.
Alex has received his permit to go to the Auckland Islands and has been in contact with DOC regarding inspections.
I (Jackie) have already done two or three big trolley-loads of shopping, with fresh food still to be bought. It’s amazing how things somehow manage to fit into the allocated locker space.
Rusalka was lifted on Monday for a bit of work - a bottom clean and paint, PropSpeed, new anodes and replacement of a skin fitting/valve with a TruDesign. All went well and she was back in the water on Wednesday.
New skin fitting and valve
The next couple of days are forecast to be inclement, but the plan is for Alex to start heading south (at least to Christchurch to pick up crew, Lucy and Alan) as soon as the possible. The fourth crew member, Geoff, will join closer to the departure date from Bluff. You can keep an eye on where Rusalka is using the link on this page.
Fingers crossed for better weather windows than they had on the previous attempt last January!
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