Monday 9th August 2010
Monday 9th August, Departure!
After spending Sunday doing final bits and pieces to get the ship ready for departure, including an unscheduled visit to the dentist for me, it was a relief when we caste off from the dock at Whangarei basin and headed down river – skipper John, Gerry, Karl, Chris and me.
White-fronted and Caspian terns wheeled overhead and just before Limestone Island we saw 35 royal spoonbills decorating a bare tree in the middle of the river. We pulled into the flash new marina at Marsden Point, to fill the fuel tanks and clear customs. A leaking nozzle for the diesel resulted in a minor leak (<1 lt) but enough to send Karl scurrying to the emergency bin on shore to get absorbent cloths and the diesel operator to get dispersant. I was pleased to hear that the dispersant is biodegradable and designed to float so as not to smother benthic organisms.
The customs process was painless and the customs official was well aware of the situation with Raoul Island and the new countersign system in place. He was impressed with the range of conditions on the permit to ensure protection of the islands biodiversity. Our rodent stations are in place – just in case!
Anna and Jan, daughter and friend of Chris’s came to farewell us, as did my Dad Johnny. Once out and round Bream Head we hit a 10-20knot Westerley on a broad reach. A tricky angle to try to get onto our bearing for Raoul so we will be upwind (northwest) for a while before we can come round onto it. Just off the Hen and Chickens a pod of common dolphins joined us 12-15 or so with last years young. Generally felt by all to be a good omen.
Large numbers of fluttering shearwaters in flocks flying and on the water are a reminder of the productivity of the NZ coastal waters. Diving petrels were also common and eventually grey-faced petrels skitted by and the dainty fairy prions. Gannets only in ones and twos made up the total compliment.
And.... as passing the Poor Knights Islands the sun set on our first day at sea....just the night to come.
My watch – 9.00-12.00
Crew of Falcon GT pictured
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