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Solo Circumnavigation of NZ for Waiheke Working Sail

  • The end of an incredible journey!

      8 October 2020
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    Mike and Cavatina are officially home safe and sound as of Wednesday 7 October 2020! Mike arrived sailing under bare poles with no diesel left around 6.00pm and was greeted by family, friends, and admirers alike. WWS trustees Bill Kinghorn and Bernard Rhodes were there to assist and even Allpress Coffee founder Michael Allpress came to say hello and present Mike with a large bag of Allpress coffee beans (which were thoroughly enjoyed this morning)!

    Mike was emotional at the homecoming and grateful for the welcome. Mike was treated to a feast of fresh vegetables for dinner, including freshly dug up new potatoes and broad beans from the veggie garden at home, asparagus, and smoked salmon. He was in excellent spirits happily telling stories and laughing into the night.

    Mike and WWS thank everyone for their amazing support and well wishes throughout this epic journey. Thank you all for your generous donations towards the Kate restoration and we're sure you'll see Mike out and about soon!

    From all of us: thank you so very much!!

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  • Almost home!

      7 October 2020
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    Mike and Cavatina are getting VERY close to home! As of 11am Wednesday 7 October, they were just passing Port Jackson. Cavatina has very little diesel left so it is only being used when necessary. Looks like Mike will make it home tonight! Here is his latest blog post, from his 11am tracker update:

    "1100hrs and I round Cape Colville, the last turning point of my voyage and now it’s a straight leg to Matiatia, my home port and mooring on Waiheke Island. Straight would be very nice but its blowing right from where I want to go so it’s going to be a series of long tacks to get there. But I can see the hills of home on the horizon. I can almost smell the coffee and freshly baked bread from here. And the vegetables - well not quite yet - that will be more of a taste experience. I hear the asparagus are pushing up from under their mulch and the new potatoes are ready. I can’t wait to get there and see my family and friends. To talk to someone other than myself and my boat. There will be no going all Bernard Moitissier for me…"

    Way to go, Mike - you're almost there! To read Mike's history of blog posts, be sure to see the tracker page here:

    https://www.waihekeworkingsail.org/mikes.../follow-mike/

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  • A few changes in the plan

      28 September 2020
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    As of this morning, 28 September, Mike is nearing Moreaki at a steady pace which is great news, especially when mixed with the not-so-great news that Cavatina's engine is now unfit for use after a water pump drive shaft broke. He'll be sailing by wind for the rest of the way home to Matiatia! Mike wanted to use as much wind power as possible, so we suppose he got his wish...

    Mike's been living in interesting times since leaving the comfort of Milford Sound. After a hellish experience getting to Thompson Sound, he carried on steadily to Te Puaitaha Breaksea Sound and then on to Bluff to get some supplies. After rounding the West Cape and Dunedin he was alerted that the engine was overheating and discovered the broken water pipe. A "terminal" engine break, this means the engine can't pump water to keep itself cool and thus can't be used. Yikes!

    It hasn't been all bad, though, with a few peaceful points and interactions with birdlife, not to mention getting some very tasty fish and chips when moored in Bluff.

    We highly recommend you read Mike's blog posts yourself on the Waiheke Working Sail website and examine the weather tracking map. https://www.waihekeworkingsail.org/mikes.../follow-mike/

    Way to go Mike and fair winds for the sailing ahead!

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  • Much to do in Milford

      20 September 2020
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    Mike has been busy while Cavatina is moored in Milford Sound's Deepwater Basin and has written some thoroughly entertaining stories published on the real time tracker page of Waiheke Working Sail's website. His blog posts are must-reads so be sure to look at them all!:

    https://www.waihekeworkingsail.org/mikes-journey/follow-mike/

    Repairs have been done and Mike has had some much deserved rest in the peaceful still waters of Milford Sound. He's also had some company in the form of two former Air New Zealand pilots who also happened to sail to Milford a few days before him. The area has been eerily empty, though, as roads have been closed due to avalanches. That all changed though on Saturday morning and now the basin is buzzing with activity!

    After the arrival of a spare autopilot jam and signs of weather clearing, Mike sounds confident it will soon be time to head out again and make for Doubtful Sound. We estimate he'll head out on Monday 21 September.

    Please be sure to check out the tracker page for Mike's wonderfully written blog entries and for more photos view our gallery!

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  • Mike safe at Milford Sound!

      16 September 2020
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    Mike officially made it to Milford Sound's Deepwater Basin yesterday afternoon after deciding to "run for it" to avoid more bad weather conditions along the coast. Two days of being slammed and nearly tossed overboard were enough to make Mike decide to go to Milford Sound instead of Doubtful Sound, a further 100km south.

    From Mike's Tuesday morning blog post, "The final straw came when I was standing in the doghouse and a giant wave completely buried the boat and nearly threw me down the companionway as we were slammed right over on our side."

    Upon reaching Milford everything seemed to brighten and Mike was clearly excited in his blog posts from Tuesday afternoon. He said that there was "mist, sheer snow capped peaks, threads of waterfalls everywhere descending thousands of feet. And the sea is flat!" Not to mention that when it rained, it was vertical!

    Mike will be moored at Deepwater Basin for a few days to let the bad weather pass, do some repairs and get some much needed rest.

    "I am going to have a long hot shower, put some clean clothes on, eat a decent meal and toast my feet in front of the fire. As Ratty said to Mole: 'There’s simply nothing half as much fun as messing around in boats'."

    Well done, Mike!

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  • Wild wind and waves

      11 September 2020
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    After calm conditions around Cape Reinga, weather deteriorated on Thursday with 40 knot winds and wild waves on Friday. Cavatina came crashing down into a trough on Friday morning which sheared off the autopilot ram. Luckily, Mike had a spare and could easily refit it. However, if the spare breaks in similar conditions further down the road he will be forced to stop at the nearest port to order a replacement to continue on.

    Mike seems to be in good spirits even if he's had interrupted sleep and a variety of annoyances with sails and weather! He is fairly regular with posting blog updates about his experience and is frequently quite humorous. Be sure to read his words yourself on his tracking page:

    https://www.waihekeworkingsail.org/mikes-journey/follow-mike/

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  • Clearing Cape Reigna

      9 September 2020
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    Mike successfully cleared Cape Reigna this morning as he enters into Day 3 of his journey! From his blog posts it sounds like things went smoothly and he encountered rather placid seas – fantastic news! He did, however, experience some technical problems with his Iridium Satellite tracker but the good old “turn it off and on again” trick managed to sort him out. Mike has posted 4 individual blog posts on Day 3 and it sounds like he's having a great time. Be sure to check the tracker page for his full blogs, location, speed, weather patterns and more:

    https://www.waihekeworkingsail.org/mikes-journey/follow-mike/

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  • Mike is on his way!

      7 September 2020
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    Mike launched Cavatina from Matiatia with much cheering from friends and family around 1pm on 7 September with the wind in his favour. He was just passing Kawau Island at about 5pm (see photo). Best of luck on your adventure Mike! Check out Mike's real time tracking and blog posts on our website: https://www.waihekeworkingsail.org/mikes-journey/follow-mike/

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