This post is a shout out to The Boat Builder. Loving your work.
Oct ’22 Manly , Queensland Australia
Conversation with Shannan Batey, The Boat Builder
—
Shannan (The Boat Builder) ‘I want to be there when you reconnect your anchor to Saboteur’
Me (Tess, the client) ‘Why? Are you worried that we will accidentally damage your beautiful new paint work?’
Shannan, ‘Absolutely’
Me, ‘Gotcha, I understand.’
—
We were all feeling very proud of the beautiful new finish on our yacht ‘Saboteur’.
Jan ’23, Coastal waters of the Bay of Plenty, North Island, New Zealand
Three months later we are 1500nm (that is nautical miles) away from Manly, Queensland, Australia, off the East Coast of the North Island of New Zealand. We were motor sailing towards Wellington staying ahead of a storm front. Our motor slowed, choked, and died. Over the next 6 hours, it happened another three times until it would not start again. The storm was catching us. The sea state was 3.5m swells with 2 metre cross swells. On every fifth swell, the cross swell was causing us to rise and slam our bow into the water creating a crest of spray across the length of the boat.
NZ Coast Guard
We need help. The Gisborne Harbour Master connected us with marine rescue, or Coast Guard as it is called in NZ. Still able to travel under sail, we sailed 6 hour to the Bay of Poverty where we turned in heading for Gisborne with the security of knowing that the Coast Guard was on standby to assist us to dock.
We anchored in the Bay of Poverty and brought our sails in. With sails secured, the Coast Guard came alongside us, and the process began of securing four lines to secure us tightly to their craft. Their craft is fully skirted with protective fenders. But even in the bay, there were still large swells throwing both craft around, causing some very heavy collisions. Finally, secured to the coast guard vessel and I raised the anchor. Marty (Martin Lloyd) was on the helm. Getting started and gaining movement was the hardest part. A rough swell saw our boats rise and fall in opposite directions at the same time causing impact damage to the teak tow-rail. Marty was stressing about the impact on our new paint work. I was more matter of fact. Let’s wait and see.
The skills of the Coast Guard in guiding our boat to safety were amazing.
A warm welcome
Coming up to the dock we saw Peter, the Harbour Master, in his all-weather jacket, rain belting down on him, waiting to catch our lines.
The pending 40 – 50 knot winds and attendant gusts that were due any moment. Consequently, we doubled up and tripled up our mooring lines.
We thanked the Coast Guard and waved them goodbye. They along with Peter said they know where we are and will catch up with us over the next day or two.
Relief
With everyone gone, I dared to look at the hull, at our new paint job. It was perfect. Absolutely no damage at all. Thank you to Shannan Batey and crew for the best paint job ever. Now to contact them about the best way to repair the tow-rail.
Thank you Shannan Batey and Kurt Eric Chu
