Starting to think about the journey

The purchase of Rogue has been completed and preparations are underway to bring her back up from Nelson to Wellington once the rigging has been replaced. Upon inspection it became clear much of it had been oxidized. If a heavy wind came up while crossing the Straight and the rigging gave way the mast would surely fall. John Fowl at Ropetek has been great in quoting to do the work without taking her out of the water or removing the mast.

Our supply list so far is as follows: food, beer, sleeping bags, cell phone, toolbox, charts, first aid kit, flares, Cook Strait paper charts, 2 led torches, handheld vhf radio, handheld gps w/ chart tracking, heaps of rope, bolt cutter, handheld compass, thread and needle for possible repairs required on the sail, life raft. Will plan to go down the weekend before to empty out and refill diesel, clean up the births for sleeping, and pick up a new dingy.

Gavin's been helping out heaps. He copied me on a reply from a a classic yachtsman up in Auckland about how to secure the loose iron balast. The fellow in Auckland aslo suggested allowing seven days for the journey instead of our two. Aside from problems that might arise from slack in the rigging after a fresh re-rigging, it's hard to imagine seven days to cross Cook Straight but there's nothing wrong with taking more time off work to sail.

First things first though, getting the rigging done.