Well, on Monday we finally got our electrical repairs
completed, and got fueled up on Tuesday.  (Rarotonga
fuel price is US$3.50 per USGallon.)  A new crew member
(see more below) arrived on Wednesday, and we headed
out on Thursday afternoon, next stop Tonga.

Five hours out to sea, the Naiad stabilizers decided to
go Tango-Uniform on us - the second time since we left
California back in June.  We decided to keep on going,
since a return to Rarotonga was not something we wanted
to contemplate after having just spent five weeks there
waiting for the electrical repairs.  Fortunately, we
had wonderful conditions, with smooth following seas
and light winds on our stern almost all the way.  We
arrived in Nuku'alofa Tonga this afternoon in the midst
of a light rain shower - the worst weather we had for
the entire 870 nm passage.

Anyway, we have a new crew member on board.  More to
the point, I've demoted myself to first mate and we
have a new skipper on board.  I decided that I didn't
want the skipper's job any more, since I've spent just
about every waking second taking care of everyone else
and the boat, too, but not having any time for Number
One (me!).  So, Stuart is now skipper, and I'm just a
hired hand.  We'll be completing the trip across the
big pond to Australia, but at that point I'm just
going to have Gentle Wind shipped back to the states
and put up for sale.  Too many things keep breaking,
and the repair bills (on top of the fuel bills and the
crew's grocery bills!) are breaking the bank.

It might sound like I'm giving up, but I don't look at
it that way.  I've proven to myself that I can do this,
but I've also learned that it's a lot more than I had
bargained for.  What is it they say?

1. Be careful what you wish for, you might get it.
2. The grass is always greener ...

I'll keep this group updated as/when possible.  We'll
be here in Tonga for just a few days, fueling up and
waiting for a weather window to Suva, Fiji.  We hope to
find someone there who can figure out the problems with
the Naiads so we can have some stabilization on the way
to New Caledonia and Australia.

Paul - I really admire you for laying your story so
bare. No one ever shares the stories of woe, and I
think they serve as an important counterpoise.

Glad your trip to Tonga went well. What is your
departure schedule?

Sorry my weather wasn't better for you - there are not
too many buoys out there, and the models are just that

• models.

How is Stuart working out?

Let me know when you have a phone. What time zone are
you in?

Peter

Here is a guy who is living his dream of taking h is Nordhavn across the
Pacific to Australia. We have been following his story for a couple of
months. See what happens at the end of this posting.
'

-----Original Message-----
From:
passagemaking-under-power-bounces+bobmi=earthlink.net@lists.samurai.com
[mailto:passagemaking-under-power-bounces+bobmi=earthlink.net@lists.samurai.
com] On Behalf Of Paul Goyette
Sent: Monday, November 07, 2005 8:58 PM
To: passagemaking-under-power@lists.samurai.com
Subject: [PUP] Gentle Wind - Moving again, breaking down again

Well, on Monday we finally got our electrical repairs
completed, and got fueled up on Tuesday.  (Rarotonga
fuel price is US$3.50 per USGallon.)  A new crew member
(see more below) arrived on Wednesday, and we headed
out on Thursday afternoon, next stop Tonga.

Five hours out to sea, the Naiad stabilizers decided to
go Tango-Uniform on us - the second time since we left
California back in June.  We decided to keep on going,
since a return to Rarotonga was not something we wanted
to contemplate after having just spent five weeks there
waiting for the electrical repairs.  Fortunately, we
had wonderful conditions, with smooth following seas
and light winds on our stern almost all the way.  We
arrived in Nuku'alofa Tonga this afternoon in the midst
of a light rain shower - the worst weather we had for
the entire 870 nm passage.

Anyway, we have a new crew member on board.  More to
the point, I've demoted myself to first mate and we
have a new skipper on board.  I decided that I didn't
want the skipper's job any more, since I've spent just
about every waking second taking care of everyone else
and the boat, too, but not having any time for Number
One (me!).  So, Stuart is now skipper, and I'm just a
hired hand.  We'll be completing the trip across the
big pond to Australia, but at that point I'm just
going to have Gentle Wind shipped back to the states
and put up for sale.  Too many things keep breaking,
and the repair bills (on top of the fuel bills and the
crew's grocery bills!) are breaking the bank.

It might sound like I'm giving up, but I don't look at
it that way.  I've proven to myself that I can do this,
but I've also learned that it's a lot more than I had
bargained for.  What is it they say?

1. Be careful what you wish for, you might get it.
2. The grass is always greener ...

I'll keep this group updated as/when possible.  We'll
be here in Tonga for just a few days, fueling up and
waiting for a weather window to Suva, Fiji.  We hope to
find someone there who can figure out the problems with
the Naiads so we can have some stabilization on the way
to New Caledonia and Australia.

Passagemaking-Under-Power Mailing List