SEA SAIL AND US: mars 2019

lundi 4 mars 2019

1902 BACK TO NZ N WORK IN WHANGAREI

We find back ALCYONE on dry dock of South Pacific Gateway Marina in february. This time, the cat must be prepared for longer navigations: We intend to cross Pacific with objective to be in Vancouver this summer, then San Diego end november after mexican hurricane season to sail Baja and the sea of Cortez before heading back in french Polynesia...next drydock is not forecaste before november 2020 !
Heater should be install for high latitudes south as north; Guy, a well known french cruiser help us with talent n humour; we also anticipate with him any break (engines) with change of both 2 cutless bearings, n volvo type point, 4 engine mounts back side; the detroyed port skeg, imported from France was rebuilt nicely by the shipyard with a review of both rudder/daggerboard, we do also preventive change of ropes n weight everything on board.

Less work, cleaner place: South pacific gateway marina in Whangarei

Sunday break to Whangarei heads: Local kiwi 's lifestyle

1/3 of New Zealand inhabitant has a boat, any kind of boat...

"Fish to Fish" this sunday closed to Parua Bay

Kg of fresh fishes are sold in auction

King fishes, trevallies, and iconic red snappers

After getting your price next stage is to bring it to experts in fish filetting

Maori culture sometiimes show up

With so much space per inhabitant, NZ is still a paradise for fishers; a dream for almost everybody else on our planet !

dimanche 3 mars 2019

1812 FR WINTERBREAK IN EUROPE

As last year, the break is in les Saisies for christmas and new year; not for long; the old skiers met this year in Valmorel a bit letter with a nice powder delivery.

Les Saisies the white wintergarden of Jim who lived 4 years there

Sailors from Antibes to Hong Kong...from 20 to 75+ yo...

The best way to tag in perfect legality and costless for nature...

... if you are not too late on the spot (combe de Douce, Hauteluce)

85% former DECATHLON staff on this seat: yearly "no share holder winter meeting": 2019 in Valmorel

No more with shares, but with always the same pleasure to play together: Jeff, Ludo(2), Philippe (2)

vendredi 1 mars 2019

1811 NZ BACK "HOME": WHANGAREI

Time is running out, ALCYONE make another relaxing n cultural stop in Bay of island with visit of historical Keri Keri: Interesting to follow the river upstream with the dinghy and at the end of the navigation possibilities to compare both culture which mixed here in the past:

On the last migrant side (Europeans) , we can see the old stones buildings with hundreds of things they used for living...On the first migrant side (Maoris) nothing old as all the village had to be rebuilt to show the way they were living...mostly with a direct nature predation.

Comparing the ecological impact of both cultures is asking a lot a questions...the same as when I see my son on board connecting the net or playing video games; We live on a 16m+ cat with so much confort on board: almost illimited water with the watermaker, electricity through the solar panels, impressive mobility with sophisticated sails n engines, super fishing gear on board as underwater, so much reserve of processed food in the bilges, internet with 3/4G, opportunity to use flights to escape when we wish etc etc etc...Is it this way of life giving us the right to say that we are just back to the simple life of our ancestor: picking, hunting, fishing ? Better confessing...we are just all spoiled children !