A Forepeak Full of Wine

The Schooner Maggie B got underway from Nelson, NZ at 1100 on May 19th. Tonight we are anchored in Greville Harbor, D’Urville Island, also known as RangitotoKi. D’Urville Island is the Western wall of Marlborough Sound. It is only 40 NM from Nelson, but quite wild. We are again only 40 NM from the Northern Island, but across the very rough Cook Straits, which seems to attract weather from everywhere.

It is completely calm tonight but tomorrow there are forecasts of gales up to 50 knots for our area and especially Cook Straits. We plan to find nice spots in Marlborough Sound for Sunday and Monday and then catch the brief opening between gales to jump across Cook Straits for Wellington.

I neglected to mention that last Sunday we had a lovely road trip from Nelson to Blemheim, in the heart of the Marlborough wine country. We went first to my long-time favorite NZ winery, Cloudy Bay, where we loved their Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Noir, and bought a case of each. Then on to a marvelous lunch (see photos on the web site) at Vintner’s Retreat. Tapas all around - marvelous. Then two more wineries and a few more cases. We tasted everything though did spit out most.

Our final stop was Nautilus Winery, which was stunning. They do export and I suggest that everyone try to track them down. The Maggie B used to be “sitting back” a bit with the bow a bit high on the painted waterline. Not a problem any more. Nigel must have planned it that way, for us to need to fill up the forepeak with five months worth of wine. How fine it will be to be sitting inside the reef at T’aaa, waiting for the sunset with the perfect Marlborough Sound Sauvignon Blanc?

Today in our motoring up to D’Urville, the calm waters produced at least 30 dolphin playing around our bow. We have never seen them so thick — they were like kids fighting in a playground.

All is well.