Tawhirimatea joins us

The Schooner Maggie B is still tied up at the Tasman Cruising Club marina in Nelson, NZ, waiting out a classic Kiwi Souwester. It is blowing 25-30 knots in this rather sheltered port, and lots more off shore. We now think that we will be off on Saturday, heading just to D’Urville Island on which makes the western part of Marlborough Sound, and then on to Wellington after a few days in Marlborough Sound.

“Our exciting news is that we have acquired a Guardian for the boat. Tim Wraight has made a carving of Tawhirimatea that has replaced our boom end cap. Tawhirimatea is the Maori wind deity. Tim left the tongue blank instead of the gale-like swirl that is usually seen on it, so that we don’t get too much wind. It is made of Totara wood and paua shell. There are some great photos up on this site.

One new Nelson friend, Adrian Faulkner fell in love with the Maggie B. He was, however, shocked about our main anchor which is a 80 pound CQR. He had gotten to know the French inventor of the Spade anchor, which is quite different in design. I said something like €œwell, everybody has their favorite anchor.€ Or words to that effect.

We get our anchor “in Spades.”