Sunday Surprise Leopard Seal

February 7, 2015

We were out for a stroll on the docks when we ran across this guy…

leopard-seal

It’s a Leopard Seal who’s kind usually live in Antarctica. It wasn’t a total surprise as there was one hanging around on another dock a few weeks back. We never did get to see that one. Cyndi almost got to step on this one. That wouldn’t have been fun. They’re pretty dangerous.

And by the way, this is the view from our little “hotel” room next to the marina office…

view-from-our-room

We’re staying here while Legacy is out of the water. The mast up in the yard that’s furthest away is Legacy. That’s Mount Maunganui in the background. -Rich

Big Changes on Our Blog

February 5, 2016

vavau-map

While there haven’t been many new posts on the blog recently, that doesn’t mean we haven’t been making changes.

In the past couple of weeks I’ve been busy updating our existing Cruising Info pages and maps, adding in new places in Savusavu, Suva, New Caledonia, Tauranga, and North Island New Zealand.

Plus, we’ve completed our Vava’u (Tonga) Anchorages page, complete with an interactive map, descriptions and pictures.


all-posts

What’s more, we’ve finally completed our All-Posts-Map!

Our blog has not been the easiest to use for research as, for reasons explained at the top of our blog, the post dates are pretty erratic. This should make things much easier for those who just want to see what info we might have on any given place.

This blog (and cruise for that matter) has been a learning process. We’ve gone from posting short paragraphs and a few photos in French Polynesia to mastering photo galleries and interactive maps, and most recently have added a new feature: our actual routes and anchorage waypoints in western Fiji.

In the coming months, I’m hoping to add to the Cruising Info Pages, including more on Fiji, the Hauraki Gulf in New Zealand, the Ha’apai in Tonga, as well as Australia.

For now, it’s time to go pick back up where I left off in Fulaga, Fiji, 2013. –Cyndi

It’s Just a Simple Phone Call!

February 5, 2016, filed under Cruising Frustrations…

new-phone-2
I’d be better off with this phone… I just need to pull the string tighter!

I need to call the US to make some banking arrangements. It should be easy, right? I’m not expecting easy… It’s never easy (am I creating my own, difficult reality?).

  • First, I’m sick of bad Skype calls. I’ll use my mobile phone.
  • I  need to research international calling rates – it could be $2 a minute!
  • I can get 300 international minutes for $10 from 2 Degrees Mobile.
  • Does that include the US? (research, research, research) Yes.
  • Add the International Chat Pack.
  • Not enough credit.
  • Add credit.
  • Add the International Chat Pack.
  • Not enough credit.
  • Wait.
  • Add the International Chat Pack. Success.
  • Dial, but wait, how? Any special codes?
  • (research, research, research)
  • I still don’t know, I’ll try dialing +1 then the number.
  • Didn’t work, call wouldn’t connect.
  • Enough of this, I’ll call customer support, but what’s their number?
  • (research, research, research)
  • Still can’t find the number to call from my mobile, but here’s a toll-free number (but it uses up 5 minutes of my talk time anyway). Call.

Minutes navigating the automated phone system pass, then “Welcome to 2 Degrees, how may I help you?”

“What do I dial to call the US?”

“I don’t know, why don’t you try 001?” (That’s basically what she said.)

I do it… it doesn’t work. Call support again.

I explain again. Guy says “+1 should work. I don’t know what’s going on. Why don’t you try again, maybe after rebooting your phone?”

(30+ minutes have elapsed. It’s now lunch time in the US and the guy I’m calling is probably away, eating his quiche.)

Finally, after reboot and another try, the call goes through.

“Hi, can I speak to Don?”

“I’m sorry, he’s away today. Can you call back tomorrow?”

Oh, the joys of the cruising life! -Rich

Caution – Work in Progress

January 31, 2016

Legacy came out of the water last Wednesday for a bottom job.

Legacy hauled out at Tauranga Bridge Marina Hard Stand.
Legacy hauled out at Tauranga Bridge Marina Hard Stand.

And by Wednesday night, she was wearing a dress…

legacy in her dress

Actually, she was tented off in preparation for water and garnet blasting to remove all the old coats of bottom paint. The paint had become too thick and was falling off the hull in pretty good size patches. We also had quite a crop of osmotic blisters.

Blisters ground away after blasting off the old bottom paint.
Blisters ground away after blasting off the old bottom paint.

We’ve been grinding the blisters away for two days now and are almost done with that phase.

rich-grinding

When I’m done with this, I swear, I’m never lifting my arms above my head again (not that I’ll be able to!).

blisters-1

What the blisters lack in depth (they’re pretty shallow), they make up for in quantity!

Next steps: filling, barrier coat, and bottom paint. I’m also hoping to wax the topsides (I know, I’m a dreamer!). -Rich

Update, February 2, 2016…

We thought the boat would look good with Play-Doh applied liberally to the bottom.

play-doh-filler

Actually, it’s Jotafair by Jotun. It’s a two-part epoxy fairing compound. We put about three and a half liters in the ground out spaces. Tomorrow, we’ll sand about three quarters of that off!

It’s nice to be done with our deconstructionist period and moving in the right direction. (Plus, I really like the color of the filler. I wonder if it tastes good?)

Update, February 4, 2015

skin-tone-legacy

Red, Dirty Red, Gray, Gray with Acne, Gray with Play-Doh, now Barbie-with-a-Bad-Tan Skin Tone.

That’s the first coats of epoxy barrier. If the rain holds off tomorrow, maybe she’ll be ready for bottom paint after yet another NZ holiday!

Update, February 12, 2016

The work is done and we’re back in the water! It took 6 days longer than planned, mostly due to the frequent NZ national holidays and the even more frequent bad weather, but it’s done and I’m so happy with the results.

The new bottom paint is Hempel NCT 8190M. It’s an ablative paint that’s mostly used on big ships. It uses some very interesting new technology. They have guaranteed it for three years. We’ll let you know how it does.

launching-legacy

We did all this work at the Bridge Marina Travel Lift. This is our third time hauling out here and we love it. Bruce, Brian, Merrick and Antonio are terrific – professional, helpful, friendly and very knowledgeable. They’ve solved several of Legacy’s long-standing problems over the years of hauling out here (Maddox Anodes, Rudder Bushings). I really think that it’s crazy to do boat work anywhere else in NZ.

It also has the advantage of being in one of the best spots on the North Island. Both Tauranga and Mt. Maunganui, the nearby towns, are wonderful. We are always finding new and amazing places to eat and shop. It’s heaven for boat parts as well. Example: if you need a fastener, there are at least four fastener stores on one street alone, one stocking nothing but stainless. Again, it’d be crazy to go anywhere else! -Rich