Periods of brilliant sunshine with over 10amps into the batteries from the solar panels, interspersed with cold SW bands of short-lived showers and strong (>35kt) 'breezes'.
Made and installed a couple of locking latched on the cupboard under the fridge (which the Caravaners had sought to hold close less than successfully with Velcro) Always seems to pop open when heeled to port more than 25 deg - which may have been why the aforementioned never noticed?
Also glued and screwed a handle to the inner hatch - which was previously difficult to open from the inside if one overenthusiastically closed it jammed hard against the washboards...
Also met some more interesting people today:
- Brian, skipper of 'Fergies Lady', a stretched Pelin 10.5m launch was busy preparing his outside teak 'brightwork' for yet another coat of you-beaut-guaranteed to protect compound. I've noticed that there are two types of boaties here in Opua - those who have just discovered the latest (expensive) solution for protecting their precious teak, and those who are disillusioned at the effectiveness of least years compound! Brian built his boat from some Kahikatea off his property and then used glass over mahogany ply. We got chatting (Dad had once built a smaller Frank Pelin 'fizz-boat' when we were quite young and the boys in particular had a lot of fun learning to ski etc. behind it. Brian had just installed new head-lining in the surprisingly spacious saloon and also new carpet which he had sourced from CarpetCourt - not a 'marine' carpet as such, but softer and with a non-rotting nylon backing which he reckoned was ideal. It did look good.
- Mike at the Chandlery turns out to be a genuine rev-head, involved over the years in many interesting car projects and racing experiences. We chatted about mutual acquaintances - he was friends with Tim Bailey of Continental Cars fame and seemed to know well most of NZ's motor enthusiasts. He told me to go around the back and introduce myself to...
- Chris, the stainless steel artist and fabricator. Chris and Mike are working together on a car project which consists of the body of a Mercedes 350 sedan, a 195kw Falcon engine mounted alongside the driver and various custom manufactured stainless and metal accouterments courtesy of Chris. He then took me out the back and showed me his real love - creating intricate and incredibly beautifully works of art in stainless steel. Just amazing stuff... Oh, and he does the odd stainless work for boaties - I suspect to pay the bills so he can give more attention to his art!
Nice to chat on Skype with the Young'uns tonight - gave them a video tour of the environs... including the view I have as I sit here typing at the Nav Station - NOT BAD!
Time to heat up some of that very fine beef curry...
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