SUV-AUK LEG Daily diary 19/3/11 (Update 14)
print this page

 Diary from the Uto ni Yalo by Lee-Anne Lee

Saturday 19th, March 2011

5pm Friday 18th was when we first sighted land. There was a cheer on board and you could definitely feel the excitement but the long white clouds quickly covered the land within minutes. This did not seem to dampen everyone’s spirits cause to add to the excitement on board, Peni sighted two whales, which got everyone’s attention.

Dinner was tuna in white sauce and pasta, which was served just after the whales, disappeared. Luckily just as everyone was finishing off dinner it started to sprinkle which only left Kaiafa, Peni, Angelo and myself up on deck as our 3hr shift started at 6pm. At about 7pm the rain started to pour and there was even lightening. This of course did not dampen our spirits as we continued to laugh about silly things and taking pictures just as we have on every watch. I think sighting land and knowing that we will be in Auckland tomorrow kept the 5 of us all in a cheerful mood.
I hadn’t explained in my first report that there are 15 crew and a cook on board. So there are 3 groups with 5 crew in each, which all go on 3hr rotating shifts. As the cook (Ben) needs to always prepare our 3 meals and have all of us well fed and ready for each shift he is not in a group. This of course does not stop him from helping out with the sails and steering whenever he can. My group’s next shift started at 3am this morning and trust me the 3hrs flew by even though it was cold.
When our shift ended at 6am we were served breakfast which was Weetbix, biscuits and Ben also made some topoi. Just as we had finished breakfast a2kg tuna hooked onto the fishing line but unfortunately died as we were pulling it in so could not throw it back into the sea. Ben decided that he will cook curry fish surua (yes, it will feed the 16 of us if some of you are wondering…hehehehe) with duruka, dhal and rice.
As I write this it is 11.30am on Saturday and we are coasting South down the East coast of New Zealand and I’m thinking what an awesome and humbling week I have experienced with individuals from very different walks of life and also different to friends I’m usually around with back home.
Even though the suns out there is still a chill in the air and everyone is rugged up wearing jackets, beanies, socks etc but this weather does not deter all 16 crew to be on top deck and take in the amazing sights. We ask ourselves, who would have thought that in this day and age that I would travel to New Zealand in a traditional canoe. I/we know that this is an experience that cannot be taken away from any of us and cannot exactly be fully explained or put down on paper.
Skipper says that we should be docking in Auckland around midnight so of course we still have 2 more watches to go. This I know will be a breeze for everyone. It is a bit of a sad time as well cause some of the crew will be flying back home after a few days in Auckland as there will be a crew change for the sail to Tahiti. For now everyone are in high spirits and helping out whichever crew is on watch and getting the canoe ready for our arrival in Auckland.
Vinaka vaka levu everyone for all your prayers and well wishes during our journey… Lolomas from the Uto Ni Yalo.