Opua: big neighbors; hot
Opua: big neighbors; hot
I was sitting on deck the other evening when not one, but two hermaphrodite brigs came around the point to the north with square sails set. Rare enough to see one, although years ago in San Diego two were docked side by side opposite EGREGIOUS.
This one is about 100’ long. I am not a good judge of length of vessels that size. I am told she is run as an “adventure” boat in the tropics during the southern winter and in New Zealand during the summer, with people paying for the experience of crewing on her.
The other brig has already left. This is is due to go down to Auckland, where she is based, tomorrow.
The handsomely silver painted 80’ LION NEW ZEALAND, built for the former Whitbread round the world race and winner of the 1984 Sydney-Hobart, has been in and out of Opua for the past few weeks, anchoring not far away. She, too, is now an “adventure” charter boat.
There is nothing wrong with paying to sail on such boats, and I put quotes around “adventure” because I think it is one of those words which are increasingly misused. “Hero” is another.
When I rowed ashore yesterday a boat about LION NEW ZEALAND size was tied to the “Q” Dock. Her crew had already opened her transom, which swings down hydraulically to reveal a garage for an inflatable bigger than CHIDIOCK TICHBORNE, and I expect more expensive than THE HAWKE OF TUONELA.
We continue to have lovely weather.
I was actually hot--briefly--yesterday while rowing back to HAWKE. Being hot in New Zealand is so rare as to be worthy of mention.
Although this country could usually benefit by being a bit warmer, that is not a complaint. I prefer temperate climates and would rather be a little too cool than too warm. However, I do like snorkeling in tropical water more than New Zealand’s.
The photo above is obviously heavily processed with both Photomatix Pro and Aperture. It is a HDR image, composed of three exposures, one normal, one +2EV, one -2EV.
Tuesday, November 9, 2010