The Crew
Hola! My name is Camila Arnés, and I am a marine biologist with a passion for ocean conservation. Together with my partner Sam Kempson, aka El Capitan, we are sailing through the Southern Hemisphere this year, starting in the South Pacific. We have just begun a collaboration with Aqua Map, and we are so stoked to share our sea adventures as well as some technical sailing tips with this incredible community.
Our vessel
We are onboard a 74 sunreef (22 m/74 ft) sailing catamaran. She is a beauty! With a spacious deck and living area, she is stylish and seaworthy. It has a large, nearly 11 m beam, with a keel draft of 2 m; therefore, she can easily get into shallow anchorages. This feature allows you to enter places that many boats cannot access.
The start of our trip
Our trip begins at the Westhaven Marina in Auckland: the largest yacht marina in the Southern Hemisphere. There is no better place to begin this journey than in the City of Sails. Auckland receives this nickname from its unique geographical location. To the west, it has the Tasman Sea and Hauraki Gulf to the east. Being surrounded by water and numerous marinas and yacht harbors contribute to the nickname. If you have the chance to visit The City of Sails, the New Zealand Maritime Museum is a must!
Auckland hosts a population of 1.7 million people and is the fastest-growing city in New Zealand. This is a vibrant multicultural city that serves as a sailing hub. Approximately 45% of the local population is involved in recreational boating. From almost any point of the city you get a view of the marina and the half a million boats anchored around the city.
The history of New Zealand’s sailing culture is not complete without mentioning the Great Sir Peter Blake, one of the world's most celebrated yachtsmen. He led the New Zealand team to victory in America’s Cup, the oldest sailing competition. He also held the record for the fastest non-stop circumnavigation of the world under sail.I personally admire him for his intrepid adventurous spirit that led him to the ends of the planet and for his passion for ocean conservation.
Just as Peter Blake did before his voyages, we too prepared to begin ours. The New Zealand winter can be very rough, so most people choose to flee to the northern region, which is warmer, or even leave winter behind and sail to a tropical destination.
Most trips through the South Pacific Islands begin in Auckland, and ours is no exception. Our destination this winter is the Republic of Fiji. To reach this tropical archipelago of more than 300 islands, we will have to sail through 1150 nautical miles of potential storms, big waves, winds of 14 mph, and, of course, very very cold weather.
Getting the boat and the crew ready for winter sailing
In preparation for our passage, everything inside and outside the boat has to be securely fastened: diesel and water tanks full. Once all the mechanical bits and pieces have been serviced and tested during sea trials, the boat is ready to go! For the crew, bitterly cold southerly winds are in store. The boat will remain underway for the entire passage; therefore, 24/7 watches are required. For this, foul weather gear is our best ally, and, as we discovered, multiple benies are a great idea for cold wet night watches. We did four-hour watches every 8 hours. An example of what a night watch entails: first, waterproofing yourself and wearing multiple layers, then making your way towards the helm station -clumsy wobbling around the boat–. At the helm, lights, and radar must be checked, as well as charts and boat course. Being on watch means that you are responsible for the safety of the crew and the vessel: it is a big responsibility!
Expect to make new friends during the watches. It is not unusual to encounter dolphins, albatrosses, storm petrels, and other boats making the same passage.
As we made our way through the Hauraki Gulf in the northern region of New Zealand, we went through some popular destinations. Most New Zealand winter sailors choose to make their way up to the Bay of Islands, Waiheke Vineyard, Whangaroa, or Great Barrier Island. These places are some of the most visited sites during winter, and here you will see people from around the world enjoying beautiful landscapes and local cuisine, which comprises mostly fresh seaside products. I look forward to returning to these otherworldly bays and islands and spend some time there, but for now, we are on a mission.
Our voyage
Overall, we did a lot of watches, eat, sleep, repeat, and of course some maintenance, mechanical fixes, and adjustments that the boat needed. Captain Sam and the engineers onboard, Tully and Felix, did a great job and kept on top of the mechanical side of things at all times.
For this passage, we had a team of six adventurous, experienced sailors. The head of the boat was Sam, who led the show.
Then, we had one engineer and one first mate, one amazing chef that kept us all fed with yummy hearty warm meals, and two assistant watchkeepers (myself included in this role). Having a tight and trusting relationship amongst the crew is essential for smooth sailing.
Our passage from New Zealand to Fiji lasted eight days. The first three days were slightly rough and rocky, as we experienced 4 m waves coming from the southwest direction, in addition to cold winds and showers. All our layers were on. However, as we moved from 37 °south to 18 °north, approaching the equator, we started to slowly peel our layers away like an onion. Sunny days and calmer seas were now in store for us, and we were happy to make the most of these perfect weather conditions.
It was early morning on the 8th day when we could finally yell Land Ahoy! On that day, we woke up to the smell of fresh soil and big palm trees on the horizon. Everyone in the boat was happy that the passage was successful. Captain Sam did an amazing job, and now, safely anchoring in this tropical paradise was the next thing on his mind.
Article by Camila Arnés-Urgellés, Marine Biologist.
