Setting sail

Our Friday night Fireside Soup get-together attracts a very interesting and ever changing crowd and this Friday past was no exception with the visit by two sailors from the sleek 43 foot yacht that skimmed across the bar last week and tied up to the T-wharf for a few days, waiting for a tide full enough to get back out.
Originally from Nelson but arriving in Riverton via 8 years of exotic world travel that included anchorages up the Amazon river, numerous islands including the Galapagos, Easter, Pitcairn and several that I had never heard of, Phil and Karen were well seasoned yacht's-people.
Their intention is to set sail on Wednesday or Thursday for Stewart Island where they will spend several weeks exploring before sailing for Akaroa and ultimately back to Nelson and their home. Beyond that seems to be a voyage to the sub-Antarctic island of South Georgia. Phil says the yacht's heaters are excellent and I certainly hope he's right.
* Update: Watch the Windora cross the bar at around 10 am Thursday morning. With her 2 metre fixed keel, it'll be touch and go! We'll be down on the sand below the pines enjoying the spectacle!