Tall Ship Soren Larsen Sailing adventure for all ages

Tall Ship Soren Larsen ~ South Pacific Sail Training Adventure for all ages

See Previous 2004 Voyage Logs

New Caledonia to Norfolk island and New Zealand 2004
V208 - part 1

Here is Noreen's journal and pictures for the last Pacific voyage of 2004 - the passage south to New Zealand

Part one here -
"The time has come for the last voyage of 2004; voyage 208 from Noumea, New Caledonia to Auckland, New Zealand! At 1000hrs on November 1st, an air-condition bus carrying 18 passengers pulled up next to Soren Larsen which was alongside the Port Moselle wharf and unloaded bag after bag. With great anticipation our new voyage crew were chomping at the bit to tour through the ship and begin lending a hand where they could!

We did the usual introductions and safety briefings and after spending the night alongside the wharf and part of the following morning, we headed out to sea. With the hopes of having a BBQ ashore on the Isle de Pines, we motored into the wind and had kite surfers and windsurfers buzzing past us on our journey to the island. I had studied French while in school, and so I was nominated as the lucky one to convince a local resort to allow us to use their BBQ area…. it worked!

After walks on the beach and snorkels in the slightly cooler waters than we were use to, the food and drink were sent ashore for the “great Aussie feast”, as we now like to call it!

12-4 watch.	aloft.	andy and mary aloft.	andy at work.
We prepared for our journey south towards New Zealand hoping to stop on Norfolk Island. With a favorable breeze and delicious amounts of sunshine we set the squaresails and fore and aft sails for a fantastic sail into the open ocean. Unfortunately, for those of us who had been spoiled by copious amounts of sunshine and warm temperatures over the past ten months, we began to be affected by the cooler conditions. Wool hats were being worn with our shorts, and gradually more top layers were being applied with each day. With the blue/green wash on deck from the ships occasional roll, we found ourselves dodging the water trickling down the deck to avoid that unnecessary chill! Much praise went out to the 12-4 watch when they pulled in a lovely Dorado, I sharpened my knife and prepared the fish for the following nights dinner, what a treat fresh fish is! With the wind not quite blowing in a favorable direction, we sea stowed the squares and turned on the Iron Jib for a motor towards the Australian Island of Norfolk.
barry swinging in the bosuns chair.	boats ashore on norfolk.	dolphin watch.	elaine taking her shot at jim.
Making good time we found the anchor down after only three days of sailing, unfortunately it was Sunday and the customs officials were unable to clear us to go ashore, it would have to wait till the morning…no problem it was dress in your Sunday best and a dinner in a calm”ish” anchorage is always favored! Just before dinner Jim planned some target practice for all the keen water bombers onboard, he climbed into the dinghy and slowly motored back and forth a few meters from the ship and gave everyone the opportunity for the captain to buy them a beer! With water balloons filled and the “funnelator”or our bungee water bomber in tact, each took three shots to try and hit the moving target. If you hit the captain, he bought you a beer…if you missed you bought him one. Let’s just say the captain drank well Sunday night! With the day spent ashore on Norfolk touring through the countryside or wandering the main street of Burnt Pine, all returned to the ship satisfied with the islands hospitality and sheer beauty!
gene's bday.	geri firing at jim in the boat.	going aloft to stow the course.	great wind to sail.
With a schedule to keep we had to make our way further south, with a lovely sunrise the watch was woken for a sail off the anchor to begin the final leg of the voyage back to New Zealand waters. As the day progressed the hopes of the wind turning more in our favor increased, and by late in the day we were steering 150˚, the sun was out and there was a great buzz throughout the ship. Richard celebrates his birthday and is all too happy with the chocolate cake and birthday song presented to him! It is always nice being in a sea routine, everyone is keen to help and there is full participation from all voyage crew. We have a seafaring family form Finland with us, the father, Holgar having been part of the Last Grain Race, on the four masted windjammers round Cape Horn, was a great inspiration for all the voyage crew and I am sure that the 6 keen Fins started the ball rolling for the rest, a great group of people to have on board and truly are making the last trip of the year really memorable!
handing the course.	helm and the mainsail.	in the headrig watching dolphins.	in the hot pools.
in the sun.	james the new sailmaker.	kenny in the hot pools.	kenny on the course sheet.
kingston surf bay.	nikola and greg enjoying the sunshine.	norfolk at sunset.	norfolk island..
norfolk..	norfolk.	relaxing in the pools.	soren from kingston bay.
With a schedule to keep we had to make our way further south, with a lovely sunrise the watch was woken for a sail off the anchor to begin the final leg of the voyage back to New Zealand waters. As the day progressed the hopes of the wind turning more in our favor increased, and by late in the day we were steering 150˚, the sun was out and there was a great buzz throughout the ship. Richard celebrates his birthday and is all too happy with the chocolate cake and birthday song presented to him! It is always nice being in a sea routine, everyone is keen to help and there is full participation from all voyage crew. We have a seafaring family form Finland with us, the father, Holgar having been part of the Last Grain Race, on the four masted windjammers round Cape Horn, was a great inspiration for all the voyage crew and I am sure that the 6 keen Fins started the ball rolling for the rest, a great group of people to have on board and truly are making the last trip of the year really memorable! ''
unloading the boats on norfolk.	walking over the bridge.	watching for dolphins.