Kiwi Hospitality

Preparing Sea Child for her upcoming leg from New Zealand to Fiji is all part of the fun of an open ocean crossing. Days have been spent changing out parts and cooking meals. Upon inspection of our electronics, we learned that the radar is not working at all. While this is not necessarily a "no go" situation, having a working radar is a comfort so we are able to see vessels at sea. During our sail from Aruba to Cartegena, the radar was a priceless piece of electronics that showed all vessels in this busy part of the world. In the South Pacific, the radar may seem less important. However, we are attempting to repair the unit from here in Whangarei.

The engine inspections showed that both raw water impellers needed to be changed out. Sea Child has many spare parts, impellers, back up starter motor, fuel filters, oil filters, fuel injectors, pressure pumps, pulleys for the water maker. After almost 3 years of sailing Sea Child, these extra parts make for a comforting passage. It's nice to know that if something should break at sea, we have the parts to repair along the way.

Trinidad, Panama, and New Zealand all rank high in the area of finding parts and people who can work on boats. Amazingly, Maui ranks as the worst of all the areas in the world for finding boat parts and people who can or will work on them. Crazy, Maui has some of the best sailing in the world, maybe everyone who would carry these special parts are busy sailing and playing in the water. In any case, New Zealand is a wonderful place to repair and prepare Sea Child for a 1,000 mile journey. If a company does not have the ability to repair your part, they will refer you to someone else. Kiwis are some of the kindest people on the planet. Preparing for sea, far from home, is an easy process from Marsden Cove, Whangarei, New Zealand. And with the generosity and kindness of the local people, Sea Child is also in very good hands.

Current Position:

S 35 degrees 50.13' , E174 degrees 28.03'