In the bilges of my mind

When we became aware of the pitting corrosion in the tail shaft we were all trying to think of any boat we'd ever heard of actually shearing a shaft. The Interislander ferry Aratere is easy, and everybody gets that one. But no-one guesses Cousteau's ship, the Calypso. Not only did she shear a shaft, but she did it 1800 miles from the nearest drydock. In the clip below jump to 18 minutes 40 seconds to see the action. Run on past 21 minutes to hear Cousteau's reflection: "...in the bilges of my mind."

Guardian

Gardner 8LXB

I am so privileged to be the current guardian of this long-lived engine. My family came from Manchester, so that connection is special for me. To hear it idling, or to hear it in full song, both are a joy.  It's 14 litres, makes well over 150 hp and well over 900Nm torque for around 2 litres per nautical mile. The gearbox is a TwinDisc 3:1 reduction with a 40" 4-bladed propellor. We get 7 knots at 900 rpm and 9 knots at 1300 rpm. There's full standing height in the engine room, access all around the engine, a workbench, and lockers. Orion carries 1200 litres of fuel giving her a range of 1000 nm at 7 knots or 700 nm at 8 knots.

Hawke's Bay

Departing Tolaga Bay for Napier

Arrival Napier Monday August 3rd

Lying Napier 

Took fuel oil on arrival 700 litres. Steaming time Greenhithe to Napier 1 day 23 hours (TBC by SJB). Further details of the passage to be posted here once they emerge. 

Wednesday 5th August

Currently waiting on weather to continue to Havelock. This low pressure system is expected to bring strong winds and snow to low levels on south island. For our northern hemisphere readers, note that the water goes down our plughole the opposite way to you... winds blow anti-clockwise around a High and clockwise around a Low.

Rounding East Cape

East Cape, East Island

This neat picture was taken by JSB this afternoon as they made the turn to the south. On the left is East Cape, and on the right East Island, seen over Orion's stern. Fair to say that while in the fishing Orion roamed around following the season, but this would be the longest trip she's made in over a decade.

Bay of Plenty

Peter Browne, Mate

Dolphins bow riding

More dolphins bow riding

White Island anchorage

Setting forth

JSB shaping up for the Colville Channel

Weather set fair for a couple of days

Port Charles, anchorage on the Friday night