Maritime Carol

Peacock Moth. Opua, New Zealand ©Carol Forsyth I thought I had left the dryness of Ruakaka behind me.   Apparently not.  I am now living through a drought. Geography: Opua is a locality in the Bay of Islands, in the sub-tropical Northland region of NZ.  It is notable as the first port of overseas yachts arriving in the country after crossing the Pacific Ocean. During the summer season - now - a drought tends to start slowly, often without warning, and can last for significant periods of time and cover large areas.     This is the sixth drought declared in Northland since 2009.  For our many seasonal & maritime visitors, a drought has little or no effect apart from restrictions on washing down vehicles or vessels. My water situation is good although I am mindful of using it wisely.     The garden impersonates hay - dry stalks and brown seed heads. The potatoes also deciding they can survive no longer....

SS GAIRLOCK January 2020 On a windswept beach along the Taranaki coast lies the whale like remains of the twin screw S. S. GAIRLOCK.    She went aground at night in poor visibility on 5th January 1903.     The Court of enquiry found that the vessel had no patent log in use, and her master was charged with 'negligent navigation' by estimating her speed & hugging the coast so close on a so dark a night.  SS GAIRLOCK January 1903 So thinking about this shipwreck, here's how to work smarter: 1. Know our course 2. Keep a good lookout 3. Don't become distracted 4. Listen to whats going on around us 5. Use available resources wisely; and 6. Listen to forecasts & 'see' the future. Work smarter 20/20.

Carol Forsyth - Vessel & Volunteer Manager NZMM 2008-2014 At the end of every year I like to reflect over it - both personally and professionally - the best, the worst, what I've learnt from them all and how I can make the following year amazing. Then I set my goals for the coming year. For most of us, we overestimate what we can do in a year and underestimate what we can do in a decade or two.     So as this year comes to an end, its timely to reflect on our past decade to see whats happened - and like me, there's probably a lot.  Looking back for me, in 2009 I: Had replaced the helm for a desk Was the Vessel & Volunteer Manager at the NZ Maritime Museum Wrote a regular column for Professional Skipper magazine Served on the Auckland Sailors Society as a board member. Fast forward to 2019 and I: Am self employed in the compliance sector of the maritime industry Have written and published two books Produce & sell my ...

A Hazard Register & Safe Operating Procedures need not be complex. Here's on board hazards & procedures by Noah... Hazards : 1.  Falling over the side - Hold on, keep the door shut in the back (stern). 2.  Sinking - put sticky tape or wood over the hole. 3.  Fire - Call the fire engine boat quickly. 4.  Collision - Both turn and keep looking out.   Turn any way you want. 5.  Crash into a buoy - Turn the steering wheel around. 6.  Run over a person swimming - Watch for dive flag and steer away from them. 7.  Run aground - Put the boat on the beach. 8.  Tip over - Not everybody on the same side, not too many people in the boat. 9.  Rocks - Don't go to sleep if you are the captain. Procedures : Sinking - Get your life-jacket, jump off so you don't go under water. Call Police and wave flag, put your hand up or climb on top of wood from boat sticking up. If overdue - Call the Police and police boat will say th...

In 1834 botanist John Edgerley  gathered a handful of seeds from a Norfolk Island pine tree and boarded a sailing ship bound for the Hokianga Harbour.    Those seeds became the first 'shipment' of Norfolk Pines to New Zealand. Two years later, John and Captain McDonnell  journeyed to the Bay of Islands - with a box of young Norfolk pines. Captain McDonnell took the box of seedlings to  Gilbert & Elizabeth Mair who   owned the flourishing trading post and ship repair yard at Te Wahapu Point. Elizabeth was a busy mother with five young children (one a new baby) and she planted one of the sapling trees beside her home.  Her sister-in-law Matilda  took one home to Kaitaia and planted it beside her home.  James Busby planted two by the Treaty House at Waitangi and many Northland Mission Stations - including Te Waimate, received a tree or two. The remaining saplings were destroyed by Gilbert & Elizabeth's young daughter...

Letter to the Surveyor 1825 Robin Williams Esq, Surveyor of Ships, Auckland. Dear Sir, We are in the process of building a 60ton schooner on the foreshore at Paihia in the Bay of Islands. She is being built of timber salvaged from the three masted 432ton Brampton which was wrecked two years ago on a nearby reef.     The Church Missionary Society are extremely keen to have her in the water as soon as possible as construction has been hampered by the natives who intend burning her prior to launching.   She will be the first vessel to be built in New Zealand and we are naming her HERALD . This vessel will be used for trans-Tasman crossings as well as coastal voyages. We are contacting you as we believe we may be related and look forward to hearing from you regarding your availability to assist us with our project. Yours faithfully, Rev Henry Williams, Paihia. Reply from Surveyor 2018... rev.h.williams@churchmissionarysociety.co.nz Hi Re...