We welcome yet another sailing vessel - SV Temerarius. Anne and Eric are our close friends whom we met in the New Zealand boatyard. We crossed the Pacific Ocean in the same season, but have never met them until a year later in NZ. Those days in the boatyard, with them around, were so much fun - in fact, they kept our days there much more interesting and worthwhile. That is what sailing life is all about - friendship, laughter and a lot of support. Anne is a midwife nurse, and she helped Kjartan when he got very sick in 2006. I was away in Vancouver at that time. Without her, Kjartan would not have been capable of driving himself to see the doctor. For that, we are forever thankful. Thanks Anne!!
SV Temerarius went to Australia, and from Cairns, sailed straight to Palau in April. I believe this route took them through the Solomon Islands and Papua New Guinea (one fuel stop in Madang). From Palau, they arrived Samal mid-May. Their intention is to haul-out in Samal and go back to Detroit.
SV Temerarius is about the same size as Wiskun, 48 ft LOA, 13+ ft beam and 6 ft draft. The cradle built for them is the same as for Wiskun, but unlike Wiskun, we had to maneuver her around the bend towards where she would be parked - right beside SV Irish Melody. It was a bit challenging, compared to when we hauled out SV Irish Melody, but Kjartan did it again. Watch this video.
title="How to Maneuver a 48ft yacht around a Tight Bend">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I-wDOfCMJTY
Talking about a lot of support between cruisers, Eric and Anne also helped another yacht in distress while crossing the Pacific Ocean. When they heard them on the radio, they turned around, sailed windward, to give aid. The yacht in distress, SV Kim Thu, also our friends, needed a part for their loose rigging. Since it was dangerous for the yachts to be close together, Eric did the unthinkable. With a backpack full of tools and parts, he jumped into the ocean and swam towards Kim Thu. When he was done, he did the same thing in reverse, but this time, with a backpack full of food and wine (thank you gift from Kim Thu). Anne had to do a MOB drill to pick up Eric, missed him and had to quickly turn around. It was only a stroke of luck that Eric managed to haul himself up on deck - a wave pushed him up!! Hey Anne and Eric, we will sail with you anytime!!