Christian made it safely up to Marsden Cove Marina, where Shawnigan has been tidied up hauled out and placed in the hand of a broker to sell (link to come soon) to some lucky person/family.
The sail up the east coast was pretty much as to be expected around these parts of New Zealand, with gusts into the 50’s off of Castle point. 2-50 in 30 seconds kind of situation. The East Cape was slightly better, but not much. He thankfully had crew, Nick from Mana to Napier, and Jamie, from Napier to Whitianga (Coromandel). Of course… he did manage to surf both in Napier and in Whitanga. A very much deserved farewell gift for him. From Whitianga, he just had an over nighter to arrive with the right tide and current into the Whangarei heads.
After catching up on some much needed sleep, Christian spent almost the whole week straight cleaning up the boat, going for a sail to take drone photos, and sorting out a bit of last minute departure details for himself. He also managed to fit in a few social events with friends we know from up there.
Hi Deb! Hi Deb and Phil from SV Costal Drifter
A special shout out to the crew (Nick and Jamie) for pulling through, swapping their lives around and helping Christian and Shawnigan get up the east coast of New Zealand safely.
As for myself and the kids, we’ve been doing a little local sightseeing during the school holidays and then they have one more week of school and I have 6 more shifts of work before we fly out to California to reunite with Christian.
Wow, what an emotional day. Christian and crew, Nick, departed Mana Marina at 09:30 this morning to sail Shawnigan down around the south cape of the North Island of Aotearoa (New Zealand) and on up the East Coast to Whangarei.
The morning was busy. Last minute hustle and bustle. A trip to the market to grab more coffee and a few snacks. A few items left on the boat that we forgot to pack or unload. Some last minute visitors to say farewell. But that was all easy peasy compared to saying goodbye to Shawnigan. She has been our solid “home” for over 10 years! She’s been our stable and secure and safe place amongst all of our travels and uncertainties. Then for the topping on the cake, the final moments of saying farewell and love you’s and see you in 5+ weeks to Christian. Usually it’s the opposite, where I’m the one leaving to go work as a travel nurse, but this time I’m staying back with the kids to finish work as a nurse here in Wellington, the kids will finish term 3 in the local Waldorf schools, while Christian takes Shawnigan up to list with a broker in Whangarei and then fly over to the US to prep a new boat for us to live on. More on that later…
Here are some photos and videos from today. A BIG DAY for all of us. Some many tears shed to say the least, but also excitement and joy.
Go figure… the wind gusts came just in time for the high tide departure.
Oh and just to say… The first stretch of the journey is no simple one either. Happy to have Nick as crew aboard to help make it up to Napier.
Yep you read that right, S/V Shawnigan , our lovely solid, world cruising ready, Sparkman and Stephens, Stevens 40 is up for sale! $140,000 NZD
Before I post all of her details I will reassure you that this DOESN’T mean we, Afamilyafloat , are done with sailing / boat life… we’re just switching things up and looking at a different boat. Exciting changes to come!
I know most people love video tours: so here’s a link to our “old” one (or see below). There are few improvements , additions and removals, since the video so we will list these below. Please feel free to message us here or call (NZ +64 2041790882) directly if you have any questions. Note : we are currently in New Zealand, so listing in NZD for the NZ and Australian market.
Vessel Name: “SHAWNIGAN” Model: 40’ STEVENS 40 center cockpit cutter Builder: STEVENS Yachts, Queen Long Yard, Taiwan, R.O.C. Designer: Sparkman & Stephens Year Built: 1982 LOA: 40’ 7” LWL: 31’ 4” Beam: 12’ 6” Draft: 6.75’ Displacement: 24,000 # Ballast: 8,000#, internal in fiberglass fin Power: VolvoPenta 40 Equipment: – Wheel steering, autopilot, Hydrovane with spare wind paddle- Complete set of sails including mainsail, harken roller furler with 120% and 150% , hank-on staysail – ICOM IC-M802 SSB and VHF radio, RAYTHEON RL70 radar, B & G depth sounder, GARMIN 176 GPS/plotter, Lawrence fish finder /depth sounder. Vesper Marine AIS receiver and transponder – Safety equipment: ground tackle electric windlass with 350′ hi-tensile G4 American made chain, 45# ROCNA . Standing rigging , turnbuckles and running rigging done in 2012 – custom hard dodger – 3x 150W solar panels, mounted on arch. Installed fridge/freezer in 2021 as a drop in model – Dickinson Diesel Heater . 2 Levac heads and a shower. Master bed in aft cabin. Two berths in v-berth with leecloths. Pull out settee with leecloth on starboard side of main cabin, and another leecloth for settee on port side. New awlgrip paint 2017.
This STEVENS 40 is a production fiberglass sailboat designed by the famed Sparkman & Stephens and built in Taiwan in the early eighties. Only 10 boats were built under this brand between 1982 and 1984 until the boatyard Queen Long Marine Shipbuilding became in 1984 the exclusive builder of the well-known HYLAS Yachts. The STEVENS 40 and 47 are very similar to the high end HYLAS on many levels: solidly built, sea-kindly hull designed for blue water cruising, center cockpit layout and high-quality teak interior.
New Awlgrip Paint jobDodger with the sides rolled up, providing shade in hot sunny locations.Dodger providing comfort in wet conditions.New Swim step and hydrovane set-upStarboard side of main cabin looking aft.looking toward port side and forward of main cabin
Double compression post bound with spectra (structural and cosmetic).
Main cabin view from Port looking aft and towards the chart table.
curtains for the bookshelvesright side of stove has been customized as a drop in fridge/freezer (see photo above of port side).
Galley: 2 ice boxes (we use for dry food, and pots and pans) and Force10 stove/oven) and a large double sink with fresh and saltwater pumps and new faucet for electric powered flow.
Aft cabin Aft head with Levac. Shower to the left of head (currently used for storage).Forward head with Levac as well. Sorry, blurry picture of v-berth
A Family Afloat 