I've been toying with the idea of using the blog feature on YIT to record some more of our meanderings and experiences along the journey. It is for us as much as it is for you. I enjoy the process, so let’s give it a go! I wrote a poem today to encourage some new friends who are languishing somewhere behind us. It's slow going with so little wind, from the wrong direction, and limited diesel. The story of the Homeless Vikings When a boat comes alongside a dock, there is usually a helpful person around who will offer to take your lines and secure them for you. This allows a short handed crew to concentrate on manoeuvring the boat and to avoid all manner of mishaps that can happen in these last few moments of a vessels voyage. A good dock hand is golden, but a bad one can be rather troublesome! Things can end badly with well meaning people who lack the competence to do the job, or occasionally, think they know better and will do various hazardous things contrary to instructions. A good skipper will be very firm and clear, but we generally find it best to just do it ourselves. Our modus operandi, is for Michelle to smile and say, "Thanks, but I'll do it - I need the practice". We all need the practice right :) Once in Tahiti, a helpful boatie watched Michelle tying up, looked at her sideways, chuckled and said "Oh, I think you've had plenty of practice!" As we docked at the town basin in Whangarei, NZ, a relaxed looking young couple hopped off a small red Finnish flagged boat and offered to take our lines. They looked safe enough, and had a vested interest in helping us to dock cleanly as we attempted to slide into a gap between them and another boat. I gave Michelle the secret nod and she threw the lines and relayed instructions like a pro. The Finnish crew were golden. Over the next few days while we replaced our chart plotter and did last minute boat maintenance, we got to know our new neighbours and shared a meal, stories, tools, itineraries, and handwritten ‘boat cards’. Their 27 foot boat is aptly called "Homeless" and thus, we have named them "The Homeless Vikings" We agreed that we would have a very unofficial race from NZ to Noumea. The winner would be required to have champagne on ice for the second boat to arrive. As the bigger, faster boat, we would need to provide a measured head start to make things interesting. As fate conspired, the Homeless Vikings left from Whangarei and we finally left from Opua a couple of days later. We figured it would take a few days to catch them. We shot out of New Zealand in a strong sou'westerly and sailed a longer, but faster course at thri lling continuous speeds of 8-11 knots for 2 days. Within 24 hours we were ahead and Michelle was wondering how the Vikings would like "Libertalia champagne". Recipe – take cask wine, carbonate using soda stream maker, and then put into the freezer in a glass 'presentation' bottle. Nothing but the best here baby! As the winds eased, we matched speeds and have stayed a little over 100nm ahead for a couple of days. But today, they must start rationing diesel as we both motor sail in uncooperative and fickle conditions, and so we will extend our lead again. We've never sailed an ocean in company before, and though we have never been close enough to even radio them, we have been able send texts over satellite and it has been fun to know there is someone else out there on this incredibly wide ocean. My poem sounds best when read slowly by Sean Connery. OK, so most things do. From lands to the north and far beyond, came the seafaring Vikings, fair and blonde They sailed the seas to find a free land, and took their time to survey New Zealand. They were young and brave with a need to be free! So once again they pushed out to sea. They set off in waves and winds that were violent, and yelled at the ocean until she was quiet. Now they motor and long for a breeze, that will carry them on to Noumea palm trees. The race may be lost but they still stand to gain On ice at arrival is the contenders champagne Their progress is modest, they cannot gloat, but the Vikings are coming... in their blood red boat!