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V215 New Zealand to Easter Island - across the Southern Ocean
Marita Ferguson tells her story of the ocean passage:

On the 23rd of March we cleared customs and immigration and said our farewells to the shipwrights from Australia, and yard workers at the Tauranga slip yard. It was time to set Soren sailing on yet another epic voyage across the southern ocean bound for Easter Island. This voyage is an opportunity of a lifetime, something that most sailors dream of but only a few have the opportunity to fulfil. Sailing a 55 year old timber Brigantine to one of the most isolated islands in the world has been a very special experience. The ship’s company of 14 permanent crew and 9 Voyage Crew spent close to 30 days at sea, without sighting land or another human being.

Aboard the Soren Larsen, a three-watch system (four hours on 8 hours off) structures shipboard life. Over this long passage voyage crew had the opportunity to experience all three watches. The 12-4 watch, run by the 2nd Mate Astrid were responsible for baking the bread in the evenings. The first Mate Mikkel, took care of the ‘sunrise’ and ‘sunset’ watch, the 4 to 8. In the mornings they were responsible for scrubbing the decks. Captain Jim led the 8 to 12 watch, if the sun was shinning in the morning then it was time to shine the brass or practice your hand at celestial navigation. In the evenings, if the sky was clear, Jim would map out the stars of the southern hemisphere.

Everybody was encouraged to take part in watch duties whether it be steering the course at the helm, bracing yards, hauling on a halyard or standing lookout at the bow. In our time off watch duties there was plenty of time to laze about and read, play a board game, catch the latest gossip in the galley, play some music or just snooze on the poop deck in the sun. This long passage enabled all of the permanent crew and voyage crew to attend an in-depth lecture on Celestial Navigation. Captain Jim held daily classes instructing us on how to handle a sextant, how to take a sight and how to calculate and plot the ship’s position.

Aside from watch duties, the permanent crew are responsible for the ships maintenance. Each day the deckhands spend two hours attending to the ship’s rigging, timber/paint work, and sails. At present one deckhand is assigned the duty of day worker. I spent a week working as daylady. The scattered showers characteristic of the roaring 40’s did not allow for much paint work so to the rig it was!! I love working aloft, but working aloft in a five-six meter swell in a force 6 somewhere in the southern ocean was a challenge. Maintenance aloft that normally takes half an hour along side or at anchor became a very challenging and timely undertaking in a rolling sea! Nonetheless I loved it! Wandering albatrosses kept me company, circling the ship in anticipation of food from the ship’s galley. They are amazing creatures, the largest of all seabirds with a magnificent soaring flight on long curving wings.

On this long sea passage we have been fortunate enough to catch five yellow fin tuna Kenny takes the prize for the largest catch. The cooks have provided us with warming and fabulously flavoured meals, and they have found a variety of different ways to flavour the freshly caught fish.

April Fools Day did not pass without someone taking the opportunity to have a good gag. All were a little puzzled to find every head on the ship out of order, but perhaps the best gag of all came from the Captain. Jim had told everyone that they should expect a fly over from the New Zealand search and rescue patrol in the days to come so that they could test their equipment. Voyage crew and permanent crew were told that they could receive an aerial photograph from the New Zealand Search and Rescue of the ship at a small fee and that this photo would be sent to them. A message was received through the Sat C stating the approximate time and position that the NZ team would fly over Soren. Jim sent the word around the ship, that on the following morning...the 1st of April, the Search and Rescue team would fly overhead at 0600. In order to be part of the photo all would be woken for this momentos occasion! In the morning Jim made radio contact with the first Mate from the foward head on a handheld VHF. Once all were awake and on deck and the First Mate was confused and baffled by the no show from the Search and Rescue Party inspite of consistent radio contact and confirmation of their and our position, Jim finally gave up the the gag!!! A few sceptics were about but on the whole, Jim had us all fooled!

The male permanent crew provided endless comic relief with their mousache growing competition. Somehow the persona of Nate, Ulrich, Mikkel, Andy Nick and Dave changed considerable once they grew hair on their upperlip! On the last Sunday of our passage the competition finally came to a close. Voyage Crew Anne did a fantastic job compering the event. The all female panel of Judges voted
Nick “The man most likely to join the porn industry”
Dave as “The man most likely to be mistaken for a pirate”
Mikkel as “The man whose moustache was most likely to be mistaken for a fake one”
Eddie as “The man with the most flammable moustache”
Andy as “The man most likely to be mistaken for a walrus”
Nate as “The man your least likely to buy a used car from”
Kenny as “The man most likely to be mistaken for a transsexual”
Finally Ulrich won the award for “Best Effort”

On the 19th of April light airs and a minor problem in the engine room saw us becalmed. After two weeks with the wind free we hove to, the swim ladder was rigged and all took the opportunity to take a dip in 5000 meters of water. Boogie boards, a volleyball and tennis balls were thrown over the side to keep us all entertained. The warmth of the South Pacific was upon us, finally our woollen jumpers, beanies, and long johns were traded in for t-shirts, sun hat, board shorts and bikini’s. Yipeeee!

Land Ho! Land was sighted on Wednesday the 20th of April at 1305 by VC John from the Top Gallant. This passage has made for some fantastic sailing. The roaring 40’s provided us with consistent winds and the best days run was 184NM with an average speed of 6.48 knots. The total distance travelled was 4236NM with an average speed of 6.10 miles per hour. I can only remember a couple of days of light airs where we were forced to motor sail. "

Marita - April 2005

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