Day 12

Boxing Day

Christmas was a celebrated a little differently by many of the crew standing in shirt sleeves sipping a glass of wine.

Christmas meal as expected on Lord Nelson was fantastic. After the meal the crew retired to the bar for festive games and fun. Many of the games came from secret Santa’s gifts. One new game was farkling – a DICE game from medieval times. The name farkle derives from when one fails to score.

The custom’s official was a little surprised to receive passports from men with painted nails.

The pilot arrived at 10.30am and we left the docks with a friendly blast from the pilot boats horn. We were able to reciprocate with our horn when passing the sailability dinghies sailing outside the harbour entrance. Otis one of the sailors had been on a previous voyage.

blog13  blog12

Sailability dinghies

Course 130 towards the Chatham Islands and onward to Cape Horn. The wind is not yet set fair but we expect strong winds later.

NZ lost to view at 14.30.

Forward port.