Yesterday was a rainy, cold day. Today the sun shone brightly. Seems appropriate here in Opua as we await the arrival of the sailing vessel Adventure Bound. Adventure Bound is the sailboat that went to the rescue of Windigo, the boat that rolled in the storm coming from Tonga. To go to their rescue Adventure Bound had to turn into 50 knot winds and bash back north. No easy task in that storm.

They stayed nearby Windigo until the large container ship and ultimately the New Zealand Navy could rescue them. The detour cost not only time, but equipment failure too. We hear that their wind vane was damaged in the high winds and waves. The cruisers gathering in Opua have patiently tracked Adventure Bound’s progress (through two more gales!) and are very excited about their arrival. We have just heard Adventure Bound on the VHF making their way to the Q dock. Cruisers are family and very supportive of each other. A welcome card was signed and donations were gathered from cruisers as well as local merchants to help Adventure Bound with repairs as well as to tell them how proud we are of them. The boat yard has offered a free slip for a week. The local grocery store has a bag full of goodies. There are boat cleaning services and even two nights at a local hotel awaiting them.

Our job: present the gift to Bruce and Marcelle on behalf of the cruisers. This has kept us near the marina all day. The local TV station has had a camera man nearby ready for the big arrival. We hope to be able to go to Q dock and pull in their lines. Time will tell. A quick side note: Adventure Bound is also a Tayana 37. Bruce, from Adventure Bound, says he wants to change their name. He told us that the very first time we met them in Papeete. He thinks it is a ridiculous sounding name and when he can afford to, he intends to change it. On the radio a few days after the storm, he reaffirmed this stand acknowledging that who wouldn’t want to be rescued by ADVENTURE BOUND?!?!? Perhaps if they had been named Tinkerbell their services would not have been requested. I think we should come up with the top ten new names for Adventure Bound! Evening update:

Adventure Bound has arrived in New Zealand to the loud cheers of many fans at the yacht club. Bob took the TV camera man and rowed over to the Q (Quarantine) Dock with the champagne and bag full of good wishes and donations. Many people were concerned that this “infraction” of Q dock rules (only Customs officials are to have access to the boats on the Q dock) would land Bob in trouble with the local authorities. Bob was confident that an apology to customs officials (if any could be found on a Sunday) for pushing the rules after the fact would be appropriate. As of this moment no apology is needed. Customs are no-where to be seen until Monday morning. Bruce and Marcelle were thrilled with the goodies and happy for the welcoming hug that Bob represented.

Now the heroes sleep comfortably tied up to a dock for the first time in 19 days.