Stage 2: Lake Wanaka
At the head of the lake, on a platform of lashed beech poles, I arranged the lighter Oregon pine logs, felled and transported from Wanaka. Gradually, I positioned the seven logs side by side so that their natural curve formed a slight arch – this would be the underside. Into this were cut deep notches to later protect the ropes. Next, I rolled the logs over, cut the four heavy braces, and lashed everything together with some two hundred metres of natural fibre rope which would later shrink to keep the logs tight.
Second raft, ready for launch, head of Lake Wanaka
Raft length: 7.5m / 24.6ft
Length with sweeps: 9.7m / 31.8ft
Width: 2m / 6.5ft
Mast: 5m / 16.4ft
Sail: 2.7m x 2.7m / 9ft x 9ft
For additional strength, lateral braces were added. The aft steering rowlock and sweep (large oar) were added. A narrow centre-deck of beech would keep provisions dry. In a manuka grove, I carefully selected the mast, a spar on which to fit the sail, and some light eight metre poles with which to guide the raft in shallow water. With a hand-auger, I drilled two vertical holes in the centre log at the bow, and drove in a heavy iron bollard (scrap reinforcing rod) that I had bent into an ‘n’ shape to attach a mooring rope.
After several days of work, I was met by friends, Jeff and Stu. We prepared the rigging, and launched. The raft was eight metres long by two and half metres wide, and weighed four and a half tonnes, with a sail three metres square. She was “Destiny 2”. After waiting a day for wind, Stu and I set sail from Makarora, down Lake Wanaka, at 8.30am on December 17.
The wind blew steadily from the north-west so we held a straight course until about 4pm when the wind turned, and we tacked to Mou Wahu (Pigeon Island) to make camp. A southerly blew throughout the night and much of the next day, but by 5pm we were again under sail with a favourable wind. The raft ploughed easily through rolling swells and white-caps a metre high. The wind rose. We tacked heavily to hold a course for the gap between Mou Tapu (Ram Island) and Stevenson’s Peninsula. While Stu managed the sail and rigging, I held course on the steering-oar, watching the leading marks on the distant landscape to see how well we were tacking. At last, the wind was too strong. We missed the gap by a few hundred metres, and turned south behind Mou Tapu (Ram Island) to run for West Wanaka before nightfall. The ropes strained. The sail pulled hard, and we flew the whole way, landing on an isolated beech at 9.30pm. Jeff was there to meet us.
The raft stayed moored at West Wanaka until December 25. There had been little wind and it had been another calm day, but I mulled the weather signs and banked on an evening breeze. Head Ranger Bill Hislop helped me get the raft out of the bay at West Wanaka, but I would sail alone. At 4pm, I hoisted the sail over glassy waters. Fortunately, the wind sprang up as I’d hoped, and at 8.30pm I sailed before a stiff breeze into Roy’s Bay, Wanaka, tying up as the sun passed behind the mountains.
After several days of work, I was met by friends, Jeff and Stu. We prepared the rigging, and launched. The raft was eight metres long by two and half metres wide, and weighed four and a half tonnes, with a sail three metres square. She was “Destiny 2”. After waiting a day for wind, Stu and I set sail from Makarora, down Lake Wanaka, at 8.30am on December 17.
Moored at West Wanaka
The raft stayed moored at West Wanaka until December 25. There had been little wind and it had been another calm day, but I mulled the weather signs and banked on an evening breeze. Head Ranger Bill Hislop helped me get the raft out of the bay at West Wanaka, but I would sail alone. At 4pm, I hoisted the sail over glassy waters. Fortunately, the wind sprang up as I’d hoped, and at 8.30pm I sailed before a stiff breeze into Roy’s Bay, Wanaka, tying up as the sun passed behind the mountains.
"I sailed before a stiff breeze into Roy's Bay."
