I’m about a week late with a blog, but nothing has really happened since Thursday.
So on Thursday I went out with Dad to do my six am training. There was no wind, it was a nice clear pre-dawn morning. We went out and I paddled straight out to Matiu as I usually would. About half or two thirds of the way out the wind sky-rocketed. In about a minute the weather went from calm to insane. Wind and blinding rain, it took me a few minutes to make the decision but I turned around and head back to Petone.
As I turned I searched for Dad but it was still too dark to see him; I slowly paddled in against the howling wind and rain. I looked around for Dad and couldn’t see him. And I still couldn’t see him when I got to shore either. When I reached the shore I waited for about twenty minutes before calling 111 for help. They put me through to a dispatcher and mobilised the coastguard. It was after dawn, and a squad car pulled up and asked me for more details.
About an hour later at about seven forty the harbour pilot boat saw him in between Matiu and Petone paddling back. They pretty much followed him all the way in. By this time a couple of guys from the harbour masters office had turned up, so there was quite a greeting party when Dad arrived. They gave us a bit of a grilling which sunk in pretty quickly.
This was really our first real example of how quick weather can change, have a look at the pictures. It goes from nine kilometres per hour to forty and back very quickly. I usually check the wind in Petone at the time we go down, but I don't check a short forecast. I definitely will be in future.
C
Harbour.
Wind spiking like crazy.
Weather warning.