Sailing
into 2024
into 2024
30 knots of wind and 10 ft. waves
Lautoka, Fiji to Tauranga, New Zealand
Bula (hello) from Fiji!
At 20:30 on December 18th, I was aboard the MV Koha as we slipped the lines from the berth on Fiji's west coast and began the task of stowing lines, securing water-tight doors, and standing by the anchor windlass. We sailed west-southwest along the coast, then on a heading of nearly due south toward New Zealand.
Twenty-four hours later we were faced with the reality that this would be an exhausting sail as we weathered 30 knot winds with 3 m/10 ft. waves and a ground swell that was directly on the port beam. We rolled from side to side for three days sometimes heeling over 25 degrees.
On one of these rolls, I had just settled down in my bunk when I was thrown off and onto the deck. Sometimes even a seasoned mariner can face the unexpected!
But by the last day, the seas had calmed and the rolling had stopped. The outside temperature had cooled and by 06:30 on Christmas Eve we had entered the mouth of the Port of Tauranga and were tied up alongside.
The Koha will be docked in Tauranga as planning for the upcoming Summer 2024 medical mission continues, part of which will include ongoing maintenance of the vessel as well as training that starts in earnest in January.
At 20:30 on December 18th, I was aboard the MV Koha as we slipped the lines from the berth on Fiji's west coast and began the task of stowing lines, securing water-tight doors, and standing by the anchor windlass. We sailed west-southwest along the coast, then on a heading of nearly due south toward New Zealand.
Twenty-four hours later we were faced with the reality that this would be an exhausting sail as we weathered 30 knot winds with 3 m/10 ft. waves and a ground swell that was directly on the port beam. We rolled from side to side for three days sometimes heeling over 25 degrees.
On one of these rolls, I had just settled down in my bunk when I was thrown off and onto the deck. Sometimes even a seasoned mariner can face the unexpected!
But by the last day, the seas had calmed and the rolling had stopped. The outside temperature had cooled and by 06:30 on Christmas Eve we had entered the mouth of the Port of Tauranga and were tied up alongside.
The Koha will be docked in Tauranga as planning for the upcoming Summer 2024 medical mission continues, part of which will include ongoing maintenance of the vessel as well as training that starts in earnest in January.
Would you sow into 2024?
We are immensely grateful to each of our supporters this year. Your giving and prayers have made a remarkable impact on the ministry God has entrusted us with, even when the unexpected arises!
As we gear up for next year's mission work, would you pray about sowing into our 2024 journey? There's an abundance of work to be done, and to continue we need more ministry partners as we rely on the financial support of all our MAST Partners to make it a reality.
Would you give a one-time gift or begin partnering with us through monthly giving in 2024? You can give from the US and UK by clicking below.
Your year-end donation will make a SIGNIFICANT IMPACT as we support maritime medical missions globally.
Thank you, we are so grateful for your partnership!
- Matthew & Sherry
We are immensely grateful to each of our supporters this year. Your giving and prayers have made a remarkable impact on the ministry God has entrusted us with, even when the unexpected arises!
As we gear up for next year's mission work, would you pray about sowing into our 2024 journey? There's an abundance of work to be done, and to continue we need more ministry partners as we rely on the financial support of all our MAST Partners to make it a reality.
Would you give a one-time gift or begin partnering with us through monthly giving in 2024? You can give from the US and UK by clicking below.
Your year-end donation will make a SIGNIFICANT IMPACT as we support maritime medical missions globally.
Thank you, we are so grateful for your partnership!
- Matthew & Sherry
" I encourage you to partner financially with Matthew. He has the ability, knowledge, passion, and gift for passing on his extensive practical and theoretical knowledge to those serving God through limited tonnage ship ministries reaching remote and isolated locations"
Captain Taylor Perez, Unlimited Tonnage Master Mariner
MAST Partner
Captain Taylor Perez, Unlimited Tonnage Master Mariner
MAST Partner
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