In memory of your life Russ: born July 24, 1942, died November 30, 2013
We said goodbye on our yacht Zulu, 190 miles off of Norfolk Island, Pacific Ocean.
Deep peace of the running of the waves to you.
You went by water, and your song went with the wind.
We miss you, and will look for you where the oceans meet the shores.
Until then, rest in peace here--in part--at Cape Reigne.
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We leave Russ--in part--at Cape Reigne, Northland, New Zealand where the Tasman and Pacific oceans meet.
December 5, 2013
Perfect Departure: a tribute to an American yachtsman--Russ Nason; yachts people; and Norfolk Islanders who stood by me.
Russ Nason has journeyed on to the other side. Arise my love, my fair one and come away.
Saturday, November 30 yacht Zulu sailed a virtual rum line headed for Norfolk Island, and thereafter New Zealand. Two other yachts, Donella and Sweet As, hid behind our horizon.
It was a light-wind, sun shining day. The sky was clear and matched the cerulean blue flat seas.
My husband of 38 years, Russell Nason, looked up to the mast and sails contemplating. His image was picture perfect: slight in build, wisps of sun-bleached silver-blonde hair a fringe beneath his Hawaiian cap. Shorts. That was his uniform for the day.
The sails flapped and we lowered them and switched on the ‘iron jenny’—the Izuzu engine.
He took a sponge bath to freshen up, cut a few wedges of fresh lime, and opened an ice-cold Manta beer. I shared a few sips: so refreshing. All was perfect.
At GMT 01.32.30, Lat S 25 Degrees 29.450 and Long E 167 Degrees 50.217 E he collapsed on the cockpit floor: eyes as blue as the seas locked with mine momentarily with an unspoken message that his appointment with death had arrived—instantly.
Between CPR and a May Day call I scanned the horizon. Slowly the two yachts cut slim lines into my vision. Within an hour and a half the yachts were at my side. Sweet As lowered their tender into the water and attached the outboard.
Crew, Sepp (Josef Koch), was transferred from Donella to Zulu and Christian Eckhoff, a sailing icon, boarded. We carried Russ to his bunk where he lay in peace for his last passage.
A night of brilliant stars hung over us as Zulu continued on. Donella and Sweet As-- angels of light--within range.
Sunday, December 1 dawned gray. We sailed into the night Front with 26-knot winds-rain-lightening—going on adrenalin.
Norfolk Island emerged Monday, December 2 behind a curtain of mist and wind and rain. We kept Phillip Island on our Port and Sepp and I brought Zulu to anchor in Sidney Bay, alongside Donella.
Torrential rain poured down and I went into a dream-like mode as I fell into the compassionate ‘arms’ of Norfolk Islanders. The customs—Kevin Randall—and police—Matt Lee and Shaun Pines, and Cheryl—and the hospital enterprise personnel, to include a doctor andTony Gallagher and boat operator, Morg.
All stood by me professionally as they processed my story. Borry Evans provided a haven of shelter at Daydreamer Apartments and a car where I could regain balance and strength to face this ‘mountain’ of sorrow.
Rumours restaurant became the center of gravity for those on the three yachts to get ready for passage to NZ. Donella was now short of two crew. Information exchanged, fruit and vegetables given, an additional crew found—sweet, young Jacob McNamara with his beautiful mother, Polly’s blessing.
At 4:00 PM, Tuesday, December 3 I drove Borry’s car to the pier—encouraged by Di Garner from Rumours. Islanders gathered to watch as Christian off Donella ferried the captains and crew to the three yachts rolling at anchor.
Bullitt fast—with experience gained through South African surf—he raced his original German crew—Sepp and Werner to Zulu; Rob, a Master Mariner Kiwi, and his Australian wife Kim to Sweet As; and Jacob to Donella for his entrance onto the stage of ocean passage.
Islanders gathered to watch them leave. Di Garner, Robyn McQuade, Polly McNamara, Florence Anderson, Daniel Williams, Borry Evans—and other colourful locals.
There was joy and happiness shared as Sweet As and Donella pulled anchor and cut across the gap with Phillips Island to Starboard. Sails at an angle cut through blue skies in a Monet-like painting.
Zulu struggled to pull anchor by hand—the alternator had stopped working. As the sun slipped down the skies we looked through Daniel and Polly’s binoculars as Sepp and Werner on Zulu persisted until dusk. Their figures on deck silhouettes.
We shouted for joy on the pier and waved as we saw the anchor raised. Slowly Zulu motored into the wind, the main sail fluttered zigzag fashion up the mast, and she turned and sailed away into darkness.
I held on to a red hibiscus from Di, a jacket from Florence, and the strength of those around me: feeling Russ’ spirit following Zulu. Although the chill was in the air, it was perfect departure—for both my fair-haired husband and his yacht Zulu.
THANK YOU Norfolk, Donella, Sweet As, and Zulu for standing by—tall as the island pines—in finalizing Russ and my ocean journey. Thank you Lomasa and Chipa for your prayers.
NB: I heard the words of an unknown song play: “There are stars in the Southern Sky if you feel you should go. Taste of time. Sweet as honey. Down the 7-bridges road.”
At Daydreamer Polly and Daniel drank tea with me. Their gifts of fruit and milk brought comfort. My Persian rose candle burnt. I slept in a day dream as the rain poured down until bird song called in the morning.
The End of the Voyage of Yacht Zulu.
These pictures will tell a story.
Zulu is back in the water with bottom painted at Vuda Marina, Fiji. Service staff we befriended come to say goodbye. Russ joins them as they sing the Fijian Goodbye song. I listen from the decks of Zulu and cry tears of joy.
Lunch on passage to New Caledonia. Catching a Mahi Mahi as we enter Havannah channel. Sunset in Baie du Prony.
Russ blacked out diving here, with Christian off Donella and Rob and Kim off Sweet As, at Ilse Mato, a reef within a reef.
Russ’ life is cut down in the cockpit of Zulu by a heart attack and his life taken painlessly and instantly. Christian Eckhoff off SV Donella answers my May Day call 5 miles away, and he and yacht Sweet As come to my Rescue. Sepp, crew on Donella, is transferred from Zulu to sail with me to Norfolk.
Three boats at anchor--Zulu to right. Christian ferrying crew to Sweet As (Rob and Kim) and Donella (new crew Jacob): Zulu’s new crew—Werner and Sepp; Marilyn saying goodbye.
Norfolk islanders on the pier--there for me to watch the boats leave: Kevin Randall from customs, Borry Evans who gave me shelter at Daydreamer and a car; Di Gardner with me and Florence Anderson; Florence and Robyn McQuade; Polly McNamara, Daniel Williams and Knightly looking on.
John Anderson—Christian’s HAM radio and weather contact and friend on Norfolk—and Florence his beautiful wife.
Constable Cheryl Snell came by to say goodbye; Lomasa, Jipa, and Betty service staff at the Daydreamer apartments from Fiji and Vanuatu—my island source of strength.
Kevin Randall and Shaun Pine from customs and police—my guardian angels—at my side at the airport; Morg--boatsman and Polly, mother of Jacob crew on Donella; and so many more there to say goodbye. (Detective Senior Constable Matt Lee—also my guardian angel—was off island at this time).
Sunset at Port Morelle, Noumea; Zulu struggling with raising anchor Sidney Bay, Norfolk Island—her captain ashore.
The end of a brave and adventurous sailor, my soul mate—man whose heart was with the sea.
A Perfect Departure!
Beach Hibiscus given to me by Russ for our May 18, 2013 wedding anniversary in Albert Cove, Fiji.
We will remember you:
Children: Ian, Vanessa, Sarah
Sisters: Bev, Patty, Sue, Diana
Brother: Leigh
All his extended family, friends and fellow sailors so very dear to his heart
Arise my love, my fair one and come away……..
Marilyn, soul mate for life
Tribute to Christian Eckhoff my life line. And thanks from the bottom of my heart to Sepp and Werner who took Zulu safely to NZ; and Rob and Kim who stood by on Sweet As.
Thank you to Mike and Julie Gannaway, who were life lines and here for me in Auckland with my friend for life---Heike.
Christian Eckhoff off yacht Donella--my life line and sailing icon from my province of Natal, South Africa where I grew up--based in Bay of Islands, NZ
This blog is hurriedly put together as I reel in shock.......I hurry to post from Jet Park Hotel in Auckland near airport waiting my children's arrival with my friend for life, Heike--Christiane's daughter
September 25-27, 2013
Settling in; Sarah's bachelorette dinner;
Dinner after the rehearsal closes pre-wedding highlights at the Pavilions.
Settling in
It is not hard to do. Drive down the long driveway of the Estate. Entre and smile big as Dannel gives us each a beautiful Orchid lei.
Regain our breath at the sight of this most gorgeous, rich cherry-floored home and Hawaiian ocean setting.
Meet Lynn for the first time--Dannel’s mother.
Sarah shows us to our room with a million-dollar ocean view and en-suite bathroom.
Find a cold drink, strike a few poses on the deck, and choose a chair to relax in.
That was easy! It’s a done deal. We are settled in!
Mahalo Sarah and Dannel for including your family on this 5-day stay at the Pavilions on the edge of a sea cliff on Kauai’s North Shore.
WOW is the word! And we dream on into the tropical night.
View from Russ and my Pavilions’ bedroom--Nirvana.
Striking initial poses on the deck of The Pavilions at the edge of a sea cliff, Kilauea, Kauai: Ian; Dannel and Russ; Vanessa, Ian, and Sarah.
Next we choose a chair to settle in with a cold drink: I choose the horizontal chez lounge; Sarah a cushioned swivel rattan bucket chair; Vanessa ditto, and gives thumbs up with her toe; Sarah tries the couch out with Dannel as backdrop; Ian fits into his tropical comfort zone.
Dannel does not sit down: he stands on a rock confirming the choice of venue as ‘the place to be’. He walks back—with a wave--from the edge of the cliff, where he will soon become a married man.
The sun sets as we dream on into this tropical night.
Dinner on deck our first night, with Sarah’s friend—Dana-from-Portland—joining us.
Sarah’s bachelorette dinner
It is an American custom for the bride’s maid to organize a ‘night out’ for the bride and include all the women she has invited to the wedding.
It usually includes a dinner out and, thereafter, a follies-sort-of-show with only the young and pretty girls joining in this. I think the ‘follies’ did not happen that night, just a few drinks in Hanalei Bay.
Vanessa arranged dinner at the Lighthouse Bistro—on my suggestion--where there was supposed to be slack key guitar music. The guitarist did not show to play, and the food was so, so, hmmmmm (sorry), but the company was what was important.
Toward the end of dinner, a woman came up to me and asked if I was Marilyn. Turns out she is the 2nd wife of Bert, a very good friend from 30-plus years ago whom we met in Tonga.
Bert managed the King of Tonga’s vanilla plantations! And showed up at the same Bistro in Kauai the night we were there. Sooo amazing. He said he recognized me, because I had not changed a bit. Smile.
See all the happy faces of Sarah with her Aunts and friends, who graced her with their presence from California, Oregon, and Washington.
First, the Bride-to-Be ready for her Bachelorette dinner; with her only mother –in-the-world—Marilyn. What a beautiful moment! As beautiful as a perfect, perfumed flower.
Dinner with Sarah’s aunts, girl friends, and Vanessa and I at the Lighthouse Bistro in Kilauea, Kauai.
Close ups: My darling twin girls--Sarah and Vanessa; Vanessa and Aunt Bev; Sarah and Aunt Patty; Sarah, Dana, and Aunt Diana; Aunt Bev, Sarah, and Lynn—Dannel’s mother; yours truly giving the imperfected royal wave; my dream girl, Sarah, and I; Lisa, Sarah, and Amy—all went to nursing school together in Ashland, Oregon.
Bert—our friend from 30-plus years ago with Vanessa and Sarah. We knew him in Tonga and by chance he was at the same restaurant as we were this night. What chance!
Dinner after the rehearsal closes pre-wedding highlights at the Pavilions.
No pictures. Just the excitement of 26 people—friends and family--arriving for light fare and refreshing drinks with swims to follow in a Kauai tropical night. What an honour.
Aloha to you all!
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