Tag Archives: provisions

Provisions for the Remote Islands

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We prepare to live in very remote, isolated islands with very little access to modern grocery stores.  It requires a lot of planning, shopping, organization, and storage.  This blog outlines our process to prepare the boat for the provisions.

We have a 7-page excel spreadsheet with our “normal” provisions.  It includes everything we use on a daily basis like spices, cheese, pastas, cleaning agents, beauty, oils, sauces, etc…It takes me 2 days to go through our inventory and check it against our current stock, then notate it on the spreadsheet to determine what is needed.  I pull everything out of the cabinets, pantries, and drawers to check expiration dates, quality, and stock.

Once I have my list I show it to Matt, the chef to ensure he is happy with the new shopping list.  And off we go.

Big Box Stores

We are lucky enough to have one Costco in New Zealand.  The problem is that it is located in Auckland.  So, we borrow our friend’s car and make a big run to the “city.” Strangely enough, NZ Costco does not accept US Costco members so we have to join the NZ Costco.  While we are there, we also stop at Martha’s Backyard which has a lot of American items.  We also swing by the Dive Doctor to get compressor oil, and a few other stops.

We come back to empty the car and head back out again to Pak N Save.  This will be the first of many stops to the grocery store.  But since we have a car, we decide to get the heavy items (canned goods, water bottles, etc…)

Can you tell I love to bake?  We have (3) 5lb bags of flour (to go with the 15lbs we already have on the boat), 6lbs of white sugar, 6lbs of brown sugar, tons of granola bars, and 12 bags of baking chips (to go with the 4lbs onboard).

We purchased a lot of meats at Costco.  This requires us to unwrap each package and vacu-seal the meat.  Vacu-sealing the meat helps the meat last longer, prevents freezer burn, and helps us store the meat more efficiently.  But it does take a lot of effort.

While Matt is vacu-sealing the meat, I am marking each can with its ingredients, pealing off the labels, and wrapping the bottom of the can with painters tape.  We remove the labels because “weebles/bugs” like to hide in the glue.  We tape the bottom of the can as it prevents them from rusting.  It is all a process.

Matt re-packed 48 chicken boobs, 12 packs of bacon, and 6 packs of pork shoulder (future pulled port).  We later went back and got several racks of ribs, and meat and veggie patties.

More Provisions

We ordered our beer from Countdown (Woolworth) because they deliver.  I spoke to the super helpful liquor manager and he was able to procure Matt’s beer (never stored cold).  I then ordered our Allan Scot Rose and my Malibu pre-mixed drinks from Wine.central.com and they delivered.  Much easier for us.  This should last us awhile!

And two more large provision runs…

Our blog posts run 10-12 weeks behind live events.  This blog post occurred in Mid-May.  We complete the final touches on Sugar Shack just before we splash.

Santa's Sleigh

Supply Ship Arrival is Like Christmas

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The Gambiers are very remote and only receive a supply ship once every 3-4 weeks.  Over the holidays it becomes even more infrequent.  The main village of Rikitea located on Mangareva received a supply ship in late November, then one in January and then the one we caught at the end of February.  The ship in January had no gasoline so the entire archipelago was out of “sans plumb.”  We were lucky in that the Nuku Hao supply ship was scheduled to arrive within a week after we arrived (the February ship).  Great timing for us!

It is a big deal when the ship comes as the locals receive packages, supplies, parts, cars, scooters, building materials, and pretty much anything that is needed from Tahiti.  The magasins (markets) get all of their fresh produce and goods to stock their shelves.  So, the island life stops as we know it to greet the ships.

Nuku Hao Supply Ship #1

At 0600, the first of two ships arrived.  You can see it coming down the channel (behind the sailboat), during sunrise.

Arrival of the Supply Ship

Arrival of the Supply Ship

The supply ship lowers two pangas to use as “bow thrusters” and help guide them to the dock.  It is amazing to me that they lower these pangas, with people inside them while underway. 

Pangas are used as bow thrusters

Pangas are used as bow thrusters

The pangas use their wooden bow with minimal protection to “ram” the supply ship and move her into place.  The ships captain cannot see the pangas from his perch, so the drivers of the pangas have to have a lot of faith in their own skills – to not get squished.

Pangas expertly maneuvering the hsip

Pangas expertly maneuvering the hsip

Organized Chaos

We went to shore around 10:00 to witness the activity first hand.  The supply ship had been docked for about 3 hours and the dock was bustling with movement.   They have two cranes that lift and lower the containers from the ship to the dock. 

Containers, containers, everywhere

Containers, containers, everywhere

Then forklifts move the containers and boxes away from the boat to make room for more.  Dozens and dozens of containers were unloaded.  Usually they have one fork lift on either end (one goes backwards while the other forward).  Really amazing.

Moving the containers on shore

Moving the containers on shore

The island is fueled by propane (kitchens) and they were very low on supply in the islands.  So, lots and lots and lots of propane bottles were delivered.  Locals bring their empty bottles in exchange for full ones. 

Anything and everything is delivered

Propane bottles - restocking the island

Propane bottles – restocking the island

The gasoline and diesel are delivered in 200-liter barrels.  The locals bring their empty barrels in exchange for full ones.  As an outsider, we can purchase one 200-liter barrel of diesel but not gasoline.   Gasoline has to be pre-ordered or purchased directly from the local magasins (for about $50 per 5 gallons).  Locals can purchase an open container (lower photo) have it filled and shipped to them. They meet with the foreman, provide payment and paperwork, and he tells them which numbered box is theirs.

Fuel and Personal Carts

Fuel and Personal Carts

I witnessed some funny things while on the dock.  I am sure most of it would never be allowed in the States.  A local purchased a 200-liter drum of fuel.  He backed his hatchback to the dock and had a forklift deposit the heavy barrel into the back.  What???  The bottom photo are the locals waiting for individual packages to be unpacked.

200-liter barrel to go?

200-liter barrel to go?

The fork lifts drive right inside the containers to remove pallets of beverages, food, and supplies.  Of course, we found the pallets of Hinano (local beer).

Hmmmm...beer by the pallet

Hmmmm…beer by the pallet

I went around to the bow of the supply ship to see the damage caused by the pangas.  I was surprised the metal ship had so many dents from the wooden pangas.  But both the pangas and the supply ship had obvious damage.

Changing of the Guards / Ships

Damage by the bow thrusters?

Damage by the bow thrusters?

The Nuku Hao supply ship finished unloading and repacking the ship around 1800.  By 1900 it left the dock and was out of the channel.    By 2100 the Taporo Supply Ship was pulling into the harbor.  What a lucky day!  Both supply ships arrived.  The Taporo carries more of the fresh produce and frozen goods.  It was raining when she arrived so we did not go to the dock to witness this madness.  We did however, go ashore several hours later to raid the magasins for fresh produce.

Taporo Supply Ship

Taporo Supply Ship

The Taporo brought all of the jet fuel for the airport

Jet Fuel

Jet Fuel

Although two ships came to deliver supplies, we realized that they still did not bring certain items like cabbage which is normally a staple.  Odd.  We will have to find a local who grows them.  Because we are in the Gambiers, very fertile islands, the search will continue for fresh produce.