Sailing and an overnighter...

Great patch of weather in the Winterless North (I hear it has been raining in Melbourne) - too good to sit around the dock contemplating my list of jobs.  Last time I spent 15 days here I sailed on three of them and the rest of the time was spent either on the hard or waiting for the storm fronts to pass.  

So Carpe Diem, as they say, and yesterday afternoon I set with a beautiful Northwester up my date (Kiwi for wind from behind!)

Making 6-7.5 kts on  a broad reach through to Tapeka point then eased sheets and cruised through behind Roberton Island and with a fading breeze dropped the pick in Waipiro bay... Still a breeze blowing through the gap in the hills, but gradually calmed down as the day faded.

Tiller Pilot steers great - allows careful skippers to take photos from up forward! No drama at over 7 knots on a calm sea...

 Beautiful sunset ...
...and only moored boats in sight - aahh the serenity!

This morning, no doubt to the singular amazement of close family members,  I was up early and under way by 0700 with a cup of char and a zephyr to steer by I ghosted out past Urupukapuka and through the last of the islands, close-hauling out toward Cape Brett before tacking back in a building Northerly breeze., 

B

 Under a cloudy sky the breeze strengthened to near 20 kts and I even wound in the Genoa (albeit briefly)a few turns to ease the strain - my newly mounted inclinometer in the cockpit had us on a tight reach at 15-20 deg most of the way back to Tapeka Point, then sheets eased and powered up the estuary on a flooding spring tide.

Home, showered, shaved and shampooed to await the arrival of Canny Caston tonight bringing more gear and edible supplies for our Labour Weekend expedition.

I've already sailed more than the whole of the last trip over - must have my priorities right this time, I reckon.  Jobs can wait for rainy days!!!