Winter cruising... tough life!

I thought they said that winter was no time to go sailing - well, I reckon it's some of the best times... albeit a little chilly but with great consistent winds if you are a sailor.

I left Opua early Tuesday morning with a likely weather window promising only scattered showers - which around here in the summer is no biggy, but in the winter these are often accompanied by winds of anything from 20-35kts (just saying - need to be prepared... more on that later)

While exiting the marina, who should I spot but Robert from Sea North in his barge along with Blake from NRC loitering around the spot where our mooring was last seen...

Ahh, I think, it looks like they've hooked something!

Sure enough - up she comes... mooring chain including the missing 'Fergie' Buoy (no relation!)

sunken fergie buoy sees the light of day

Mud coated 2 tonne concrete block

See the gash in the buoy...

Looks like it was found right about where it used to be, so can't have dragged very for if at all before the buoy was holed and the tethers severed by the 30 tonne wrecking machine that destroyed Sala.  

Robert has since reinstated the mooring back in place (with a 'normal' mooring buoy this time!

Meanwhile I headed back down the estuary and on past Tapeka point in 10-12 kts of fresh SW breeze.  Emboldened I pulled out 'Herbie' the Gennaker and set him loose!  Even managed a gybe as I headed north and the speed gradually climbed through 6 to 7 and over 8 knots as we flew along... and rounded up in a huge broach!
(Which felt a little like this picture!)  Quickly dropped the main and went forward (Where's Canny when you need him?) only to find the retrieval line for the sock was merrily streaming horisontally approx 12m above my noggin.  Plan B consisted regretfully lowering the halyard slowly and hauling in yards of nylon the old fashioned way - did I mention the squall was helping considerably by blowing like stink while I was hove to?


Somewhat chastened and lesson learned about large sails and single-handed sailing...

Anchored in a deserted Waiwhapuku bay for the night.  Very peaceful. Has one of my favourite views out to the SE...

Next morning was spent drying out aforementioned Herbie from his unforeseen early baptism and taking of ease...

Motor-sailed across to Parorenui bay, just opposite Omakiwi cove for the night.   This shot is looking due North-East out the channel which leads to Cape Brett. 

Beautiful spot.

  This view is more NW back towards Waiwhapuku bay.

This morning (24th) I decided to make a sailing day - ended up arriving 'home' around 7 hours and 60 kms later having begun in benign breezes and finished in  brisk 15-kt Sou-westerlies with squalls accompanying.  Reefed the genoa a fraction and flattened the main - 6+ knots hard on the nose - no wurries! Even managed to get the inclinometer to nearly 40 deg (fully under control, of course:)