Webb Chiles has posted links to a local Opua Photographer who has some fantastic images in and around Opua.
Monday, 12 September 2016
Saturday, 10 September 2016
September sailing ctd
Monday Sep 5th - Tue Sep 6th
Good to be back on dock to clean up and catch up with a few jobs... cleaned up a few more things and added them to the 'Land-based Residential Address' aka Storage Locker B6.
Into Paihia and a lovely Indian Curry and even time to open an account at the Paihia BNZ - still was in the system after 20 years - will help access funds here in Opua at the ATM.
Into KeriKeri and New World to replenish supplies.
Still waiting for the Golden Pole to be delivered and eventually Hirondelle II nicked off and headed to Paroa Bay in a strong southerly (which I might add was to become a constant theme)
No joy from the rigger so I too left the dock late afternoon and head-sailed down around Tapeka Pt and motor-sailed into Paroa just on dark...
Wed Sep 7th
Strong winds continued and we hunkered down for the day... a little reading, a little relaxing etc. etc.
A lovely settled spot tucked in to the southern most corner of Paroa Bay. Just the right spot to escape the SW prevailing - right near a gorgeous red-roofed cottage, complete with boat-house!
Cabin fever got to Fenton and we agreed to head off in the morning...
Thursday Sep 8th
Winds predicted to be 20-25 kts early, rising to 40 kts so we headed out with some alacrity with the aim of TePuna inlet - a great spot to shelter from strong winds...
As soon as we nosed outside the bay at 0730 hrs we could see whitecaps to the north and I decided discretion was the better part and rounded up to put a couple of reefs in the main...
Which proved prudent as I watched Hirondelle repeated rounding up in the gusts coming around Tapeka. As we approached the point we both eased sheets and shot across on a broad reach toward Black Rocks, looking for an easier passage toward Kerikeri inlet. Reefed sails and 7-8 kts all the way with Kalai managing the conditions well. Harndening up very close to the rocks we could see a wild stretch of water ahead as we tightened sheets and tacked our way up the harbour. By now it was 30-35 kts gusting 40 and first Hirindelle and then Kalai 'bailed' and cranked up the engine into the teeth of the gale. Even shortening the tow-line didn't prevent the inflatable from flipping 360 deg a couple of times as we bludgeoned our way up harbour and north into TePuna.
The crater proved untenable and we agreed to try Cowles Bay - a good choice as we tucked into the lee of the bay. Still some bullets over the hills but a safe anchorage and good holding. A quiet night...with some medicinal G&T applied internally! A necessary ablative to the rapid temperature drop late afternoon from 15 to 8 deg!
A message from the rigger about a certain Golden Pole decided me to get up early at 0530 and underway by 0600.... 7 deg and 25 kts of cold southerly means a cold looking selfie!
Butting into sharp chop and strong headwind at 5.5 kts the new engine performed impecably..
The wind stayed constant and southerly all the way back...holding back a tide that was supposed to have turned an hour and half before meant that the entry into the dock was tricky indeed, especially for the solo sailor. With too much way on reverse was called for in a hurry as the 25+ kts ensured that I was grateful for the bumper bar to help stop momentum on the pier as the bow slid up and then slowly back to a halt... meanwhile the stern waltzed left and I disappeared over the bow to try and reign in the wayward antics...
Nice to be back safely was an understatement indeed!
Friday 9th - Saturday 10th
News from Hirondelle as they too head for home - meanwhile a hot shower and nice Marina Cafe coffee restored order - as they say here it is: "Cold as!" with snow down south and wild weather across the country.
Good to be back on dock to clean up and catch up with a few jobs... cleaned up a few more things and added them to the 'Land-based Residential Address' aka Storage Locker B6.
Into Paihia and a lovely Indian Curry and even time to open an account at the Paihia BNZ - still was in the system after 20 years - will help access funds here in Opua at the ATM.
Into KeriKeri and New World to replenish supplies.
Still waiting for the Golden Pole to be delivered and eventually Hirondelle II nicked off and headed to Paroa Bay in a strong southerly (which I might add was to become a constant theme)
No joy from the rigger so I too left the dock late afternoon and head-sailed down around Tapeka Pt and motor-sailed into Paroa just on dark...
Wed Sep 7th
Strong winds continued and we hunkered down for the day... a little reading, a little relaxing etc. etc.
A lovely settled spot tucked in to the southern most corner of Paroa Bay. Just the right spot to escape the SW prevailing - right near a gorgeous red-roofed cottage, complete with boat-house!Cabin fever got to Fenton and we agreed to head off in the morning...
Thursday Sep 8th
Winds predicted to be 20-25 kts early, rising to 40 kts so we headed out with some alacrity with the aim of TePuna inlet - a great spot to shelter from strong winds...
As soon as we nosed outside the bay at 0730 hrs we could see whitecaps to the north and I decided discretion was the better part and rounded up to put a couple of reefs in the main...
Which proved prudent as I watched Hirondelle repeated rounding up in the gusts coming around Tapeka. As we approached the point we both eased sheets and shot across on a broad reach toward Black Rocks, looking for an easier passage toward Kerikeri inlet. Reefed sails and 7-8 kts all the way with Kalai managing the conditions well. Harndening up very close to the rocks we could see a wild stretch of water ahead as we tightened sheets and tacked our way up the harbour. By now it was 30-35 kts gusting 40 and first Hirindelle and then Kalai 'bailed' and cranked up the engine into the teeth of the gale. Even shortening the tow-line didn't prevent the inflatable from flipping 360 deg a couple of times as we bludgeoned our way up harbour and north into TePuna.
The crater proved untenable and we agreed to try Cowles Bay - a good choice as we tucked into the lee of the bay. Still some bullets over the hills but a safe anchorage and good holding. A quiet night...with some medicinal G&T applied internally! A necessary ablative to the rapid temperature drop late afternoon from 15 to 8 deg!
Butting into sharp chop and strong headwind at 5.5 kts the new engine performed impecably..
 |
| Early morning and motoring home into 25 kts of cold southerly |
The wind stayed constant and southerly all the way back...holding back a tide that was supposed to have turned an hour and half before meant that the entry into the dock was tricky indeed, especially for the solo sailor. With too much way on reverse was called for in a hurry as the 25+ kts ensured that I was grateful for the bumper bar to help stop momentum on the pier as the bow slid up and then slowly back to a halt... meanwhile the stern waltzed left and I disappeared over the bow to try and reign in the wayward antics...
Nice to be back safely was an understatement indeed!
Friday 9th - Saturday 10th
News from Hirondelle as they too head for home - meanwhile a hot shower and nice Marina Cafe coffee restored order - as they say here it is: "Cold as!" with snow down south and wild weather across the country.
September sailing
Tuesday August 30th
- Easy flight in front row, though just dozed off and on
- Collected bag and through Customs with no hassles (Home baking OK!)
- On shuttle and into town by 6:10, breakfast at Maccas
- Coffee at 0710 then onto Mana Bus (about a dozen passengers) and for the first time in living memory we by-passed Takapuna depot and Albany, first stop at Warkworth.
- A showery day that improved the further north we went. A 15 min stop in Whangarei and we still were at Opua hill before 11 am!
- An easy walk down the hill and onto E-pier once more.
- Fenton and Jim already ensconced and pleasantries exchanged.
- Kalai looked pretty good, bottom still clean and not too much mould.
- Unpacked, collected mail and then off to KeriKeri to provision with the prospect of some fine conditions for the rest of the week. Got enough food for a week or so and then back to dock.
- Arranged to look at the Marina's storage lockers and decided to rent a small (3.5 m3) one for six months to free up some space on the boat. Nice and secure inside a building with an alarm system and my new padlock!
Wednesday August
31st
Away early at 0800 and motored out towards Tapeka in light winds. After some discussion we decided to head south in the light NW winds predicted rather than try for Whangaroa. Raised sail before Paihia and eased out past the point before tacking in light airs around the north end of Moturua and then a long board out towards Cape Brett then squeezed through inside Piercy before having to motor-sail clear as the wind shifted and head us. Soon after dropped sail and motored down to Whangamumu with the lightest of Northerlies and a slight Easterly swell. Anchored about 400m off the shore and settled down for the night.
Thursday September 1st
- Still light early as we headed back out through the narrow entrance and headed south. We'd had a little roll that night with a slight easterly swell getting through. An easy run down the coast with Fenton hugging the shore line. We were joined by a pod of four dolphins who proceeded to stay with me for half an hour...
...later a fine tacking duel was had as we sped around the entrance to Whangaruru harbour and then came hard on the nose as we poked northward into this fine protected harbour, anchoring just to the west of the island near the head of the harbour... a quiet night.
Jim in the really little boat! 
Friday September 2ndA leisurely start to another fine day and we motored south out of the entrance as the breeze kicked in and I decided to break out the Gennaker and headed east off-shore to take advantage of a building NW. Back toward the coast Elizabeth reef was clearly visible at low tide and then I gybed away again and headed SE, dowsing the big sail as the wind built and we rocketed on a broad reach into Tutakaka harbour doing 7-8 kts. D14 and D20 were waiting for us as was a shower and a visit from B and R. Raewyn and Steve joined us for tea at the Pizzeria and we slept soundly in a calm berth.Saturday September 3rd
A
shallow front brought some showers overnight and we got away early
hoping to get north before the wimd shifted from the SW. Changing
conditions meant a frustrating trip back up the coast with the wind
shifting and then dying before strengthening again as we tried to get
to Mimiwhangata. Fairly exposed I wasn't too happy about
overnighting there and so we agreed to head back up to the head of
Whangaruru for the night, anchoring off the 'Green house' in calm
conditions.
Sunday September 4th motored out in deceptively calm conditions... on a cloudy morning... and just kept on motoring for three hours into a stiff northerly that was predicted to be 25 – 35kts. Through the gap and the wind died completely the north side of Brett. Slowly the breeze filled in and we reached across to Albert Channel and into Urupukapuka (known as 'poo-emergency' Bay – for good reason! I decided to try and fix the blocked toilet which had slowed froma slow empty to a complete stop the day before. Fenton 'volunteered' as Sanitary advisor and lived to regret the day as he became ankle deep in shite – unable to stop the “too much pressure” from the newly freed contents of the fermented header tank...
Needless to say we were keen to get back to dock and after a bail and sponge clean up of the offending load we headed off under headsails tight reaching in 15-20 knots of NW all the way back to harbour...
Lady Jane - a Hartley 32 on our mooring
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