Winter Solace

Last week I was privileged to attend the Carey Baptist College Conference 'Home or Away' on Sport and Leisure.  Some great speakers from UK and US as well as Australia!  We were able to hear Ian Foster, one of the All Black coaches, speak at the dinner on Wed night where he spoke of some of the key aspects that had made this team perform so well, particularly in recent years.

He talked about a triangular approach where performance, earning and fun were considered equally important in the development of good coaching practice, combining to form the right motivation to succeed.  He spoke at some length how they had worked hard to combine honest conversations and good discipline/boundaries that both contributed to a healthy culture.  Seems to be working!

My presentation on the experience of sports chaplaincy in times of chaos, crisis and calm during my tenure at Melbourne Storm was supplemented by including an interview with NZ Warriors Coach, Steve Kearney, who graciously agreed to spend an hour speaking of his experiences and the challenges of playing/coaching over the years.  All in all a great experience!

Next stop was Ngunguru as I went to spend a couple of days with the beloved Barrington and Ruby - not how I have recruited Barry to be a Storm supporter with the issue of a team jacket!

The estuary was calm and the promise of a good patch of weather had me heading north Saturday morning - with a stop in KeriKeri to fill a gas bottle and stock up on supplies for the coming week.  



Sunday dawned fine as I left early in motoring in calm seas with almost no breeze.  Paragliders were rampant in the mild winter conditions of the Far North - though I wouldn't have wanted to dip into the 12 deg water too far!

On out past Tapeka Pt where I stopped the engine and slowly drifted along as the obligatory morning coffee was brewed...

Stingray (Waiti) bay for lunch and then a gentle breeze filled in to allow a sail out around the islands and in through the channel to Urupukapuka Bay, where for two days I had the Bay to myself in crystal clear water and clear skies.  Brilliant!

Lots of walks and rowing exercise...

On Tuesday I up-anchored and slowly cruised through to another favourite, Opunga Cove, where I settled in for the night after the obligatory row around to the next bay and back.  Even braved a late afternoon warm shower in the cockpit - daytime temps had got up to 18 deg and wasn't dropping much below 12 at night.

Wednesday' forecast was for an evening change with a 'Big Wet' due to arrive overnight, so I pottered back up the estuary late afternoon to dock with ease just before full tide.  Sure enough, Thursday and Friday brought strong northerlies and heavy rainfalls... flooding the carpark at times!

Walked around the foreshore yesterday afternoon and caught up with Dennis and Rosie, caretakers of the apartment we stayed in last Feb - good to see them again.  

Today (Saturday) has seen the weather improve to the odd shower and I reckon Victor Vitus might even get an outing later today ...  

Met the crew of Rousser, a Tartan 37, just down the pier who were getting prepared to head up to Tonga tomorrow.  A young couple (Sarah and ?)with an older coot (Simon)make up the crew.  Turns out Simon and Sarah are teachers at Westlake Boys High School (my Alma Mater) and Simon was 3 years ahead of me when I went there in 1970-3. They are the second contact with WBHS as I had met old schoolmate Fred Schumaker at the conference last week - whom I hadn't seen for 43 years!!! Even weirder was the fact that Fred's son, Nathaniel, had been taught by the Sarah whom I met yesterday!

If I could own a launch perhaps it would be this one...

Or Be Satisfied with what you have!

Home again, naturally.

Arrived home around midnight last night after the much travelled 14 hr car-bus-train-car--plane experience once more, dear friends...

Such a full and satisfying last two weeks with Birthdays, BBQ's and Bay of Islands sailing experiences on some brilliant days.  So, where do I begin...

Sister Catherine arrived on the 13th Feb and we promptly set off to re-provision in KeriKeri - including some nicely vacuum packed select meats from the bespoke Churchill Butchers. Back to Opua and out into the Bay with a couple of misty days then clear weather once more for some serious Lilo time and cove-cruising with Fenton and Barb in Hirondelle ll. No Dolphins this time but warm days and blue skies.  Visited some of our favourite haunts with a couple of new bays - it would take more than a few weeks to visit every possible anchorage.  

Back on the Marina we were delighted to welcome Graham and Jan on the 20th - over from the UK for two weeks and staying at the delightful 'Knock 'n Bottle ' historic cottage for the first week.  The weather stayed kind and we slipped into their bay to pick them up for an overnighter out amongst the islands.  A still night at Parorenui with barbequed snags and some libations was a great introduction to BoI cruising.  Even better was the anchorage in WaeWaetorea passage where Graham was able to 'spot' the elusive and endangered NZ Dotterel  for the first time.  Heading back to base in a wonderful broad reach we passed through myriads of sea-birds meticulously identified by Sir Graham who was in seventh Heaven on the foredeck!

The next day was a 'rest' day as we prepared for the next round of visitors as Cathy headed south to meet Amber, Ted and Jonathan on yet another 'red-eye' from Oz.  They stayed in Ngunguru with Barry and Ruby overnight and then we welcomed the irrepressible TedFred and his entourage on the 24th with PFD's and harnesses pre-prepared!

PoppaG and the lively TedFred - Sally's @ Russell

The glorious summer weather continued and we had a marvellous day out at Roberton Island, returning to the Bayview accommodation that evening.

Saturday 25th was 'The Birthday BBQ' and we welcomed more than 20 family and friends for the lunch-time celebrations.  What a fantastic setting looking up the estuary towards Paihia and it was great to catch up with cousins, uncles and 'old' friends who had made the effort to travel north for the weekend.

BBQ - some of the gathered family and friends

Sunday 26th was going to be a sleep-in day but Grant had arranged for Mother and daughter to go Parasailing (on Cathy's 'Bucket-List' )

so it was after midday before the two yachts set off with a Motley Crew into a building and very fine sea-breeze heading for a afternoon swims, an evening anchorage with drinks at dusk and a shared evening repast...
 Brilliant!  Motoring home later that night navigating a moon-lit channel through calm waters and balmy skies remains a special memory...

The last couple of nights sharing time with family included fish 'n chips on the Russell foreshore and kayaking the foreshore...

Sir Graham in the Iqyaq paddling in...

 We sat on the verandah reflecting on the time Mum and Dad had spent in this location and the memories we had of family 'boating' experiences - some of which were both memorable and challenging!  It was great to re-live those experiences and to give thanks for those shared times and memories. 

I give thanks for the gift of grace in the gathered experience we were privileged to share together.  Thanks be to God!

Lots of tracks #Feb2017

February 2017

Sitting in the computer room up in the new Cruisers Lounge on a beautiful Sunday morning having watched the spectacular sunrise over the hills to the east of Opua Marina.

Unfortunately this long spell of fine weather is coming to an end, courtesy of a weird pattern of fronts which have accumulated in the Tasman, holding up a high and generating extreme heat on the East coast of Australia.  

The past couple of weeks have been a combination of maintenance and sailing - as per normal when I come to Opua!  I managed to choose the very warmest days to paint the deck - at times it was over 30 deg and with little cooling breeze the paint seemed to be drying before it hit left the brush, with the deck too hot to walk on without my trusty old boat shoes.

I've been reading Richard Rohr's "A Spring within us" excellent new book of Daily Meditations."  In it he begins by referring to a tradition in Latin called Sic et Non - which can be translated as "Yes or No" or "Yes, But" and "Yes, And". Rohr encourages us to be "Yes, And" thinkers and theologians - to recognise that we don't know all the answers and encouraging spiritual curiosity.... to be Big Seers that see with the eyes of God.

I thought of "Yes, And" and the whole process of maintenance and preparation.  The means to an end.  All the painting and fixing are part of the necessary process to enable the contemplation of Beauty encountered in the still mornings and glorious sunsets out amongst the islands and along the coast.  

Kalai seems to be in a perpetual state of gradual entropy, a winding down and deterioration that requires vigour and dedication to counter - much like I seem to require!  In a couple of weeks I will enter my seventh decade wrestling with similar issues of diminished capacity and ability.  I can no longer seriously contemplate running to the top of the steep hill which leads down to the harbour - and my torn meniscus reminds me to be careful in walking around the deck and the dock.  Still, ("and Yet) I have much for which I deeply grateful - for family and friends who will gather over the next couple of weeks to help celebrate with me. For this opportunity to be in such a beautiful spot and to enjoy the sometimes breathtaking beauty which surrounds me.  Deeply grateful.

A few photos... more to come (time for breakfast!)

Nothing like it!

Part of a peninsular estate up for sale...

A couple of friends turned up yesterday

Effortlessly swimming right under the bow 

An ancient Pohutakawa above Urupukapuka Bay complete with bench seat for contemplation...

Wet and Wild - 40-50 kt front came through Thursday night

Tracks so far... visiting some favourite spots

Urupukapuka Bay - a favourite spot

Lots of masking tape...

Let the painting begin...

An Old-Timer cruising home at dusk...

September log and Opua photos

Webb Chiles has posted links to a local Opua Photographer  who has some fantastic images in and around Opua.

http://www.juliescamera.com/our-opua-view.html

http://www.juliescamera.com/opua-diary.html

http://www.juliescamera.com/sunrise-sunset.html

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..

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 31^st

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  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 1^st
  
  • 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 2^nd
  
  
  A 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 3^rd
  
  
  
  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 4^th      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