South of Kawau

Hi
Well, today we sadly took our leave of Kawau and said goodbye to the Pardeys who very kindly autographed the book of theirs which we had bought. It will be very useful and something to treasure as it has a huge amount of very useful practical information all distilled from their own very varied experiences. We also said goodbye to Darren and Melinda on "Mischief"; we hope we catch them again in our travels. We motorsailed from Kawau as we needed to make water and charge the batteries. Our first stop was Moturekareka Is. where the wreck of the "Rewa" is situated. She was a 3 masted barquentine and was purchased and then sunk by the then owner of the island about 100 years ago as a breakwater. Unfortunately as she was being scuttled she swung on her mooring and more or less blocked the bay instead of protecting it! No Resource Consents in those days! As she was originally built of iron there isn't much left of her now.
We then continued on to Tiritiri Matangi Is. which is a DOC owned island off the end of the Whangaparoa Peninsula. There has been extensive planting of native species over the last 20 years or so (a lot by volunteers) and the island is now home to a wide range of endangered native birds. We had a great walk up to the lighthouse which once was one of the most powerful in the world and then walked back to the beach via a wonderful walk where there were bird feeding stations and bird baths. We stopped at several of these and were lucky enough to see Saddlebacks, Stichbirds, North Island Robins, Kakariki (a native green parrot), and the usual Tuis and Fantails. The island is a tribute to all the people who have laboured over the years to produce such a stunning example of seriously endangered native bird species. We had quite by chance met some of Jim's old neighbours in Birkenhead on Kawau and then met them again on Tiri! It's such a small world because we had also seen a yacht they used to own (a Stewart 34 called "Patea") at the Cavallis and the BOI a couple of weeks ago. Jim spoke to the new owners in Oke Bay in the Bay of Islands then.
We are now anchored in Woody Bay on Rakino Is. We were going to carry on to Waiheke but will do that in the morning. It is very peaceful here - not too many other boats. It's Jeans (Gina's) birthday tomorrow but she says she wasn't born until 10 in the morning so there is still time for the skipper to assert his seniority! Finding a plank of suitable size for the walking thereof will be a priority or maybe just being tipped in the tide will do!! Either way a red letter day.
Our new position is:
Lat 36 degrees 43 minutes south
Long 174 degrees 57 minutes east
Cheers,
J & J (G)

----------
radio email processed by SailMail
for information see: http://www.sailmail.com

Kawau again

Just a couple of things we neglected to mention.
For 2010 a group of island women took part in a photographic calendar to raise money for a local rescue trust. It depicts each of them in every month in a state of topless desabillee but artfully clothed with local fauna and flora! One was artfully draped in seaweed - and so on. On the front cover was another damsel standing in the water and strategically holding a snapper! In the background was Jim's Grandfather's little cottage - what a coincidence. Not sure what Grandfather would have thought having his cottage immortalised in this way but Jim seems fairly sure he would have approved.
Lin and Larry Pardey are leaving next week for New York where they are to be invested with a medal for their cruising exploits and services to offshore cruising in general by the Cruising Yacht Club of America - a very prestigious award and richly deserved. A fitting milestone in an illustrious cruising career.
Cheers again
J&J(G)

----------
radio email processed by SailMail
for information see: http://www.sailmail.com

Kawau

Hi everyone,
We went around to North Cove today to again meet Lin and Larry Pardey who are a Canadian couple in their 70's and who now live on the island. The first time we met was last Easter when we sailed down to Kawau with Noel and Litara Barrott on their 53' yawl "Sina". Noel and Litara apparently first met Lin and Larry in Ushuaia, Argentina. They have written many books about all aspects of cruising offshore - everything from cooking on passage to navigation and storm tactics. We already had several of their books but today have also bought one entitled "Care and Feeding of Sailing Crew"!! Lin and Larry are absolute gurus of offshore sailing and it is always a great privilege to talk to them. We had lunch with them along with an American couple off another boat which had originated in Alaska. Lin and Larry have circumnavigated more than once - the most recent voyage in a boat they built and still own. She is here tied up to their wharf and she is 30' long. Her name is "Taleisin". After lunch we walked for about half an hour with Lin to a neighbour's place where she is taking piano lessons and they had a wonderful garden on the top of a hill overlooking a spectacular view of Vivian Bay. The couple off the American boat "Mischief" (Darren and Melinda) came with us. He is an acupuncturist in another life!!
Tomorrow we are heading for Waiheke and we will be hoping to see Jim's old business of Waikeke Wines and Spirits - otherwise known as Super Liquor Waiheke or simply "The Barn"!! Talk about an exercise in nostalgia!! We'll regale you with further news of our progress as it comes to hand.
Cheers and lots of love
J & J(G)

----------
radio email processed by SailMail
for information see: http://www.sailmail.com

Heading south

Hi everyone,
We have at last ventured south of Whangarei! We had a great sail today. We left at 0730 and had minimal wind to start with. Then a bit later north of Bream Tail there developed a tailwind of about 12 knots and we poled out the Genoa and for a time enjoyed some very relaxed downwind sailing. But alas it was not to be for any length of time. Murphy must have been watching because the wind started to head us so we dowsed the pole and then later when the wind increased took a reef in the mainsail. We then had some very spirited sailing and the old girl once again picked up her skirts and went for it. We had more than 20 knots of wind as we came round Takatu Point and then were struck with 27 knots! Still had full Genoa and the reefed main. So we did the whimpish thing and furled the Genoa and started the engine (!) as we didn't have far to go at that stage. We are now anchored in Bon Accord Harbour, Kawau and pleased to have had something to eat and contemplate a good night's sleep after about 9 hours of sailing. Our position is lat 36 degrees 25.6 minutes south, long 174 degrees 50.3 minutes east. We are anchored in Harris Bay just off the little cottage which Jim's maternal grandfather built back in the 1950's so it's quite nostalgic. We are going to meet the people who run Schoolhouse Bay Radio in the morning as we will be in contact with them (as well as Russell radio) when we finally leave on our offshore voyaging.
We have been plagued since we started this cruise by technical problems most of which can be traced back to the earlier refit at Partridge Yachts Yard in Kerikeri in 2006-7. We are fixing them all as they occur but it is certainly detracting from the enjoyment. Still, it's better that they are found now rather than in Timbuctoo!!! Another example was this morning (at 6 if you please!) when we checked the bilge and found about 4" of oily water down there. It has happened because they had neglected to install an anti siphon valve on a bilge discharge line which meant that in some circumstances water could back siphon into the boat. You could imagine our feelings at 6 in the morning and wondering whether we would actually leave at all. Anyway we pumped the bilge and closed the skin fitting valve to overcome the immediate problem but this is hardly a long-term fix. We will fix it properly when we haul out again next month at Norsand. The list of shortcomings at Partridges is as long as your arm and infinitely more expensive!! It is very disappointing but seems to be becoming more and more the norm in this country and our advice is if you ever contemplate doing anything which involves employing trades people check them out very thoroughly and then make sure that you have a cast iron contract - notwithstanding that contracts are only worth the paper they are written on!! Please excuse the cynicism but this has been our experience.
The crew has just had a shower and the skipper is in dire need of one!! Dishes are next on the agenda and then a good night's sleep.
Hope this finds everyone well.
Cheers,
J & J (G)

----------
radio email processed by SailMail
for information see: http://www.sailmail.com

Heading south

Hi,
We are now back in the Bay of Islands after a scrappy sail from Whangaroa. Think we'll have to start being a bit more pro-active in waiting for or seeking suitable wind directions. The wind or what there was of it was SE and on the nose and it didn't matter what tactics we tried - that was the situation! So we motorsailed all the way. Struck a very unpleasant sloppy sea with a big leftover swell off the Ninepin and almost no wind to steady us so were quite glad to get into calmer water. We met a refrigeration technician at Doves Bay and he tells us we need to install a rack in the bottom of the freezer to allow air circulation and that will cure our problems. Pity we weren't told that in the first place when the thing was first built and installed but it's been typical of almost everything that was done during the first refit at Kerikeri. It was not a happy experience but we are very pleased with everything that has been done subsequently in Whangarei.
We are intending to stay here for a couple of days re-provisioning. There's a reasonably good supermarket at Paihia - and they have Kransky's!!! Then, assuming the forecast W/SW winds stay around, we will head down the coast with a first Hauraki Gulf stop at Kawau. So, Mark hope to see you around the 14th.-16th. Then around the Gulf then the Barrier and then back to Whangarei where we have a schedule of things to be done before leaving NZ at the end of April. We are gong to be busy once we have hauled out mid March. So we had better enjoy this cruising life while we can!!
Hope all is well
Cheers again,
J & J(G)

----------
radio email processed by SailMail
for information see: http://www.sailmail.com

(no subject)

Well, we haven't wandered far since our last communication. This ESE wind has been diabolical - especially for sailing south. An English yacht whose owners have sailed halfway round the world left for the Bay of Islands a couple of days ago and turned back at the Cavallis in headwinds of 45 knots. This is something to deal with at sea if encountered but to actually head out into it is not a good prospect. So, here we are still. Our electrical problem has been solved and thankfully the winds are reducing but we hear that another system might bring similar conditions again so we might make a dash for the BOI in a couple of days. We'll probably abandon Mangonui as the anchorage there isn't good in these winds.
We are anchored again off Whangaroa Village and this morning we decided to climb St. Paul which is a 212 metre volcanic peak just behind the village. It was a steep climb in places and near the summit which is actually a precipitously sided volcanic plug there is a crevice in the almost vertical rock where chains are fitted so that one can haul one's way up to the summit. Coming down was more difficult than going up!! But it was definitely worth the effort and of course the view was magnificent. Not bad for a 63 year old I thought!!
Watch this space!!!
Cheers, J & G

----------
radio email processed by SailMail
for information see: http://www.sailmail.com

(no subject)

Hi,
We are having a frustrating time at the moment holed up in Whangaroa Harbour. It is blowing a gale from the ESE (up to 40 knots), although the biggest gust we have experienced in the harbour has been just over 30. Makes it quite unpleasant at anchor with these gusts hitting us at regular intervals and not a little unnerving at night as we are trying to get some sleep. We always note down the GPS position before dark so that we can then refer to it during the night to see whether we have dragged the anchor. After our earlier experience we aren't too confident of our new anchor so that doesn't help either although it has to be said it hasn't let us down again and it has withstood some fairly heavy loads in the last 48 hours. Still, we are making sure of it by having 120 feet of chain deployed in only 15 feet of water! We moved today and have found a marginally more settled anchorage although it is impossible to escape the wind. Still, we are sheltered from any sea.
We have also lost all radio communication with Russell Radio as the high land around Whangaroa has affected that. On the western side of the harbour apparently it is better but we can't stay over there because of the wind. We'll have to wait until we leave and get somewhere where we can get through.
We are still waiting for the replacement electrical part and then as soon as that is fitted and the weather moderates we will be heading for Mangonui.
In the meantime we hope all is well and will communicate again when we have something more exciting to relate!
Cheers,
J & G

----------
radio email processed by SailMail
for information see: http://www.sailmail.com