March 6 cruise

 

Kauauroa Bay at sunset

Māori Bay, Port Ligar

Mussel barge, Forsyth Island

Cyclone Dovi

 

Sat Feb 12 2200 hrs

Sea Bee

 

Sea Bee

Sea Bee (middle, in the distance) seen at anchor in Waikawa Bay February 2022. Dodging foul weather since she came into the Sounds from Auckland. Sea Bee was built in 1965 by Harold Saunders. See the Orion history page for a better photo.

New Year 2022

 

Sam, Dylan, Sue, Nina

Sailed New Year's Eve at 1630 for the anchorage in Chance Bay. Much revelry aboard Orion with fabulous food by Nina, festoon lights, loud music thank you Sue, and a few bevvies. Next day moved north to Kauauroa Bay, stopping by Yncyca Bay to admire Manoa and to wish Leon and Michelle HNY. Swimming and fishing in K-Bay. Next day up early for Bird Island and some reliable cod fishing. Spotted Tyros underway. That night eating the cod in Hallam Cove. Lots of shearwaters, few or no penguins, no dolphins, heaps of rays including babies. Last night in Long Bay on the Kenepuru. Grape Escape came by in the morning and we went in late morning in company with Kerenia. Calm, hot weather throughout. Logged 104 nm. 

Countdown to midnight

Countdown to midnight

Sam, Nina, and a codfish

Dark arts

Christmas 2021

We sailed on Christmas Eve and went to our old haunt at Take-In Bay. Just did our Christmas thing the way we like to. A bit of a cool breeze from SE, but it didn't stop Sue and Nina from swimming. Nina was so happy to be reunited with Poppy. Big ups to Sue who did all the planning and shopping, forgot nothing, and cooked on Christmas Day.

Poppy and Nina

Sue and Nina, Kenepuru

Coverage

Us

Kenepuru from Take-In Bay

Christmas Day sunset

Monograde 30

Oil Change

Slightly overdue at 230 hours, Ken gave us a hand. Continuing for another year with the Morris Oil Ring Free XHD30. I think I topped up once with 1 litre since the last oil change; pretty amazing for an engine first commissioned in 1977. Anyway, the engine seems to like it and it matches the spec in the operator's manual. We get it from Tractor Repairs & Spares in Renwick. See Gardner swami Joe McCool on YouTube on the subject of oil.

July storm

 

These were the Waitohi Wharf readings at 2 am on the Saturday morning when it really started to get going. Then it just went on and on until eventually there was 187 mm (7.5 inches) in 24 hours.

Wairau River

Genuine Gardner Parts

 

Genuine Gardner Parts

Two oil filters, two secondary fuel filters, two crankcase breather filters. Also an injector puller because it may soon be time to clean and set the injectors. These parts come from one of my favourite places to shop - Gardner Spare Parts. 

Waikawa fog

 

Waikawa

Not unusual to get fog at this time of year, with the low sun it can create some moody mornings. This shot was taken by Sue while walking Poppy along the eastern breakwater at Waikawa marina. Something worth noting is the very high barometer - 1038 hPa - creating very calm, cold conditions.

QBW21

Sunday afternoon

Fine day

Indifferent weather with more rain forecast, didn't bother to head out. Nina home for the weekend, reunited with Poppy. Caught up with Grape Escape, otherwise pretty quiet.