Bird Island

Action

A little patience rewarded

Chris on his first trip on Orion. 

Yay!

 

Bulwark repairs

 

Bulwark repair

Repair to the inner bulwarks planking and ground, which had rotted. Beam shelf still in good order. Hopefully this stops the dribbles in the forward cabin and the persistent little streak on the topside planking. Hopefully we can live long enough and earn enough money to get round it all, though this was by far in a way the worst of it. Roger was the boatbuilder and Tory the apprentice, from Havelock Slipway.

Bill and Maggie

Bill and Sue transit the Havelock Channel

Five cod

Maggie

NW weather on the Friday gave way to SE on the Sunday. Beautiful evenings in Ketu and Kenepuru. Caught three cod on our old marks down by Bird Island and two more on the sand between the two parts of Richmond Reef.  Steamed a total of 77 nm.

Tappets

 

Mike

Mike, from Havelock Slipway, checking the tappet clearances. Only one was a bit tight, and another a bit slack, otherwise no adjustments needed. 

Firing order

I've now painted the firing order on the ER forward bulkhead, in case someone in the future hasn't got the manual. By the way, it's 1 5 6 2 8 4 7 3.

Christmas 2025

 

Barnacle Bill and Pete

A pleasant Christmas spent at Ferndale sheltering from a NW gale. So wet and windy this year, and no let up. Barnacle Bill Stevenson and Pete turned up in Stella Miro and spent the day in company with us. Nina made five for Christmas lunch in the Regency Room on Orion. Sorry Maggie, six. We were back in Picton for New Year and in bed early, so no Barcelona pumping out over the speakers this year.

Haul out 2025

Removing the propellor for balancing

Two new props on the thruster

Anchor cable

The long awaited 80 metres of new 13mm anchor cable arrives from Michael Hill, Southshore Marine. Somewhat exciting. Michael's connection with Johnson's Barge meant we enjoyed some assistance from the skipper of the Manatu and his hydraulic arm.

 

Alongside Johnson's Barge

Old cable comes out

New cable lifted onto the barge

Voyage with Jack

Orion steaming along in Pelorus Sound 2025

A special trip with Jack on board, visiting from the UK. Nina joined too. Seven days on board, five of them out and about in Pelorus Sound. Mixed weather. 96nm.

Only mild exaggeration

Severe gale warning in Cook

Tranquil at Raetihi

Bill and Maggie

Bill came to visit and brought Maggie

Who is very playful.

 

New Year 24/25

Outrageous behaviour flared briefly, but had subsided well before midnight. Just on H8 this year. Notable for how quiet it was. Beautiful snapper for tea.