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.
In October we went for a short cruise up the Kenepuru looking at slips after two major weather events had wrought havoc. By far in a way the worst (though not the biggest) is at Portage where the Kenepuru Road has been undermined.
Sailed on Friday afternoon with an unpromising forecast and the hope of a nice day on the Sunday. Hikapu Reach looked awesome and menacing. We parked in Ferndale for shelter from the northerly. Saturday was mild with light rain and we read our books. Sunday was indeed a beautiful day and we sat out on deck in warm sunshine.
Saturday
Sunday
Nina steered for the transit of the channel and Erin captured us coming in past Johnson Light.
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.
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.
Took advantage of a spell of settled weather to head up the Kenepuru. Joined by cousin Phil, pictured here. Spent one night out at Take-In Bay. Overcast overnight and a pretty dawn. Warm by midday. Grape Escape spotted in Long Bay, and Sofia (outward) passed at Black Rock on the Sunday. Total 35 nautical miles.
A sneaky little weather window presented on the Friday and promised sunshine and variable 10 knot breezes. Threatened sou'easter didn't materialise until the Tuesday. Joined by two neat Geordie guys, Callum and Rob. It was great having them on board for three nights. Chance Bay, Stafford Bay, Take-In Bay. Caught a 44cm Gurnard and plenty of sharks. Steamed 51 miles.
Friday evening the tide didn't serve until well after dark. Big spring tides usually mean driftwood, detritus from the forestry, so it's not so good steaming after dark. Leaving in the morning at this time of year can mean fog, so these are risks one has to manage.
We elected to sail on the Saturday morning and as it happened there was fog, but by the time we were ready to sail around 9am it had already cleared. We steamed to Richmond and it was all very pleasant, we saw dolphins about a half mile to the west of our track, but we didn't give chase. We saw shearwaters further south than usual. We saw penguins at Tawero which is not unusual. Next day, Sunday, we steamed to Ferndale.
The Monday was beautiful and we idled in the middle of a flat calm Kenepuru talking on the phone with Nina before heading in on the top of a big tide. Barometer 1025 mb or better the whole time. 60 nm in all.
After a long run of unsuitable weather and / or tides we managed to pinch a weekend in Long Bay. We had a semi-planned rendezvous with Grape Escape and found them in Ferndale. Some moderate socialising and then a beautiful night and next day. In by 2pm. 26 nm.
We were on the buoy at Raetihi when Sue spotted splashing over towards Schnapper Point. We got underway immediately and found a pod of Dusky dolphins fishing. We followed them at a respectful distance as they made their way down the sound.
At last a beautiful day coincided with the weekend. We sailed immediately after work on Friday and saved the light to Raetihi. There was a slight sea, wind over the last of the tide. We decided to push on to Take-In Bay and picked up the buoy in the dark no problem. Saturday was a day out of the box. In the morning we went around the back of Kaiaho Point in search of fish. The fishing wasn't really on, but we had a nice time looking for them and exploring Mills Bay and Clarke Island. Returned to Take-In Bay and at sunset the magic happened with fish jumping all around us and two big gannets circling and plunging. At night above, the Milky Way and a sky full of bright stars. Sunday we anticipated fog and high water was at 1009, so that was a potentially going to be a challenge. As it happened the day dawned with 8/8 low cloud and quite mild, so it was clear. We berthed shortly after 10am.
We sailed on the Saturday morning on a whim really. Not a very promising forecast at all, but nothing dangerous. However, we did have the Sounds to ourselves! While the wind was NW we hung out in Ferndale and on Sunday when the sun left Ferndale (3pm) we moved over to Take-In Bay where we had sun for another hour and a half. A long-awaited front came through at sunset making for a spectacular end to the day.
Misty start to Monday
Weird the way the good weather has been synchronised with Wednesdays and the bad weather with Saturdays for about the last eight weeks. This time there was a ridge lined up for Monday. Woke to thick fog which lifted to about 100 metres above sea level with two miles visibility underneath it. All fast in the berth by 10.30.
Despite an unpromising forecast we decided to go out anyway, at 10 am on the Saturday. It turned into quite a nice day. We steamed as far north as Yncyca Bay on a recce. At this time of year, and in the SE'ly weather, it was a bit bleak. We approached the PMW buoy and recorded a waypoint for our return some summer evening. Then we beat a retreat to Take-In Bay. The picture shows how the weather dominated the weekend, but we had a nice time regardless. Sue caught a 26cm Spotty.
We did a Man Overboard exercise and managed to get our bucket-and-fender casualty back aboard in quick time. We did a Williamson turn and that worked well, bringing us right back onto our reciprocal course and on track. The MOB feature on the Raymarine is not that good. I'm not sure, even after reading the manual, that it is working the way it should. Quite the worst feature is the way it automatically changes the range such that you can't see any land. I found it disorientating, and retaining your orientation and a heightened situational awareness is what a good MOB is all about. Our procedure now is simply to always start a track which means we can at any time exactly retrace our steps.
Passing traffic in the Havelock Channel
We did some handle-down running to test the gearbox repairs and it passed with flying colours. The hottest part of the casing after an hour of full power was 70°C. The shifts to ahead and astern were instantaneous and smooth.
We came in near the top of the tide on the Monday around lunchtime. All in all, a satisfying long weekend.
Friday night we headed for Māori Bay, looking for a shady spot in the intensely hot weather. The buoy was occupied so we carried on to Chance Bay. Saturday night Grape Escape came and anchored nearby. Sunday morning we headed north towards Crail Bay and the gannet colony where we caught exactly zero fish. After lunch on the Hemphill buoy at Mary Bay we turned over 1000 hours since the engine was rebuilt. Monday (Nelson Anniversary Day) we went up into the Kenepuru and sweltered. In by 17:30 and 48 miles logged.
Back in Take-In Bay. It's just 15 sea miles from Havelock, it's sheltered from most quarters, and we love the view. Neap tides this weekend and the fishing a bit slow, but even so Sue caught a very respectable Kahawai which I turned into fish curry.
Well, you never know your luck. Regular old weekend up the Kenepuru. Two caught within minutes of each other. One went back, the other was well legal and became breakfast for two. Caught on bare Wasabi hooks on the last of the flood at dusk.
This year, so far, we have to steal every day we can. Logbook is kind of empty, diesel tanks are kind of full. Some people call it bait fish, but we love mackerel. You have to be patient and mind the bones, and it really is delicious. Catch it at night with the underwater light and tiny wasabi hooks. Here is Sunday morning breakfast on the Kenepuru in perfect weather: sunny, mild, and calm.
