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

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.

New Year 2021

Nina on watch, Outer Sounds

Dolphins at Post Office Point

Gardner in full song

This year's New Year cruise defined by the best dolphin experience ever.  A large pod of what we think were common dolphin approached on our starboard bow, passed under the boat, and surfaced on our port quarter. Fortunately, Nina was quick to grab her phone and capture the clip above. Fishing was good. We've got a thing about only catching what we'll eat, and so we put one kahawai and four fat cod in the fridge. Overnighted in: Kauauroa Bay, Ngawhakawhiti, and Chance Bay. Logged 72.2 nm.

Mussel Festival

Callum, Nina, Johnny

Nina's birthday cruise

Nina with gurnard

Nina with salmon

Waitangi

'Octopus in net' by Nina

Getting underway

Poppy goes kayaking

Collab BBQ

Sailed 07:50 on Waitangi morning, Nina putting in the trip report with her shiny new VHF operator licence. Congratulations, Nina! Rendezvous with Weta in Stafford Bay, sheltering from strong gusts in the Outer Sounds. 17:00 pleasant in Stafford but with fresh SE winds forecast departed for Chance Bay, our companions in need of a good sleep. Friday departed Chance Bay for Bird Island fishing. 20:00 in Māori Bay (Port Ligar) in company with Seas the Day. Oops! Caught an octopus and quickly returned him to the sea. Next day, Saturday, fishing in Fishing Bay - go figure - then departed Māori Bay for Chance Bay and agreed meet up with Weta. Sunday in Take-In Bay and Poppy went kayaking; in the evening a most congenial collaborative bbq (pictured above). Back in Havelock 11:25 on the Monday and greeted by Janice and Norma, lunch in the Slip Inn. Steamed 114 nautical miles. 

Dad's birthday cruise

Dad's Birthday card from Nina

Mackerel and bacon

Back at Raetihi after a long absence. Caught a small but legal snapper. A couple of mackerel contributed to my breakfast. Lots of activity on the water. Pretty quiet at the Lodge. Met up with Bruce and Suzanne. Nina steered in the channel and right up to the Johnson Light. Took 485 litres of fuel. Logged 22 nm.

New Year 2020

Dressed Overall

Christmas 2019

Off Richmond

At anchor, Ketu Bay

Callum and Nina

Exchanging Christmas presents

Inflatable banana thing

Callum with four good cod

Anchor party

Callum joined us late morning in Havelock and we sailed at 1615 for Ketu. Oh, the long days of summer! Anchored in Ketu. Beautiful weather over the whole Christmas week and not too hot either. Exchanged presents with Grape Escape on Christmas morning. Visited World's End and Chance Bay, Callum caught gurnard, and we all caught cod down by Bird Island. Saw dolphins, penguins, shearwaters, and gannets. A total of 85.5 nm.