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

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. 

QBW16

Fog lifting in Mahau Sound

Sue on the wheel

Poppy drying off after an unscheduled swim

Water taxi taking Bex ashore

Autumn

Early morning fog

It's pretty quiet around here now. A few diehards still make it down to their boats at the weekends. The main interest is the fog which rolls down the Pelorus River valley and hangs around until the sun gets up and burns it off. Poppy had a friend on gangway duty with her today.

Gangway duty

The weather has been a bit muddly and has curtailed trips out. But we've been using the time to do maintenance and renewal. Phil Martin fitted a diesel heater (4kW Eberspacher) and John Dey is going through the main freezer system, making it a bit more reliable: new compressor, fitting a receiver, changing the flexible hose for copper.

Sue on board Orion

At last we've been finding the time to do some jobs, and it feels really good: fixing the leak in the big fridge heat exchanger; painting in the fore end; changing the bulbs in the engine room for LEDs; drawing off a fuel sample from both tanks; remaking the electrical connections to the bilge pumps; finding the leak; hanging up the cabin lamp; re-purposing the galley locker to store enough food for the longer missions we plan; understanding the water tanks; replacing the Jabsco fresh water filter; working out how to stow and launch the dinghy; and getting Poppy used to her life jacket ready for when she needs trips to the shore for you know what.

Poppy hopeful

Poppy analog mission

We're planning to haul out at Havelock Slipway for a few days at the end of the month, do a number of small jobs we missed up in Greenhithe.

Inaugural cruise

Poppy on watch

Bex, Ryan, Pat, Steve

Sue and Ryan

Our inaugural trip out of Havelock Marina. We stayed on board on the Friday night and it was windy with things rattling and ropes creaking. Day started 20 knots from North West easing and 4/8 cover clearing. Departed at 10:00 6POB {Sue, Stephen, Bex, Ryan, Pat, Colin} 1DOB {Poppy}. Poppy's first trick as ship's dog. Local skipper Pat Copp engaged as pilot to show us the channel. 11:30 On a CC Buoy south side of Putanui Point. 12:00 Off Raetihi, Kenepuru Sound. 13:30 On the fuel jetty Havelock, took 600 litres. 14:40 Back on berth H8 port side to. Popped some fizz to celebrate our first trip out. Had some sunshine and sat around on deck before packing up. Day ended with 25 knots from SW, 8/8 low cloud, spots of rain.

Ship's dog

Ship's Dog Poppy

Ship's dog Poppy on gangway duty. There are quite a few dogs along Pier H, and Poppy knows all of them now. Also there is mother duck with her eight chicks. No doubt there are more creatures to be prevented from boarding the Orion unless they can show their credentials. Woof woof.