Phil

Phil cruising the Kenepuru

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.

 

QBW20

Funny how the water is always black at QBW. Traditionally we try and get a cruise in on Queen's Birthday Weekend despite winter weather. A miserable forecast never really materialised and we sailed on the Saturday afternoon for Hallam Cove. By Putanui Point we'd decided to amend our TR and head for our favourite hidey hole of Take-In Bay; the only bay that we know that is truly out of the SE wind, however strong it blows. A bit of an issue with charging, but on the trip home it seemed to have fixed itself; maybe just damp after lock down. Put into Te Mahia for a brief run ashore. Steamed 31.2 nm.

New Year 2020

Dressed Overall

Two Geordies

Two Geordies, one guitar

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.

Mid-winter cruise

Embarkation

Checking the oil

Pukatea inward

Kenepuru from Take-in Bay

Take-in Bay

Ship's Dog

Early departure

Grape Escape leaving Ferndale

One out of the box

The days are lengthening

Sunset Take-In Bay

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.

Gannets

Unsettled weather

Sunday afternoon

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.

Living in a lava lamp

Says it all, really