Beginning-of-winter cruise

Foggy day in Beatrix

Seagull raiding the bait table

Dolphin guiding us in

Sailed on the Friday, on the club mooring in Mary's Bay that night. Next day dawned foggy... thick fog. Got underway mid morning and mooched about fishing. A few cod, but not keepers. Beautiful views as the sun penetrated the fog. Wonderfully quiet and calm. We were headed north for Piripaua, the narrow neck separating Beatrix from Forsyth, when we were joined by a dolphin who rode the bow and showed us the way. That night—Saturday—we anchored in Mary's Bay, Lady Allison lying to the club mooring. Headed south on Sunday, 45.5 nm.

Waikawa fog

 

Waikawa

Not unusual to get fog at this time of year, with the low sun it can create some moody mornings. This shot was taken by Sue while walking Poppy along the eastern breakwater at Waikawa marina. Something worth noting is the very high barometer - 1038 hPa - creating very calm, cold conditions.

Marlborough Anniversary

Mussel barge, Māori Bay

Sailed on Saturday morning and arrived Port Ligar around 4pm. Quiet night on our own in Homestead Bay. Amazing fish and phosphorescence in the water. Caught a wee kahawai, big enough for breakfast. Sunday steamed south again to Māori Bay. Beautiful night sky, Orion above and Orion below. Monday morning began foggy and cleared by about 1030 becoming unseasonally hot. Took fuel on the way in. All fast by 1230. Log reading 61 miles.

First day of spring

Leaving Richmond

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.

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.