Anzac Day cruise

Camp Bay, Bulwer

Duffers Reef

Johnson's Barge

Departed Havelock 1620 planning to go on Putanui North but it was occupied so we pressed on, just saving the light to Maori Bay. Quiet night and the morning dawned with thick fog typical of the time of year. Fog lifted and by 0930 we departed Maori Bay, by 1100 rounding at Maud Island and by 1220 all fast to PWM782 Homestead Bay Port Ligar. Namaste in company. Sunday we moved round to Camp Bay near Bulwer, Grape Escape in company. Monday we fished inside Duffers Reef and on Richmond Reef but the fishing was slow, got two cod that were keepers. Headed south at 1400 and arrived off Raetihi by 1630. Followed Isabella most of the way. Spent the Tuesday (Anzac Day) at Raetihi and got into Havelock at 1730. Stayed aboard. Beautiful autumn weather the whole five days.

Easter 2017

Cyclone Cook

Easter Bunny

Homestead Bay

Waterfall Bay

Port Ligar

Namaste

Seals and dolphins

Had planned to sail on the Friday, but waited for cyclone Cook to move away to the east and sailed 1000 on the Saturday. All fast to the buoy in Homestead Bay passage time 3hrs 50mins running at just 1000 rpm with the ebb. Easter Sunday we chilled in Homestead Bay, seals fishing all around us. Drinks on Orion with Graham and Jane from Namaste. Heavy rain overnight and a fresh NE breeze in the morning. Coffee aboard Namaste, then departed 1200. Dolphins bow riding as we left Port Ligar for fishing off Burnt Point; three cod were keepers. All fast Snug Cove, Ketu by 1500. Tuesday we departed Ketu at 0920 and headed south. Beautiful trip back, calm and sunny. All fast H8 Havelock by 1315.

Nan, Gary, and friends

At Ferndale

Gary and the shore party

Martin and Moira

Letting a mussel barge go by

We went aboard on the Thursday night and sailed Friday lunchtime for Ferndale. The Friday evening was beautiful, but the Saturday was cool with a moderate breeze from SE. Read our books. Sue was in touch with Nan and Gary and they arranged to come out on the Sunday by water taxi and bring lunch with them. They had friends from Switzerland staying, and they came too - Martin and his daughter Moira. The weather was great and we passed a pleasant day, coming in mid afternoon on the top of the tide. There was an unusual amount of traffic in the channel.

Hong

Departed Havelock at 1830 and arrived Raetihi 2000. Had our tea on the way. At Raetihi met up with Tom and Oriah who were honeymooning at Hopewell. Drinks on the aft deck, balmy night. Next day went on up to Take In Bay. Loafing, kayaking, fishing - fishing very flat. Strong gusty wind in the afternoon caused an unscheduled swim for someone, but it quickly died away and gave way to a beautiful evening. Sunday morning dawned overcast with light drizzle. Got underway early and went into Te Mahia to put Poppy ashore. All fast H8 by 1100.

Waitangi weekend

Unpromising start Thursday evening

Window washer system

Ryan with Gurnard, Penzance

Gurnard, keeper

Whakamawahi Point, looking into Beatrix Bay

Windy weather, bad hair

Ferndale, out of the breeze

Departed Havelock Friday for Tennyson Inlet, trolled most of the way, picked up the buoy at Penzance Friday night. Saturday morning caught up with Dion on Nightingale in Tuna Bay then fished on and around Richmond Reef. Saturday night in Waitata Bay. Sunday fished near the gannet colony at the head of Crail Bay then went up the Kenepuru to Ferndale. Caught kingfish, kahawai, gurnard,  blue cod, mackerel, perch and pipefish, also one barracuda. Saw big rays in Ferndale. Fine sunny weather, but windy. All Orion's systems worked flawlessly, including the window washer system. Great holiday weekend.

Weather bomb

Saturday January 21st

A series of three deep depressions have tracked across the country, causing a fair amount of disruption to boating. It's funny how winds of fifty knots are becoming the new norm. We wonder what our chances are for a trip to Tennyson Inlet on Waitangi weekend.

Robinson Cruise-o

Orion in Kenepuru Sound 2017

(picture Sam Robinson)

Departure from Havelock

Kenepuru Sound

Ferndale

Sam, Megan, Coen, Sue

Group on deck at Ferndale

Sam and Mark

Juvenile Kingfish around the boat

Coen, Ruby, Maddie, and Sue

Mark

Megan, Stephen, Mark, Sam
Ruby, Maddie, Poppy, Coen

Christmas 2016

Friday morning was beaut

Billy on the wheel leaving Havelock

Mike and Billy at Portage

Portage looking down the Kenepuru

Mike settled for the night

Orion from the Kenepuru Road

Mike and Poppy

Grape Escape
Christmas morning

Grape Escape comes alongside

(with whitebait patties for our breakfast)

Back in Havelock for Christmas dins

Ferndale, Portage and Te Mahia