Small job, big improvement

Eyebrow, October 2019

Sue has long maintained that Orion would look better with an eyebrow over the wheelhouse windows. Not to mention the practical thing of keeping the rain off and creating a bit of shade for the helmsperson. Expertly implemented by Roger of Sounds Shipwrights we're really pleased with the result. 

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.

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

Long Bay

Grape Escape leaving Long Bay

After a long run of unsuitable weather and / or tides we managed to pinch a weekend in Long Bay. We had a semi-planned rendezvous with Grape Escape and found them in Ferndale. Some moderate socialising and then a beautiful night and next day. In by 2pm. 26 nm.

Easter moon

Approaching Putanui

Kenepuru Sound

We went on board Thursday afternoon and sailed at 5.15. We used the light of the moon (and the chart plotter) to find the buoy at Raetihi well after sunset. The next night we were at Take-in Bay bathed in moonlight. I took this picture about 4 am.  With rain forecast we headed in on Saturday morning. Steamed 30.3 nm. 

Return to Raetihi

Raetihi foreshore

There was a time when we went to Raetihi a lot. It's lovely there and on a winter's night it's comforting to have the lights of the jetty and the lights of the houses on the opposite shore. This weekend we were back there. Nothing had really changed. Only there is some really bad erosion under the bank and the trees are starting to collapse onto the beach. The logs are moored there as a makeshift bank protection. Went on the fueller on the way back in. Total distance an easy 23 nm. 

Morley and Morley

All aboard

Cool socks

Hello Sailor

Beam me up

So wonderful that this happened. The next day it felt like we'd been dreaming. We got great weather with sunshine and light airs by day and flat calm nights. Cooler than it has been, so good for sleeping, but not quite warm enough for swimming. Terns and penguins, but not so many gannets. Surrounded by school fish each night. Visited Richmond Reef, Ketu Bay, Homestead Bay, and Long Bay on the Kenepuru. Caught cod, and barracuda, and a small kahawai. Grape Escape showed up on the Sunday morning and we exchanged news. Back on the berth after three nights out and logged 72 nm.

End of summer cruise

The Ninepins on a nice day

Ketu Bay 4am

Reading our fish book

Very sharp knife

 Heading home

We got away on the Friday and made it to Ketu no problem. Goofed around on the Saturday and caught a couple of fat cod right there in the bay. In the wee small hours we were totally surrounded by fish, you could see them because of the phosphorescence. A seal was nearby. On the Sunday caught another good cod in the bay, then we went out to Ninepin rock just for a tiki tour and Sue took some photos that she missed last time. Awesome weather, but the days are getting shorter now heralding the end of summer. Stafford for lunch on the way back, and Putanui for tea, then back on the berth by 8 pm. Steamed 65 nautical miles.

Waitangi

Not a groper

Dolphins near Bird Island

Dolphins near Bird Island

Hallam Cove

Gardner atmospherics

Poppy was joined by Fergus for this three-day foray into Pelorus Sound. See the Sea Dogs page for the pictures. Beautiful weather shaped the trip, sunny and never too hot. A SE breeze died away on the first day out giving way to variable 10 for the rest of the trip. Ketu Bay the first night, Homestead Bay the second, and Hallam Cove the third where Mark caught snapper and gurnard. We got out to Ninepin Rock on the Chetwodes twice, once for cod, and once for groper which turned out to be sharks. Bird Island produced an amazing dolphin experience, and we saw dolphins again in Port Ligar. Logged 101nm. 

Early one morning

Island Point seen from Ferndale

Mahau Sound