Ponui Island to Te Kouma Harbour

Hi everyone,

Today we sailed from Chamberlain Bay on Ponui Island to Squadron Bay in Te Kouma Harbour.  Te Kouma is on the Coromandel Peninsula.  It was a fantastic light airs sail with mostly ESE winds of 5-8 knots.

Coromandel Peninsula ahead

Here are the usual screenshots...

Track

Arrival

Graphs

This was an amazing passage.  Zen Again surprised us, which doesn't happen very often.  When the ESE breeze settled in at 9-12 knots apparent hard on the wind on starboard tack we got her "in the groove".  We then released the tiller.  No hands, no lines, no vane gear, no autopilot.  She just sailed onward, adjusting course to the lifts and knocks.  She held on a perfect close hauled course for 40 minutes.  A.m.a.z.i.n.g.

During the crossing to the Peninsula the tide was flooding S.  So we were "lee-bowing" the tide, heading NE but tracking ENE with the current pushing us S.  Very nice.

Chamberlain Bay astern

No hands!

We only took control when it was time to tack S.  In fact we overstood since we couldn't believe she'd keep course as we approached the islands off Coromandel Harbour.  She did.  From there we close reached S to Te Koumo Harbour.

View E into Coromandel Harbour

Approaching Te Kouma Head

Te Kouma Head

Squadron Bay in Te Koumo Harbous is very well protected from E through N to SW.  We're here with about 10 other boats.

Inside Squadron Bay

We expect to stay here for at least two nights.  Hull cleaning continues!

Trust all's well where you are.

Waiheke Island to Ponui Island

Hi everyone,

Yesterday we sailed from Oneroa Bay on Waiheke Island to Chamberlain Bay on Ponui Island.  Ponui Island is immediately SE of Waiheke Island.  The wind was light and predicted to die but we managed to sail most of the way.

Sailing the N coast of Waiheke Island

Here are the usual screenshots...

Track

Arrival

Graphs

The wind was 4-8 knots S initially.  As we rounded Thumb Point at the NE tip of Waiheke Island the wind died and a NE- SE sea breeze came in.  Very shifty.  We motored the last couple of miles past Pakatoa and Rotorua Islands.  Unusually we were under full sail for the whole passage until the motor went on.

Oneroa Island astern

Sailing East

Approaching Thumb Point

Passing Thumb Point

Close-hauled S

Approaching Pakatoa Island

We anchored in Chamberlain Bay with 5 other boats.  Later in the afternoon we started cleaning the hull for the first time since Whangaroa Harbour.  The water's murky with about 2m visibility.  By sunset we were amongst 25 boats.

Afternoon in Chamberlain Bay

Chamberlain Bay dawn

We expect to stay here for a couple of nights.  Winds are expected to remain light.  Hopefully we'll complete cleaning the hull.

Trust all's well where you are.

Rangitoto Island to Waiheke Island

Hi everyone,

On Friday we had a short sail from Islington Bay on Rangitoto Island to Oneroa Bay on Waiheke Island.  We sailed the 8nm under yankee alone with about 10 knots of wind and 1 knot of current with us.

Sunset in Oneroa Bay

Here's a screenshot of our track...

Track

Waiheke island is a popular destination for Auckland locals and international tourists.  High speed ferries deliver folks to the island.  There are lots of cafes and restaurants in the villages, and wineries and breweries inland.  On our first night there were about 80 boats in the bay.  On Saturday night there were about 100.  Felt a little like a busy time at Rottnest.

On Saturday we dinghied ashore and walked to the Mudbrick Vineyard.  It was a 30 minute walk up into the hills overlooking Oneroa village and the bay.  Very nice scenery.

On the beach

Walking past the vineyards.

Nice scenery

Mudbrick Vineyard

At the winery we opted for two 'flights' of four wines.  We sat outdoors overlooking the vineyard with views down to the sea.  Very pleasant.  The flights are very affordable, unlike buying bottles at the vineyard.

Wine Tasting

From Mudbrick we walked back into town.  Along the way we visited the local art gallery which was OK.  Then by accident we discovered a Music Museum in the same building which is very good.  Lots of pianos of many types, and likewise accordions.  And one can play the pianos.  Nic had a go on several, including their harpsicord.

Pianos

Accordions

More pianos

On Sunday we again went ashore, this time to bus to a couple of breweries.  But first we went for a walk to take photos of the bay.

A view of the bay

The island busses are cheap and frequent.  We first visited The Heke Brewery.  We had a flight of beers and a snack.  Hazy IPAs are all the rage in NZ to the flight featured their lager, hazy IPA, IPA and A(merican)PA.  All very nice, especially the APA.  Heke also distills whisky but we decided against sampling them.

Pints of Heke APA

Heke Brewery

Gardens

From Heke we walked for 10 minutes to the co-located Alibi Brewing Co and Tantalus Vineyards.  We sat inside near the bar.  Turns out their brewer was originally from Little Creatures Brewery in WA but recently moved on.  We had a flight of Alibi beers, a snack of beef croquettes, a tasting of four spectacular wines, a pavlova and coffees.  Great service.  All for less than NZD100.  What a treat!

Laden vines

Tantalus vineyard

Wine tasting

In the bar

Pavlova!

Ex-Pavlova!

We caught a bus back to Oneroa village and returned to Zen Again in good spirits.  Twas a great weekend.  Nice to experience civilisation similar to the Swan Valley and Margaret River at home in WA.

Trust all's well where you are!