Opua Return Final

Hi everyone,

Today we will clear out of New Zealand!  At last we have a good weather window.  While waiting we spent a last week out at Awaawaroa Bay, a lovely spot with great protection from SW through N to E.  On our way back to Opua we spent a couple of nights in Pomare Bay.

Sunset in the Bay of Islands

Here's our track to and from the bay...

Track

The week in Awaawaroa Bay was very chilled.  Several nights we were on our own there.  For much of our stay we had N winds, often with showers.  It's getting chilly here overnight with a lot of dew.  However the water was 21C and we had several sessions hull-cleaning.

Pole position in Awaawaroa Bay

Company further out in the bay

Sunny Day

Cloudy Day

On weighing anchor in Pomare Bay, which has a muddy bottom, we broke our third and last short-arm plastic winch handle.  We only use this type on the anchor windlass since the short arm doesn't interfere with the headsail furling line nearby.  We replaced it when back in Opua.

While at anchor we tested the SSB, talking on the ham ANZA Net with folks across Australia, NZ and in Hawaii.  On another day we chatted with a ham in Florida.  Propagation conditions are good!

Third fractured winch handle

We've been super-busy preparing for departure today since returning to the marina on Friday.  Fuel and water tanks and jerries filled, deck gear checked, shackled dry-lubed, anchor lashed and bolted in place, provisions topped-up, charts updated, computer rebooted, rattlers packed in cloths etc etc.

It's also been social.  FSC F89 Halcyon Days arranged an Aussie movie night on ANZAC Day.  We showed The Castle - a great Aussie classic - with many Aussies and others having a great night.  Yesterday Nicki and I took the ferry across the river and walked up to Omata Estate winery for an early birthday celebration.  Twas a great lunch and nice to have a break from the preparations.

On the ferry

At the winery

Kitchen Platter is highly recommended

Good times!

We expect our passage, almost certainly to Southport QLD, to take 10-12 days.  There's a big, 'blocking' high pressure system in the Tasman Sea which we'll 'ride' most of the way.  It'll be fantastic to return to the Aussie east coast after 15 years.

Trust all's well where you are!

Opua Return Again

Hi everyone,

Sadly last week's weather window to sail for Australia closed.  So on Tuesday we departed the Bay of Islands Marina in Opua to spend some more time in the Bay.  We anchored in Clendon Cove for a couple of nights, six nights in Opunga Cove and one night in Pomare Bay near Russell.  Winds were E for most of the week.  Yesterday we returned to the marina to ride out approaching ex-TC Vaianu.

Waiting on ex-TC Vaianu

Here's our track...

Track

Our stay in Clendon Cove was very quiet.  We were the only boat there.  We discovered why on our second night when it became quite rolly.

Clendon Cove

The next day we moved to Opunga Cove.  It's a very popular anchorage but we scored a good spot well inside the bay in 4m over mud.  The weather was variable.  Autumn has arrived so it's cooler.  Ex-tropical lows are continuing to drop down from the north.

A little sun in Opunga Cove

Rainy weather in Opunga Cove

Collecting water

With TC Vaianu passing W of Fiji and heading S we booked a berth back in the marina.  On Thursday we motored in a flat calm to Pomare Bay S of Russell.  Then on Friday we motored the short distance back to the marina.  We backed into the berth so we'd be head to wind when the ex-TC passes by.

Looking N towards Russell in Pomare Bay

Run-off in Pomare Bay

Weather this morning

Back in the marina we rigged double dock lines, did our laundry and had hot showers.  We met up with several friends who are also here for the ex-TC's passage.  It seems the Coromandel Peninsula (to our SE) will have the worst weather.  The local news is calling it a cyclone, which it ain't.  But it will drop a lot of rain and bring gale-force winds, mostly overnight tonight.

Zen Again in the marina last night

We're continuing to wait for a weather window to depart!

Trust all's well where you are.

Opua Return

Hi everyone,

After several nights at Opunga Cove we started making our way to the Bay of Islands Marina in Opua.  We spent two nights in Matauwhi Bay near Russell then two nights in Tewahapu Bay.  We went into the marina to wait out a tropical low as it passed by.

Run-off in Opua 'apres le deluge'

Here are out tracks...

Tracks

In Russell we repeated our pattern of fish'n'chips on the waterfront, a beer at the Duke of Marlborough, an ice cream then a shop at the supermarket.  Always fun!

Icecream in Russell

At Tewahapu Bay we anchored a shore dinghy ride away from the small beach.  There one can leave the dink and follow a track to the Omata Estate Winery.  We had a great wine tasting and lunch there.

Zen Again in Tewahapu Bay

Tewahapu Bay dinghy beach

Walking through the vineyard

Ready to eat at 

Lovely wines and kitchen platter

We moved into the Bay of Islands Marina on Tuesday.  An E wind was coming in, with a lot of rain and wind forecast.  Wednesday and Thursday were both wet and windy.  We easily filled out water tank and jerries.  And it was nice to return to the Opua Cruising Club for cheap beers.  And of course the hot showers were marvellous, even with the horizontal rain en-route!

We'll be using the marina's courtesy car tomorrow to get our empty gas cylinder filled and for a provisioning shop.  We hope to clear out on Tuesday and depart towards Australia - if the weather window holds.  Otherwise we'll wait in the Bay of Islands.  New Zealand hasn't been kind to us with weather windows but perhaps our luck will change!

Trust all's well where you are.