Marsden Cove to Whangarei

Hi everyone,

On Friday we departed Marsden Cove Marina for Whangarei.  We split the passage by anchoring overnight at Limestone Island.  Many of our cruising pals from the Pacific are in Whangarei with more arriving back from trips home over the festive season.

"Fish Hook" Bascule Bridge

We motored the 5nm to Limestone Island.  The island is about half way up Whangarei Harbour.  It's a nice anchorage with up to 1 knot of tide running through its outer part.  While there we did several boat jobs including separating our stern anchor's chain from its nylon rode and eye-splicing the latter.  Stowing them as a single unit wasn't working - too heavy!  We relearned how to splice 8-braid line.

Track to Limestone Island

Motoring upstream

Approaching Limestone Island

Anchored off Limestone Island

Stern anchor chain

Limestone Island sunset

After a good night's sleep we headed up the harbour to the Town Basin in the centre of Whangarei.  The lower part of the Harbour reminded us of the Tamar River in Tasmania.  The upper part reminded us of UK south coast rivers with lots of small marinas and boats on pile moorings.

About a mile short of the Town Basin one has to pass through a lifting Bascule bridge.  One calls the operator on VHF ch 18 to arrange passage.  We passed through with one other yacht.  From there the river is quite narrow with pile moorings and boat houses on each side.  Then it opens out at the marina beyond which there's a low bridge.

Track to Whangarei Town Basin

Arrival

Motoring upstream

Approaching the bridge

Through the bridge

Approaching Town Basin

In Town Basin

We've had another article published in UK magazine Yachting Monthly's March edition.  Entitled "Six Months in a Leaky Boat".  It describes hunting down and fixing several leaks during our 2024 North Atlantic circuit.

Front Page

First page of article

We'll be staying here for several days to do some "big town" shopping and to catch up with various cruising friends.

Trust all's well where you are!

Tutukaka to Marsden Cove

Hi everyone,

On Monday we sailed from Tutukaka to Marsden Cove Marina.  Yes, at last we had wind to sail!  Twas a great day despite a cloudy and drizzly start.

Marsden Cove Marina channel

Here are the usual plots...

Track

Arrival

Graphs

As we rounded Bream Head a pod of dolphins appeared.  They were big - similar to those in WA - and seemed very excited.  Then we sailed past what we think was a sunfish with several dolphins close around it.  Perhaps the dolphins were trying to encourage us to turn away.

Tutukaka departure

Dolphins

Sunfish?

Once around Bream Head and in its lee we motored to Marsden Cove.  The tide was ebbing since we'd arrived sooner than anticipated.  We had about 1.5 knots against us and by the time we reached the marina channel it was low tide.  We got into the marina with a minimum depth in/near the channel of 2.5m.

Entering Whangarei Harbour

Marsden Cove channel

In the marina

We spent four nights in the marina.  As usual it was nice to do the laundry and have hot showers.  And there's a pretty good supermarket nearby.  We had dinner and a sundowner aboard with Tim of OCC sv Thestral who we sailed through Tonga with last year.

Next we'll be moving up the harbour to Whangarei Town Basin marina.  We'll stay there for a few days to explore the town and do some 'big town' shopping.

Trust all's well where you are!

Whangaruru to Tutukaka

Hi everyone,

Last Saturday we motored, and for a while sailed, from Whangaruru to Tutukaka.  Our two nights in Whangaruru were spent aboard.  Nice quiet spot.

Tutukaka dawn

The 23nm passage to Tutukaka was in 5-8 knot E winds.  We had a little more apparent wind when heading S and sailed for an hour.

Rimariki Island S of Whangaruru

South Gable Island outside Tutukaka

Red Rock at Tutukaka Harbour entrance

Here is our track...

Track

Arrival

Tutukaka Harbour is well protected by a narrow entrance.  Easterly swell can penetrate the harbour but it's a good anchorage.  Once inside it opens up into a reasonable sized harbour.  There are quite a few moored boats but sufficient room for anchoring.  On the NW side of the harbour a marina is accessed via a buoyed channel.

At anchor in Tutukaka

View of entrance from anchorage

On Sunday we dinked in to the marina and explored the small town.  The small General Store is pretty good and there are an array of cafes to choose from.  Tis a nice little place.

Dinghy Dock

Statue in the park

Boat launching ramp (alternate dinghy dock)

General Store

We had a couple of beers and some chips at the Game Fishing Club then headed back to Zen Again.  We'll be continuing S soon.

Trust all's well where you are.