Whangaroa to Whangamumu

Hi everyone,

We spent a week from 17th January in Whangaroa Marina.  Twas time to do the laundry and the weather outlook was grim - lots of wind and even more rain.  So it turned out with very heavy rain from an ex-tropical low on Wednesday and Thursday.  We had at least 250mm of rain.  Areas further south in Northlands had much more.

Sailing SE from Whangaroa

Full water tanks and overflowing jerries

Run-off turned the harbour brown

Zen Again in Whangaroa Marina

After leaving the marina early on Saturday morning we motored to Waitepipi Bay in the harbour's western arm.  There were half a dozen yachts and several motor vessels anchored there.  For the next two days S-SW winds were strong and gusty - up to 30 knots - with rain showers.

There's an interesting weather phenomenon here.  The winds die almost every night.  It seems an inversion layer forms with calms below and gradient wind above.  The gradient wind gets back to the surface by 0900 each morning.

Yesterday we finally departed Whangaroa Harbour.  We really enjoyed our time there.  So many scenic anchorages and no swell.  The only thing missing is a supermarket.

We sailed to Whangamumu on the east side of Cape Brett.  Here are the usual screenshots...

Track

Arrival

Graphs

Winds were light to moderate W-SW.  Occasional light showers and mostly overcast.  We sailed all the way to Cape Brett.  From there we motored around the cape where winds were very fluky then onward 4nm S to Whangamumu Harbour.

Approaching Cape Brett

Approaching Motukokako/Piercy Island and "the Dog"

Rounding Cape Brett

Passing inside Motukokako/Piercy Island

Cape Brett lighthouse

Approaching Whangamumu Harbour

Anchored

Morning Light

We expect to spend several nights here.  Winds are forecast to be very light for the next week.  We plan to clean the hull and explore ashore.  We'll then hop SE towards Whangarei.

We haven't given up on reaching South Island.  At the moment we're thinking we'll give the E coast a try.  This allows us to explore the coast to Auckland and perhaps the Bay of Plenty.  We'll be watching out for a weather window to take us S.

Trust all's well where you are!