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.  We reckon the dolphins were trying to warn us since sunfish are big and slow-moving.

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!