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.