TIME TO CHECK OUT

Well, we didn’t take the weather window on the 22nd of May, the weather was just not right for us.  A few other boats sailed out, but we decided to head north to Whangaroa Harbour and relax for a couple of days and do some fishing.

Unfortunately, with this latest delay it means that Steven will have to return to Australia on Friday.  It’s disappointing we can’t sail across to Australia together, we were both looking forward to the trip.  But you can’t go against nature and there will always be another time.

In the meantime, we had a couple of excellent days in Whangaroa.  We caught plenty of fish, we kept one for eating and dined well on snapper, Steven whipping up fish chips and peas with a nice beer batter.  The following day we managed to visit the Whangaroa Fishing Club and took refreshments, the Pizzas were too good to miss, we had a feast. 

On Friday morning Steven departed and got a lift to Kaeo from where he caught a bus to Auckland.  With Steven gone, I suddenly felt very lonely.  It had been wonderful having him on board.  Steven likes his food and is also a good cook.  I ate very well and now will be back to my boring diet of quick, easy and eating when you are hungry.

With Steven gone I decided to head back to the Bay of Islands as there was a northerly gale on its way, I should make it back before it arrived.  By late afternoon I was motoring out through Whangaroa heads and heading up to Flat Rock.  As the day was drawing to a close, I decided to anchor for a few hours in Waiti Bay.  The anchorage turned out to be a bit rolly, a low swell was setting in from the north.  By five in the morning, I had my fill of rolling and weighed anchor, heading south towards the Bay of Islands.

By ten in the morning, I had anchored in Patunui Bay.  This is an excellent anchorage in a northerly blow with a good muddy bottom.  For the next two days the wind blew with heavy rain.  The wind I saw most was a gust of thirty knots, on the other side of the hills on the coast it was blowing almost fifty knots.

I used this opportunity to test out my steading sail that I made up from a very old staysail.  It’s only small, about twelve square feet and I rig it off the backstay with the topping lift.  The effect on Truce is positive.  Truce has always sailed around at anchor in strong winds, particularly gusty winds.  First the bow pays off with the wind and then she sails upwind on the anchor.  Once she had ranged to the maximum on one side she turns back and charges in the opposite direction.  Most yachts do this, but Truce seems to be very proficient at it. 

Anyway, the steading sail dampens down the initial swing and seems to prevent the boat sailing forward on the anchor.  I am pleased with the results so far and certainly the movement and the swing is reduced, much more relaxed and only occasionally stressing the snubber. 

The weather now looks good for sailing north on the 30th of May.  I have stopped off in Russell and topped off the provisions so am all ready to go.  Outward clearance is booked for tomorrow afternoon with customs.