Author: Ray Penson

Over the years I have developed deep respect for the marine environment. In some respects, you could call me an environmentalist, I believe we need to preserve our environment from harm while at the same time maintaining a practical balance with human needs.

FAIR WEATHER EXCURSION

This morning all was peaceful in Whangaroa Harbour, flat calm, quiet and clear skies.  I sat in the cockpit with an early morning cup of tea and savoured the tranquillity as the sun rose above the hills. This the best time of the day.

0

WHANGAROA HARBOUR – DINING OUT

Eager to vacate the Bay of Islands and boats with blue underwater lights I was up early. The sky was still grey overcast and threatening but the wind looked steady. I had considered towing the dinghy but knew that sods law would come into play and lead to disaster, the dinghy and outboard were securely stowed on deck for the passage to Whangaroa.

1

RAIN AGAIN – BAY OF ISLANDS

After a quiet night at Whangamumu Harbour and a leisurely breakfast we weighed anchor and headed out into a decent swell and confused sea.  Once clear of the harbour things sorted themselves out and we sailed on a brisk S’Wly breeze up to and around Cape Brett.  From there it was plain sailing all the way down into the Bay of Islands, the sun came out, it started to feel like summer had arrived.

0

ARRIVAL WHANGAMUMU

Saturday morning and the weather looked good, not much wind at our anchorage in Kairara Bay but hopefully more outside.  Keen to get going I started the engine and weighed anchor.  By sunrise we were heading out of Port Fitzroy and feeling the first heave of the easterly swell.

2

SAILING AGAIN – NO RUM!

Sailing season opened on the 1st January.  Unfortunately the weather forecast was atrocious for the week, so we delayed departure.  This decision turned out to be correct, nasty easterly winds and plenty of rain made the first week of the New Year a wash out.

0

Blog at WordPress.com.

Up ↑

%d bloggers like this: