The Adventures of Captain Ray Penson
Sailing Yacht Truce
New Zealand weather has been disappointing so far this year. Too much North Easterly wind and rain and with the prospect of winter around the corner I feel the need to escape. I feel the need some warmth and sun. Time to head north.
The end of January. From the logbook it appears that we have only had three days without rain this year – most unusual. Also, it appears that we have only had three days good sailing this year. Summer is a dud.
Our time at Waiiti Bay has come to a close. The weather forecast is for increasing easterly winds, although still only 20 knots. I suspect that we are in for a bit more in the coming days as this unusual summer weather continues. So, we are heading back into the safe embrace of Whangaroa Harbour.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
The Adventures of Captain Ray Penson 