The Adventures of Captain Ray Penson
Sailing Yacht Truce
Friday 12th May, departed from Auckland and headed North towards the Bay of Islands. Steven, my son is with me and eager to undertake his first offshore passage. In the early afternoon we took the outgoing tide from Hobsonville Marina, motoring under the Auckland Harbour bridge and then sailing with headsails up to Kawau Island. We anchored in Mansion House Bay in the early evening and had a quiet and peaceful night at anchor, awaking to flat calm in the morning.
So much has happened in the last couple of weeks I need to consult the log book to jog my memory. After the peaceful sailing in the Bay of Islands, we had to put Truce on a mooring for a few days while Ngozi and I headed back to Auckland to meet some guests coming... Continue Reading →
Today was dedicated to clean up and chores on board Truce and taking it easy. In beautiful calm sunny weather, I set about tidying the boat. Stowing all the bits and bobs that I had been using on passage and stashed in the quarter berth for convenience and ease of access from the cockpit. On... Continue Reading →
The wind overnight was not as strong as forecast so in was a little slower than anticipated, I really wanted to make some miles and reduce the time in the strong winds closer to the Bay of Islands. It turned out fine the wind picked up in the morning and I had a good thirty... Continue Reading →
No wind this last twenty-four hours and the engine has been running constantly. The diesel bunker is getting low now so I was grateful when the wind finally showed up just after noon. Since then we have been sailing nicely straight down the track to Opua in beautify weather. In anticipation of the big blow this... Continue Reading →
This morning the wind finally died at ten, just ripples on the water. We now have a huge spreading calm patch to get through before picking up the strong north westerly winds that will take us the final step to Opua. The Yanmar engine has been running since the wind left us. Maybe it will... Continue Reading →
Banging to windward all last night and today on starboard tack. Getting to New Zealand is a battle, every mile must be won. I am not complaining – some are still in the north waiting for a break in the weather and one yachtsman is sheltering at Raoul Island. The daybreak this morning was beautiful... Continue Reading →
It’s a good job I made muffins yesterday – it would never have happened today, conditions are far too boisterous. The day started out with a rain squall and front just after midnight. Then a strong south west wind and swell set in and we have been using it all day make our way south the... Continue Reading →
I haven’t posted a log for a couple of days. I didn’t have much to say, Truce and I have been beating to the west to get around a am nasty patch of weather above New Zealand. Same slog day after day. After three days, we have gained enough distance to start turning to the... Continue Reading →
Last night at midnight we passed through a weather front. As we approached the front we were becalmed and motored in windless conditions for an hour before picking up the wind from the south east. When the wind filled in it had some force, we had a boisterous sail to mid-day with more benign conditions since. There... Continue Reading →
The Adventures of Captain Ray Penson 