All night the wind remained fickle as we slowly headed south towards Portland. By 05:00 the wind started to pick up and an hour later was gusting 25 knots, the top end of the forecast range. As we approached Portland the wind seemed to have increased more and the note in my log estimates it... Continue Reading →
Voyage Logs
NO ANCHORAGE, SO A NIGHT AT SEA
The anchorage at Waima Cove turned out to be quite good, just a little chop coming in over the reef, but I had a good night’s rest. Today I want to head south but the forecast further south is not nice, particularly around Castlepoint where gale force winds are happening. I have it in my... Continue Reading →
ROUNDING EAST CAPE
The wind died down last night and I finally had a really good rest. I had a look around early morning, all was peaceful and I indulged in another hour in bed. After a leisurely breakfast I sailed off the anchor with triple reefed main and yankee at 10:00. I soon shook a couple of... Continue Reading →
MANGONUI TO HICKS BAY, A MIXED BAG
After a slow but steady start from Mangonui on the afternoon of the 25th the wind died and I had to resort to motor, passing Cape Brett around midnight in calm seas. All the next day the wind teased me, alternating between scampering along under full sail to being becalmed and slatting sails. The motor was... Continue Reading →
SUMMER SAILING, VISITORS AND WONDERFUL WEATHER
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 →
CAPTURED IN WHALE BAY
Another perfect night. I am getting spoilt with calm conditions and peaceful anchorages. The only disturbance this morning was the cows on the hill making noise. This place is good, we are captured here for another day as we can’t think of a better place to go. Tranquil conditions in Whale Bay. Photo : Ray... Continue Reading →
AROUND CAPE BRETT TO THE BAY OF ISLANDS
An early start this morning in calm clear conditions. We picked up the anchor, motored out of Whangamumu harbour and up the coast towards Cape Brett. As we approached Cape Brett the birdlife increased, obviously some good food source for the birds around here. Cape Brett Lighthouse. Photo Ray Penson We passed close to Motukokako... Continue Reading →
BUSH WALKS AND TIRED LEGS
Another wonderful sleeping night. Awoke this morning refreshed and looked out to a peaceful calm anchorage. Lots of boats in the anchorage, many of them preparing for a day’s fishing. We took breakfast in the cockpit, coffee with English muffins and my homemade grapefruit marmalade. The weather is warm now, looks like the New Zealand... Continue Reading →
WHANGAMUMU HARBOUR
After a wonderful peaceful night’s sleep we had a leisurely breakfast before heading ashore in the dinghy. The little Suzuki outboard is running a bit rough, I think it needs some adjustment on the carburettor, a side effect of its recent drowning no doubt. Once ashore we wandered around, bought some ice for the ice... Continue Reading →
TUTUKAKA HARBOUR
Yesterday afternoon one of the wind gusts flipped the dinghy upside down and dunked the outboard. Salt water everywhere, in the oil, in the fuel and of course in the engine. Many hours of work later (and some colourful language of encouragement) the outboard sprang to life, seemingly none the worse for it. At last... Continue Reading →
The Adventures of Captain Ray Penson 