The Adventures of Captain Ray Penson
Sailing Yacht Truce
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.
When I acquired Truce she didn’t have a fridge on board. The previous owners liked simplicity on board and didn’t go for ‘fancy’ systems. The top opening icebox on board was very well insulated, ice would keep for several days. The dream of cold beer on the beach realised. Photo Ray Penson I went along... Continue Reading →
My new years resolution last year was to “Drink more different types of Beer.” I am happy to report I have largely been successful in this endeavour. It has not been an easy task. The breweries have conspired against me by producing an increasing number of craft beers at an alarming rate. Keeping up with... Continue Reading →
Truce has never had a bilge alarm. I know its an essential piece of kit, but I have never got around to fitting one until now. Every ship I have been on has bilge alarms; they are an important safety item. I have now remedied the oversight, another little job ticked off the list. On... Continue Reading →
How many USB's do you need? The answer is heaps. For a long time we have had only two USB's on board Truce. Most of the time it has been adequate but with two people on board and the proliferation of electrical gadgets that need charging it is no longer sufficient. We have phones, tablets,... Continue Reading →
The Adventures of Captain Ray Penson 