Weekend cruise, not such great weather.

[John B]

Five days away over the extended Anzac weekend , the family is off touring the south island on a big ( in laws)get together and Riada needed moving from the marina east of town up to town.
So off on me todd I went into a real mix of weather, I think I got nearly everything you can get in the gulf over 5 days.
Overcast but no wind on Thursday I settled in at a bay only about 5 miles away from Pine harbour on waiheke where some mates came and met me that night.
http://i227.photobucket.com/albums/dd48/Waione_photos/misc%2008/100_0489_1.jpg

http://i227.photobucket.com/albums/dd48/Waione_photos/misc%2008/100_0491_1.jpg

Next day was a gunkhole down about 10 miles again, no wind to speak of.

Found this old dear on a mooring. Woolacott Ketch by the looks but no name .

http://i227.photobucket.com/albums/dd48/Waione_photos/misc%2008/100_0495_1.jpg

In the afternoon was a walk on Ponui Island where you can get a nice look at the Waiheke/ Ponui channel( just to give you an idea of what the place looks like).

http://i227.photobucket.com/albums/dd48/Waione_photos/misc%2008/100_0497_1.jpg
Saturday was due to blow and rain for the night plus sunday so my friends took off for home and I settled in at Rocky bay. Blew about 30 knots overnight but I just dumped out an extra 10 metres in only about 5 metres of water and good holding. Funny thing happened going in there. Its no big deal getting in but there is one hidden rock right in the passage so you lean port a bit to clear it. Just as I dumped the sails and started up the motor, and I'm constantly looking up to check etc( as you do) a pair of big ole seagoing dolphin of about 9 or 10 ft blew right on the transom.Hell of a fright, they were probably having a good old dolphin laugh about that.
Half of sunday was spent sitting out the squalls and the rain but after lunch I thought I'd trickle up a bit closer to town. Sort of 12 or 15 in the lee but 18 or 20 out there. I sailed off the anchor and within an hour the girl was blasting along at 7.5 and 8.5 at times just under main and #3, great fun.

http://i227.photobucket.com/albums/dd48/Waione_photos/misc%2008/100_0504_1.jpg
I sailed onto anchor in Drunks bay( Islington bay) and settled in for the night. Pitch black by 6.00 or so at this time of the season.

[John B]

Imagine my surprise when I woke up in the AM to discover nothing. whiteout , nearly. You East coast guys will laugh but we don't get this much at all, Fog... unheard of.
http://i227.photobucket.com/albums/dd48/Waione_photos/misc%2008/100_0505_1.jpg
Actually , once I'd looked I realised I did expect it because ships horns half woke me in the night:rolleyes:
Luana, the 1920's bridgedecker leaving the bay an hour before me.
http://i227.photobucket.com/albums/dd48/Waione_photos/misc%2008/100_0508_1.jpg
No rush needed, no point in going, I waited till it cleared at about 11.30 or so before leaving the bay

Once I left though I could see that the wall was still present outside the bay. That bonito or whatever it is disappeared altogether very shortly after that.
http://i227.photobucket.com/albums/dd48/Waione_photos/misc%2008/100_0509_1.jpg

I continued out past the ferry lane, clicked a go to on the gps , checked my compass bearing and planned to quietly motor on through and meandered in to x files land about 2 or 300 metres. Then I thought what the hell am I doing, its sunny behind me, this will blow away soon and while I know where I'm going it only takes one dick with a chartplotter and a god complex to make a crash , so I turned around and went fishin for another hour.

Good idea, the fog broke and the day went spectacular with a light breeze from 5 to about 8 knots.

[John B]

Check this shot out, look at the water.
http://i227.photobucket.com/albums/dd48/Waione_photos/misc%2008/100_0513_1.jpg
Slack tide near as dammit, glassy water and Riada sliding along under 3 sails at 5.5 GPS knots.Wind shear.
It tightened up a bit closer to town and came up a bit and was just delightful.

http://i227.photobucket.com/albums/dd48/Waione_photos/misc%2008/100_0515_1.jpg

EX AC charter boat out with some guests
http://i227.photobucket.com/albums/dd48/Waione_photos/misc%2008/100_0518_1.jpg

and Bruem
http://i227.photobucket.com/albums/dd48/Waione_photos/misc%2008/100_0519_1.jpg
and into the new marina for about 3 hours worth of setting up lines and cleaning up.
Good fun, 4 1/2 books read and too much food et.:rolleyes:
Gale warning out today.

[J P]

Sailed into Drunks Bay ... woke up in a fog :D

[JimD]

Thanks for the pics and commentary, John.

[John B]

Drunks bay...Hmm, hadn't thought about that:D

bit of data on Breum.may be of interest.
Breum was Danish built in 1925 for use as a sailing fishing vessel in the North Sea. She is 50 tons single-skin oak planks on oak frames with 50mm planking and wrought-iron fastened.
In 1980 a German businessman converted her to a pleasure boat in Kiel and in the 1990’s she was based in Tonga for bird research.
From 1995 she has been owned locally and undergone a major restoration, re-planking and fastening/recaulking program. A new but traditional interior, electrics, electronics and power now ensure ongoing usefulness of this vessel.
Breum has also been re-rigged but retains her gaff ketch cutter headsail configuration with tan coloured sails.

[John B]

Thanks for the pics and commentary, John.

Summers gone for good now I do believe so that'll be the last of my summer sailing threads Jim. And someone commented on it always being sunny here so I thought I'd enlighten em to the truth.;)There's an almighty system about to descend upon us today, all sorts of dire warnings.
The usual media " and coastguard/met service/ faceless man in an office advises boaties to check their moorings".
Too late for that buddy. ;)

[JimD]

If I could own any boat it would probably be a lot like Breum - a high, plumb bow, sexy rake to the transom, big, bright, airy wheelhouse.

[John B]

Great boat but pretty motor reliant. Big enough to be comfortable and she looks like she'll go through anything as you'd expect from her heritage. Not a stellar performer under sail I believe.

[JimD]

Great boat but pretty motor reliant. Big enough to be comfortable and she looks like she'll go through anything as you'd expect from her heritage. Not a stellar performer under sail I believe.

That's ok, I'm a lousy sailor anyway. Something that will keep me alive in spite of myself would be just the ticket.