Category Archive

New Zealand to Australia: Day Twelve New Zealand to Australia: Day Twelve

LAND AT LAST!!   After yet another boisterous night, a ‘massive’ 28nm were attained over a five hour duration.   0400 and we sighted the bright as day lights of fishing boats upon the distant horizon. Yes, civilisation wasn’t far off now and our hearts lightened when the numbers on the GPS read 64nm remaining […]

New Zealand to Australia: Day Eleven New Zealand to Australia: Day Eleven

AND THE WIND CHANGED!!!   Bob and I arose to find another day of squalls ahead of us, and the seas no less confused.   As always, our experiences this day were no less challenging.   Without warning, at the proverbial click of a finger the wind dropped a massive 19 knots from 25 down […]

New Zealand to Australia: Day Ten New Zealand to Australia: Day Ten

A STORM!   Awakened to the sound of howling winds and winches grinding, it was with a rush – or as much as one could in the conditions – that I hastened upstairs. The storm, I discovered, had struck with ferocious vengeance.   Cliff was at the helm, Bob on the starboard gennie sheet winch […]

New Zealand to Australia: Day Nine New Zealand to Australia: Day Nine

FOG!!!   Bob and I awoke to calm glassy conditions and a damp cold fog surrounding Australis 1. Currents revolve in all directions through this whole region – the intricacy of which I only came to fully understand after viewing the ABC’s, ‘Australia’s Ocean Odyssey: A Journey Down the East Australian Current’ a month or […]

New Zealand to Australia: Day Eight New Zealand to Australia: Day Eight

AND THE WIND DIED!   With the rising of the dawn, Australis 1 was placed on a beam reach and headed directly for New Castle. 415nm remained of the journey and we were now on the home stretch – or so we thought! Once more, the main’s upper cars hadn’t held up to the strain […]

New Zealand to Australia: Day Seven New Zealand to Australia: Day Seven

Disbelief, as just before dawn, the auto pilot, decided it was no longer able to cope with the conditions made and experienced non – stop hissy fits.   Two hours or so of constantly dealing with constantly correcting large directional errors that took place as she gave way, the decision to go to manual control […]

New Zealand to Australia: Day 6 New Zealand to Australia: Day 6

The albatross returned and entertain us this morning. Over our ocean travels, Bob and I had discovered why seamen of yesteryear were so superstitious on sighting these magnificent birds – in actuality, the reason goes for any sea bird. In lighter conditions the birds soar gracefully between the swells and over the waves but, as […]

New Zealand to Australia: Day 5 New Zealand to Australia: Day 5

Day five of what was proving to be the ‘slow boat to China´, the waters were slightly improved, but not much.   For the first time since the last sail car had broken, the boys were able to substitute the main’s top car with one from below. Repairs completed, the sail was raised and set […]

New Zealand to Australia: Day four New Zealand to Australia: Day four

That had been the most uncomfortable of nights and sleep nigh on impossible. Resultant of the bucking bronco conditions, to remain on one’s bed, one had needs to find any niche that could be a possible grab hold. Spread eagled on the bed, with the left foot pinioned between the two mattresses, the right braced […]

New Zealand to Australia: Day Three New Zealand to Australia: Day Three

On arising from below, Bob and I were greeted by the sight of rolling hills, the leftover result from those overnight squalls. Grey skies were brightened by the rarity of the brightest of rainbows as the sun fought to break her way through the clouds’ dreary domination. On undertaking the daily sail check, one of […]

New Zealand to Australia: Day Two New Zealand to Australia: Day Two

An uneventful night led us into morning and by daylight – about 7am – we were almost opposite North Cape.   To our relief, the early hours had brought with them a return of the wind at a workable 11 knots and our beauty was holding steady, so once more it was possible to conserve […]

New Zealand to Australia: Day One New Zealand to Australia: Day One

Bob and I had been in New Zealand since early February and thanks to long delays in completion of the paperwork for registration and renaming of Saliander to Australis 1 – the result of  having to physically post documentation – in Australia, plus the outbreak of Covid19 and its level four lockdown in New Zealand, […]

A Morning Birdwatching A Morning Birdwatching

Awaawaroa Bay to Waiiti Bay (dinghy) This morning Bob took me around to Waiiti Bay and I alighted with camera in hand: The aim? A few hours spent in bliss bird watching! Loaded with camera and the largest telephoto I currently own (300mm equivalent) up the hill I climbed. A short distance in, my destination […]

New Zealand Bird Sightings! New Zealand Bird Sightings!

Paradise Cove, Urupukapuka Island to Awaawaroa Bay, Moturua Island With a change approaching, the decision was made to motor the short distance across to the sheltered Awaawaroa Bay on Moturua Island. Waiiti Bay, Bay of Islands Making the most of the weather window, a dinghy ride took us around to Waiiti Bay Bay. First, a […]

Search for a New Boat: the Story Search for a New Boat: the Story

With each year’s commencement I am always determined to keep the Blog up to date and, as always, that plan fell into disarray almost immediately upon our return to Europe in 2019. The past half decade had seen Bob and I mulling over the concept of returning to the Med in Gratis and purchasing a […]

Stunning Cloud at Sunset Stunning Cloud at Sunset

Cloud over Russell, Bay of Islands Yes, we moved again. It’s amazing how much food four people can eat! There was even a rainbow!

Urupukapuka: An Island Delight Urupukapuka: An Island Delight

Urupukapuka Bay, Urupukapuka Island: New Zealand A dinghy ride onto the exquisite creamy white sand beach of Urupukapuka Bay led the four of us into a wanderer’s paradise. Camp sites set with toilets provided for the most basic of needs, whilst showers positioned in open meadows or beneath shaded trees, enabled visitors an opportunity to […]

Urupukapuka Island: A Perfect Anchorage Urupukapuka Island: A Perfect Anchorage

Paihia to Urupukapuka Island, New Zealand The intention had been to anchor in one of the protected harbours on Moturua Island. The best positions no longer vacant, Australis 1 was instead pointed toward the nature reserve of Urupakapuka Island. What a boon it proved to be, when late afternoon found us anchoring in Urupukapuka Bay. […]

Rainbow Delight in the Bay of Islands Rainbow Delight in the Bay of Islands

Clendon Cove to Paihia More gas and fresh foods required, a motor – winds just didn’t play fair for us – into Paihia. Winds 6-9kn when we awoke increased to 15kn as Australis 1 departed. Exiting the protection of the bay, true wind was, in actuality, 24kn+. Oh to raise the sails. Perfect conditions for […]

Windy Day in Orokawa Bay, New Zealand Windy Day in Orokawa Bay, New Zealand

Orokawa Bay to Clendon Cove With winds increasing over the past few days, our delightful anchorage had become just a little uncomfortable as the fetch built. Already, one of the smaller boats had dragged – and rapidly! Fortunately, there were moorings for the single hander to grab hold of and attach a line to. As […]