Prior to Easter I had spent 5 weeks in a row working in Australia, the money is better there!
My son and his two flatmates drove up from New Plymouth and we departed Westhaven for Kawau Island at 7.30 pm. With Radar Tusk can travel the darkest nights. We anchored for the night in Saleyard Bay, on the north side of Bon Accord harbour.
Departing Saleyard Bay just after sun rise.
Early next morning with the sun coming up I sipped on a cup of fresh tea and took the boat out to the Barrier whilst the young blokes slept. The best time of the day for cruising in my opinion.The departure through the North Channel was uneventful and the sea conditions perfect for the trip to the Barrier. It is 25 miles from North Channel to the entrance to Man O War passage.
This photo shows looking back to North Channel with Kawau Island on the left.
The next two days were uneventful, a few snapper and crayfish.We spent one night in Fitzroy Harbour and another in Tryphena harbour. Fuel was a problem as I had left home without topping the tank, so a return to Fitzroy to top up was called for.No complaints, but the weather forecast for Easter Monday was not flash so we made the dash for the bottom end of Waiheke on Sunday morning. We had some fun fishing the white water at Channel island, then off Port Jackson we spotted the gaff rigger yacht Wairiki under full sail being sailed by Jason Prew and a companion. So these photos are of Wairiki, unfortunately I missed a picture of her with her topsail set. But she still looked a fine sight.
Wairiki sailing with Cape Colville in the background.
Port Jackson is immediately behind Wairiki. Look at the length of that boom.
There is something special when one sees an old gaffer being sailed really well.
Just wished I got apicture of her with the topsail set. Wairiki had sailed back from Tauranga.
We ended up heading in late Sunday evening and that was great as it rained all day Easter Monday.
