Tag: cruising

  • Boatwork in Exotic Locations

    One oft repeated phrases is “cruising is boat work in exotic locations.”  Cruising also involves play and exploration in exotic locations, but there is a constant background of boat maintenance with intermittent large projects.  I am taking a break from our regularly scheduled program of boat fun to bring you…boat work! We pulled into Opua…

  • Northland New Zealand: New Year 2025

    Matai Bay on the Kerikeri Peninsula, the furthest north we would venture in the Northland, turned out to be the perfect location for a New Year’s gathering for 8 kid boats, as well as a secure sandy anchorage for winds that hit 42 knots. Calder was stoked to wing foil daily. The beach was perfect…

  • Camping & Anchoring in Northland, New Zealand

    We kicked off December by a “shake-down” camping overnight to nearby Whananaki.  We walked the “Longest Footbridge in the Southern Hemisphere” at 395 metres, which was constructed in 1947, enabling the children living in Whananki South to attend school in Whananaki North.  Previously the schoolteacher rowed a boat across the estuary twice a day to…

  • ARRIVAL to New Zealand

    Passage: Tonga to New Zealand Day 7/8 – ARRIVAL! This morning, squalls moving in bringing 360 degree shifts in light winds.  Southern swell from a system off Australia is mixing with the dominant SE swell, creating interesting waves.  This morning, over coffee, Chris and I talked about what this passage from Tonga to NZ has…

  • Day 6: Passage Tonga to NZ

    Monday, November 11, 2024:  Passage Tonga to New Zealand Day 6 Conditions continue to be lovely this morning, sailing with our main and Code Zero in 15-20 knots of wind, seas only 1.5 meters.  This is the life!  Scattered squalls about.  At noon, wind disappears.  We have been advised to keep a 6.2 knot average…

  • Day 5: Passage Tonga to NZ

    Sunday, November 10, 2024:  Passage Tonga to New Zealand Day 5 This morning…more of the same?!  Big beam seas, winds 20-28, amazing to watch these waves lumber through the ocean, as we go up and over, Terikah is flying!  Calder, doing dishes below, gets a mist of saltwater to the face as a big wave…

  • Passage: Tonga to NZ Day 4

    Saturday, November 9, 2024:  Passage Tonga to New Zealand Day 4 The wash machine continues, as we are in the spin cycle of this stretch of water.  Daylight on these waves makes it much better, as we can anticipate them and change our COG (course over ground) as needed based on the direction of the…

  • Passage Tonga to NZ Day 3

    Good morning, just 10 miles from Minerva Reef and a decision day for us.  Winds and seas decreased and the sailing is slow today, but not wanting to motor and waste our diesel this early in the passage.  We ended up stopping at North Minerva Reef for a 4 hour rest.  Mind bending to see…

  • Day 2: Passage Tonga to NZ

    Good morning from Terikah!  Still riding the mechanical bull today, but we are hauling.  Big decision for the next 24 hours for us is whether we take a 1-2 day rest at Minerva Reef or keep on going to take advantage of the full weather window to New Zealand.  We make these decisions by analyzing…

  • Day 1: Passage Tonga to NZ

    Wednesday, November 6, 2024:  Passage Tonga to New Zealand Day 1 10:20am and anchor up in Tonga for the last time.  We are out here with other boats taking this weather window.  Today is supposed to be sporty and it’s not disappointing – average winds 23, beam seas 1.5-2 meters, hauling along at 9 knots…