new zealand ~ parua bay to kawau bay

Posted on January 9, 2015 by Jenny

January 9 – 13, 2014

It was time to bid farewell to our friends in Parua Bay. My parents had less than a week left with us, so it was time to get moving. The plan was to day-hop our way to Auckland, exploring what we could along the way.

Since we were anchored in a very shallow area (to the point of sitting on the bottom at low tide!), we had to time our departure from Parua Bay on the high tide. Therefore, once the boat was floating with room to spare, we hoisted anchor and made our way to Urquharts Bay near the Whangarei Harbor opening. The following morning we began our southward trek. We only had a slight idea of how far we’d sail each day, and we didn’t really know where we’d end up for each night.

Our first stop after Urquharts Bay was about 32 miles south and around the point of Cape Rodney. We tucked up in Omaha Cove, home to many local fishing boats and the town of Leigh.

fishing boats in sleepy Omaha Cove

 

 

rocky shoreline in Omaha Cove

 

 

discussing headlands & navigation with Dad

 

 

one of many schools with a pool

 

an exploration walk with the family

 

 

New Zealand flora

an awesome method for getting your boat to the water!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Next stop was Algies Bay near Kawau Island. Even though shore access was difficult in Algies Bay, we were on a sheep farm mission. We wanted to have the closest access to Sheep World in Warkworth, which was finally achieved by a special shuttle pick-up.

After Wil dropped us off with the dinghy, it was still a long, mucky walk.

 

Yep! A long, mucky walk from the boat!

 

 

learning how to sheer a sheep during the demonstration

 

 

feeding a lamb

 

hungry lambs!

 

 

No, it can't come on the boat!

 

 

sheep for the herding demonstration

 

alpaca

 

donkeys ~ pet me please!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

While we were making our way down North Island’s east coast by sailboat, our s/v Sueño buddies were driving down by car. Nathalie’s parents had also been visiting for the holidays, and they were working their way to Auckland for their return flight, as well. The Sueños made a small detour to meet us in Snells Beach where they came aboard for a day trip to Kawau Island. The plan was to tour the Mansion House and hopefully see some wallabies among the resident animals. Sadly, we learned that wallabies are pests in New Zealand, and also with a group our size running around, a sighting would not be likely.

 

lunch before we go

 

local ducks checking us out

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

the Mansion House on Kawau Island

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mansion House ~ part of the reserve

walking the Mansion House Jetty

 

anchored in Two House Bay for the day

 

 

 

 

loving a big tree to climb

peacocks & pea hens were on the Mansion House grounds

 

a forest of ferns

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Part of our group hiked from Two House Bay across the headland to South Cove to explore an old copper mine. We were going to return to the Mansion House by following part of the coastline, but a couple of aggressive Oystercatcher birds refused to let us pass. They literally dove from the air towards David and Max! Therefore, rather than risk being further attacked , or disturbing these nesting birds, we returned to Two House Bay by another trail.

stone work from long ago

 

 

Kawau copper mine & enginehouse

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

what remains of the enginehouse

 

 

cast iron boiler

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

At the end of our day on Kawau Island, we said good-bye to the Sueños. We weren’t sure when we would see them next, but our fingers were crossed it would be before we all departed New Zealand. Little did we know, we’d see them again in just a few days!

good cruising buddies

 

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new zealand ~ a little road trip

Posted on December 18, 2014 by Jenny

January 7 – 9, 2014

a curious sheep

 

New Zealand is full of beautiful, rolling farmland. We were able to leave the boat on a mooring in Parua Bay for two days and make the scenic drive across Northland to visit with some old Kiwi cruising buddies. After a world circumnavigation, our friends have settled in the outskirts of Tinopai, a tiny town situated near Kaipara Harbour toward the western side of the North Island. They were very gracious to put up our family, plus my visiting parents, up for two nights in their home, as well as take us on a tour of the area. Among the many things we did, the Kauri Museum and scalloping in Kaipara Harbour were favorites.

a view from the home of our retired cruising friends

 

 

 

There are a couple of ways to collect scallops. Diving and collecting them by hand is one way, but when Wil attempted this in Bay of Islands, it wasn’t long before he suffered a headache from the cold water. Prolonged submersion in cold waters is risky business! Our friends treated us to a much easier (and warmer) method for collecting scallops. They took us out on an old, restored motor vessel for some scallop trawling. We used a small basket dredge to collect the scallops, and once we had our quota, we stopped the boat in a peaceful corner of the harbour for a beer. Later that evening, we all enjoyed an incredible scallop meal.

cleaning scallops from Kaipara Harbor ~ they were yummy!

Our friend, Greg, enjoys restoring old wooden boats. A pride and joy of his is Scamp, a 1943 mullet boat. The July 2014 magazine issue of “Boating New Zealand” has a DIY article featuring Greg’s restoration work with Scamp. She’s a beauty!

old church built in 1845 ~ St Michael on the Hill

historical church

overlooks green, rolling hills

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

carved Kauri wood

Kauri forest near Tinopai

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

in Pahi ~ on the base of a Moreton Bay Fig Tree more than 174 years old

 

 

 

 

historical tree of Pahi

not a small tree

 

 

 

 

 

After two wonderful days of visiting and touring with our friends, we returned to the boat in Parua Bay. Over the next several days, we would continue our sail toward Auckland.

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new zealand ~ a taste of whangarei

Posted on December 4, 2014 by Jenny

January 4 – 6, 2014

beautiful Gerber Daisies

During our next couple of days in Parua Bay, we had the pleasure of exploring the Whangarei Farmer’s Market. To this day, this market probably remains to be one of my favorites! Our friends in Parua Bay continued to be wonderful hosts. While Chip took Wil surfing, Barbara gave us small tours of the area.

 

 

 

 

vendors at the Whangarei Farmer's Market

 

meeting up with friends at the market ~ Sue & boys (s/v Yindee Plus) with my dad & me

gorgeous Lilies

 

 

 

 

 

 

participants getting their turn at weaving on the huge loom in The Bach

 

 

We visited The Bach (Basin Arts & Crafts House) and discovered it is home to something called the Whangarei Community Tapestry Project. The tapestry is a beautiful piece of work that has special meaning to a lot of people in Whangarei and surrounding areas.

 

 

the design for the Whangarei Community Tapestry Project

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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new zealand ~ bay of islands to whangarei

Posted on November 30, 2014 by Jenny

January 2 – 3 , 2014

With an overnight stop in Whangamumu Bay, we took two leisurely days to sail from Bay of Islands to the Whangarei area.

sailor girl

 

west side of Cape Brett ~ inside Bay of Islands

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

cute Little Blue Penguin sleeping?

oops! think we woke the penguin!

Motukokako Island ~ also known as Piercy

boats go through the tunnel

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

eastern side of Cape Brett Lighthouse

my dad enjoying the helm while Wil relaxes

enjoying the extra crew onboard

 

 

 

 

 

 

hanging a new gift from Santa

approaching Bream Head

 

 

 

 

 

gorgeous rolling hills of Parua Bay, Whangarei

Upon our arrival to Parua Bay, we were greeted by dear family friends who have been living in New Zealand. We were able to anchor near their home, and they took us in for dinner during our first night there. In addition to spending the next couple of days getting reaquainted with our friends, we also got to enjoy the amenities of a real house. Long, hot showers and a clothes washer!

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new zealand ~ family time in bay of islands

Posted on November 28, 2014 by Jenny

December 30, 2013 – January 1, 2014

I’ll never forget seeing my parents for the first time in over a year . . . standing on the Opua waterfront with Pete and Rae, our buddies from s/v Saliander. Early that morning, our dear friends had picked my parents up from the airport in Auckland and driven them up to Opua for us. We were all very thankful for their thoughtfulness and help. My parents wuold be spending three weeks with us, and we were eagerly looking forward to the time together.

Before taking them on a whirlwind tour of New Zealand, I wanted to give my parents a few days to recover from jet lag, as well as acclimate to their new surroundings. We also had a lot of catching up to do! The general plan was to sail and explore within the Bay of Islands for about a week, and once they’d had time to decide their top choice activities, then we would set off toward the chosen destinations.

Paihia & Russell

My parents got exactly one night to adjust to sleeping at anchor before we lifted the hook and motored the 2.5 miles to Paihia. They received just a brief tour of Paihia, and then we hoisted anchor again and motored across the channel to Russell. I figured they could just relax while we, their crew, did all the work!

ice cream with Grandma in Paihia

Variable Oystercatcher ~ a recovering species

Russell waterfront

Russell was a fun place to be for New Year’s Eve. After getting diesel from the public landing, we anchored in Koroareka Bay and then spent the day walking the town. It was also my birthday, so there was a hunt for the perfect chocolate cake!

getting diesel in Russell

assisting with the fuel hose across the deck

Russell is home to New Zealand's oldest operating petrol station

Later in the day, we joined Elcie at the waterfront for appetizers and a few games of ultimate frisbee. It didn’t take long before we were red-faced and huffing and puffing.

Fireworks are displayed from a barge somewhere between Paihia and Russell. Therefore, from our anchorage spot, we had awesome “front row” seats for the spectacular show. Elcie came over to help celebrate my birthday, and then we ended the evening with fireworks at midnight.

Black Rocks & Moturoa Island

deciding squall tactics

Once everyone was ready to move on New Years Day morning, again we hoisted the hook for the continuing private tour of Bay of Islands. Mussel collecting was next on the agenda.

As we were navigating the Black Rocks area to get to our next anchorage, we began to experience a string of little mishaps. First, the iPad which we use at the helm for navigation had been sitting in the sun for too long. It overheated and turned itself off. Of course, the screen went blank just as were were trying to take a shortcut that we’d not taken before!

We had seen s/v Elcie go through this spot, so we knew it was possible. However, there was a rock covered with water somewhere in the middle, and now we didn’t have the chart to show us where. I wanted to go around to the path we knew, but Wil felt that we could continue through the shortcut. We proceeded slowly with Wil keeping an eye at the bow. I was at the helm with my dad at my side.

Suddenly, Wil was giving a repeated stop signal and yelling at me to go backwards. I got the boat into reverse at fast as I could, but it was too late. We could hear the scraping of rock under the keel. “We just hit a rock,” I stated in disbelief, looking at both my parents.

Fortunately, we were going slowly enough, so it was only a “soft” touch, and we slid along the side of the rock as we backed up. This was the first time we’d ever hit a rock, and of course, it had to be when my parents were onboard!

Once we were safely at anchor, Wil dove on the keel to make sure it okay. Other than some minor scratches, there was no damage. Whew!

navigating the Black Rocks area

getting ready to go collect mussels

dinghy ride to the mussels

We gathered our mussel collecting gear . . . wetsuits for some, booties and gloves for protection, and a netted bag and bucket for the mussels.

Mussels tend to be on rocks where water flows freely back and forth across them. This is usually on rocks amidst surgy waves. Therefore, my dad stayed with the dinghy while Wil, Justine and I swam to the mussel-covered rocks.

Wil prefers standing ontop of the rocks to gather the mussels, probably since he doesn’t wear a wetsuit. Justine and I prefer to collect the mussels from in the water. Our wetsuits protect us as the waves gently wash us on and off the rocks. To keep ourselves in position the best we can, we use our gloved hands to hang onto the mussels or seagrass. We are allowed as many as 50 mussels per person, but that’s more than enough for us. We only take enough for one meal, plus a little extra for freezing.

Next stop, Wairoa Bay for the night.

Wairoa Bay

anchorage at Wairoa Bay

Our time in Wairoa Bay was spent relaxing onboard, cleaning mussels, and enjoying another wonderful mussel meal. We did not even get off the boat once because we were enjoying our quality family time and admiring the beauty that surrounded us.

beautiful rocky shorelines

sunset at Wairoa Bay

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A sea plane ended up being a bit of entertainment for us. We were anchored fairly close to the shore when a sea plane took off right across our bow, between us and the shore. The plane was close enough for us to see the expression on the pilot’s face!

is that a sea plane over there?

 

is that sea plane taking off toward us?

 

 

 

OMG!! The sea plane IS taking off toward us!!!!

 

 

sea plane safely in the air

Colin up the mast to remove Christmas lights

 

 

 

 

 

 

working in the rigging

 

 

 

Tall Ship Breeze

 

Across the Bay of Islands, tall ships were starting to make an appearance. Every year in New Zealand, the town of Russell is home to a tall ships race that it also open to other classes of boats. While we couldn’t be there to see it, s/v Elcie sailed in the race and won! The race is followed by a traditional Hangi meal and dancing.

Spirit of New Zealand tall ship ~ a learning program for teenagers

 

 

The Spirit of New Zealand

While there was a lot more to see and do in the Bay of Islands, our time was limited, and the wind was in our favor to start a trek south toward Auckland. The next day we would sail out of the Bay of Islands to see what other parts of New Zealand had in store for us.

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new zealand ~ the holiday season

Posted on November 23, 2014 by Jenny

November 28 – December 29, 2013

New Zealand's beautiful Bay of Islands

For Thanksgiving, along with s/v Elcie and s/v Sueño, we hoisted anchor and sailed to Roberton Island for the holiday celebration. A Thanksgiving turkey dinner was served aboard Full Monty, and it was great fun to be among good friends. Walks were taken ashore, and Wil attempted to dive for scallops. During one chilly and rainy afternoon, we enjoyed popcorn and a movie on Elcie.

anchorage at Motuarohia Island ~ commonly known as Roberton Island

 

By Christmastime, most everyone we knew had started to scatter to various locations across New Zealand, but we were fortunate to spend yet another special holiday with the Elcie family. We began the Christmas holiday with mussel collecting at Black Rocks out in the Bay of Islands, before dropping the hook in Russell for one night. The Elcie crew served up an awesome pre-Christmas Eve meal . . . steamed mussels for appetizer, mussels in cream sauce over pasta, and plenty of wine to go around.

anchored at Russell

festive for Christmas

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The following day, we spent Christmas Eve walking around Russell, and doing some last minute Christmas shopping. The kids ran into Santa Clause, and the jolly guy gave them special coupons for ice cream or hot dogs from local restaurants. Unfortunately that day, I received word that an uncle of mine had just passed away, and I had to take some moments for myself on the Russell waterfront. Once we had accumulated a handful of gifts, and the remaining ingredients for a Christmas dinner, Full Monty and Elcie set sail for Oke Bay, a remote spot on the eastern side of the Bay of Islands.

happy to be out paddling

 

New Zealand at Christmastime is very similar to Fourth of July in the U.S. It’s in the summer and everywhere you turn there are sausage sizzles on the barbie. Many Kiwis take their holiday from right before Christmas until about mid-January, and sometimes for longer. If we would have been on the road, we would have seen bumper-to-bumper cars creeping their way down two-lane roads toward the coastal areas. The Bay of Islands is a very popular North Island getaway area, and the number of boats and on the water rises tremendously. Therefore, we’d chosen remote Oke Bay for our Christmas festivities. However, there were only 4 boats (including ourselves) when we dropped the hook, and there were nearly 30 boats by the time Santa had arrived.

 

our tiny Christmas tree

stockings hung by the window with care

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Not only did Santa and his reindeer visit for Christmas, but so did a very friendly pod of dolphins. When the dolphins showed up, the kids spent most of Christmas Day in the water and swimming with them. The dolphins would let the kids come close to them, and they would swim close to the kids. One even gave Colin a gentle bump with its tail as it swam beneath him. When the dolphins weren’t swimming near the kids, they were leaping and spinning out of the water as though they were giving us a Christmas Day performance.

dolphins swimming close to Colin

 

everyone excited about the visit from the dolphins

dolphins giving a show near s/v Elcie ~ Oke Bay

 

this dolphin enjoyed showing off

 

lots of airtime

 

 

 

 

 

 

jumps got higher as the day progressed

 

oh, to be a dolphin!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

they almost appear to be talking to each other!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

After spending hours in the cool New Zealand water, playing with the dolphins and skurfing, the kids were completely exhausted by dinnertime. Colin even fell asleep at the dinner table. Something he hasn’t done since he was a toddler!

After Christmas, we needed to temporarily find a sheltered anchorage from strong northwest winds, and Elcie and Full Monty sought protection near the mouth of the Kerikeri River. It poured rain and the wind blew, but Jess and I still managed to do a grocery trip to Kerikeri in a borrowed car.

On our return trip to Opua, we dropped the hook for about an hour at Paihia, so I could make a quick run to the bank for some cash and to the liquor store for some beer. Once back in Opua, we had to focus on getting some extra school work done and provisioning the boat for some soon-to-be-arriving guests. My parents were coming to visit for 3 weeks, and we were all quite excited!

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new zealand ~ know the meaning of signs!

Posted on November 20, 2014 by Jenny

December 20, 2013

Christmas was rapidly approaching and we still had some unfinished Christmas shopping to do. Our friends on s/v Elcie were in the same boat. Thanks to s/v State of Mind, I had a car available to me, so I made plans to drive to Whangarei for a day of gift buying. Richard on Elcie joined me.

Prior to this day trip, I had driven on New Zealand roads exactly one time. Driving on the left side of the road was still quite foreign to me. I was even more nervous about driving with someone else in the car, especially a non-family member. Apparently, Richard was also just as nervous about my driving. Before getting into the car with me, he had secretly asked Wil about my driving ability.

Luckily, the drive to Whangarei was uneventful. During the hour drive, I became more comfortable with driving on the left, as well as more familiar with the meaning of the various road markings and signs. Unless Richard was hiding it well, he eventually seemed to relax in the passenger seat.

Once in Whangarei, Richard, who was somewhat familiar with the area, directed me to a convenient parking spot along one of the main downtown roads. We parked and immediately set out for some shopping.

As the day progressed, the number of purchased items increased. It was becoming a successful day. We took time out from shopping to pause for coffee, as well as a delicious sushi lunch. We also bumped into other cruisers who were out and about as well.

The afternoon wore on, and it was time to think about returning to Opua. Neither Richard nor I could remember the exact hours on the parking sign where we’d parked. In my mind, I figured it didn’t matter if we were just a little bit late getting back to the car. However, we were both in for a big surprise. The car was GONE!

vehicles will be towed during the hours posted on a clearway sign

We literally stood there looking at the empty parking space in disbelief. I had a huge sinking feeling in the pit of my stomach. Not only was the car gone, but it wasn’t even my car!

How were we going to find it? There was absolutely no indication for who we could call or where we could go. At a loss for what to do, we just started walking in the direction of the town basin.

It didn’t take long before we happened upon a police officer who was directing traffic. We explained our situation to the officer, and he immediately knew where to send us. Apparently, this was a common occurrence.

The police officer proceeded to give us directions to the location of most towed vehicles. I had to listen extra hard to understand any part of what he was saying. He had a thick Kiwi accent, plus I didn’t recognize the sounds for how most street names were pronounced. I had to stop myself from laughing when the only street name I understood was Kaka Street. The business we needed was located on Kaka Street near the Mitre 10.

Richard and I thanked the officer for his help, and we began walking in the direction we’d been directed. Thank goodness Richard knew the area better than I, and he was familiar with Mitre 10, a local hardware store similar to Home Depot or Lowe’s. As we walked, we texted our significant others to let them know we would be running late because we were in search of the car. We could only imagine the looks on their faces when they received the news!

Once we reached Kaka Street, it didn’t take us long to find the car. Before entering the building, we made plans for how to talk our way out of paying the ticket. Unfortunately, there was no such opportunity. Apparently, the towing company deposits the towed vehicles onto the lot with a city ticket under the windshield wiper. We were free to take the car, and we would be responsible for paying the $113 ticket to the city council, either in person during business hours or by an online payment. It was already after business hours, so our only choice was to go online.

a google maps screen shot ~ just in case anyone else needs to find their car!

By the time we sat down in the car, I think we were both feeling a wide range of emotions. After already having spent quite a lot on Christmas presents that day, my heart ached at the thought of having to spend additional money on a parking ticket. Fortunately, Richard agreed to split the cost of the ticket, but it still hurt.

Exhausted, our ride back to Opua was a quiet one. After we were collected by our spouses, we ended up on Elcie for a couple of stiff drinks, dinner, and a recap of the day.

Definition and explanation of a Clearway Sign.

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new zealand ~ thru-hull sprung!

Posted on November 18, 2014 by Jenny

December 6 – 10, 2013

For the very first time, after a year and a half of cruising, we left the boat alone at anchor and departed town for the entire day. Of course, this would be when a case of Murphy’s Law would have to occur, and a major problem would demand immediate attention . . . but we weren’t around to know what was happening.

Along with the Sueño and Tribe crews, we rented a car for the day, so we could attend a vendor Meet -and-Greet in Whangarei. We went early, so we could explore and do some shopping in Whangarei before the meet-and-greet events and dinner that evening. We met up with Elcie (who was hauled out at Norsand for a paint job), and we joined the many other cruisers at Marsden Cove Marina for the vendor fair. The day was busy, fun, and informative, and it was nearly 10 p.m. by the time we were making the dinghy ride back out to the boat.

As we pulled up to the boat, we heard an alarm sounding. It only took a millisecond to realize that it was a bilge alarm. Immediately, we were all scrambling aboard to locate the problem, and it was only a matter of seconds before Wil discovered trouble in the starboard engine room.

emergency plug in the thru-hull for the engine raw water intake

It was like a steady stream of water from a drinking fountain. Water was squirting into the engine room, and there was about 4-5 inches of standing water covering the floor of the hull. The bilge pump, which we know had been functional, had quit working. The pump appeared to have burned itself out after what had possibly been many hours of continual running. Fortunately the engine still remained untouched from the incoming salt water.

Pumping as hard as we could, the kids and I rotated turns on the manual bilge pump while Wil did what he could to stop the water flow. After several failed attemps, he finally succeeded in stopping the water flow by pressing a marble-sized ball of a two-part epoxy stick into the set screw of the bronze thru-hull.

Remember our thru-hull trouble on day 3 of our initial Pacific crossing? Our temporary fix using 5200, a heavy duty rubber glove, and a couple of hose clamps had held the thru-hull together from the eastern Pacific all the way to New Zealand! Now water was streaming in from the set screw of that failing thru-hull.

This was late on a Friday night, and we knew there was no other solution than to replace the thru-hull. The epoxy would only hold for a short time. We needed to get the boat hauled or beached as soon as possible. All day Saturday, we did our research to figure out the best solution.

Hauling out at Ashby’s Boatyard was out of the question because we are well over their 15 ton limit for the trailer lift. And, if they were capable of hauling us, the cost would be over $800 for the haul-out, plus $120/day to sit on the lift. Besides, there was already another boat on the lift. It would be too risky to move the boat any distance. We thought through all the beach areas we knew about for the possibility of beaching the boat. However, while we knew we could stand on our keels, we’d never beached a boat our size before. Then, we learned about Doug’s Opua Boatyard just around the corner from where we were anchored. For $20/day for the use of his property, we would be able to beach the boat right in front of his yard. Couldn’t beat that price!

Fortunately, the thru-hull held until the Monday morning when we could move over to Doug’s. He had us arrive about an hour before high tide. We pulled up toward the beach until we just touched the bottom. Doug caught our bow lines which were cross tied to posts on the shore. Using the dinghy, we placed a stern anchor. Then, we waited for the tide to fall.

As we waited, there was a Van Morrison tune that I couldn’t shake from my mind . . . “sittin’ on the dock of the bay, watchin’ the tide roll away . . .”

waiting for the water to go out ~ about a 9 to 11-foot tidal swing

Since, we had been having electrolysis issues, we planned to replace all 4 bronze thru-hulls (both engine rooms) with brand new thru-hulls made of reinforced plastic. At the same time, we would be replacing all of our zincs, as well as adding two additional zincs.

Just before the tide fell low enough, we prepared everything up to the point of thru-hull and zinc removal. We needed to make sure all jobs could be accomplished before the tide came in. Priority tasks were set, and if there was extra time, then we would clean and polish the water line.

bows crossed tied to posts at the wall

fat cat beached (& sunk) in the mud for her special spa treatment

disintegrating bronze thru hulls

As Wil went to unscrew the leaky thru-hull, it completely fell apart in his hands. When we got a better look at the thru-hulls, we were shocked at what we saw!

These photos speak for themselves and definitely show the results of electrolysis. We were extremely lucky to be in a place where we could prevent any further disaster from happening.

bronze thru-hulls just over a year old ~ bonded thru-hulls fell apart / unbonded thru-hulls were fine

a mucky work platform

a Kingfisher on a neighboring boat

All thru-hull and zinc jobs were a success during one low tide, and before the tide came in, Wil managed a bit of hull cleaning at the water line. The next low tide would be in the early morning, so Wil decided to finish polishing the hull once the water was low enough again. Then, we would be ready to float off at the following high tide.

Since the keels had sunk so deeply into the mud, we wondered if the boat would be able to escape the suction. We had nothing to worry about. High tide came and the boat floated. We untied the bow lines, hoisted the stern anchor, and away we went . . . relieved to have new thru-hulls and appropriate zincs intalled.

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new zealand ~ opua & paihia

Posted on November 17, 2014 by Jenny

November 19 – 28, 2013

we were anchored next to alpaca on the hillside near Opua

mum & ducklings visit boats anchored in Opua

It didn’t take long for us to settle into life in New Zealand. We quickly found a good spot to remain anchored while we sorted out our thoughts and brainstormed new goals, as well as give our boat some much needed attention. Many of our good friends were either anchored close by, or at one of the marina docks nearby. We were extra excited to see s/v Elcie for the first time since Panama!

We received visits from Kiwi friends whom we’d met prior to our Pacific crossing. One couple, we first met back in 1999 while we were cruising in Mexico, drove all the way from west coast North Island to Opua to say hello and offer any possible assistance with finding our way around New Zealand. We also got to see Simon (s/v Cat) who we first met on the east coast US, when we had just started this round of cruising. Simon drove up from Whangarei to see us twice (once with his pal, Luke) before returning to the US to continue his journey on Cat. He was so kind to give us a lot of helpful information, as well as an old prepaid phone he wouldn’t need anymore. We were sad that Simon had to leave, but we were happy to have gotten in a couple of quick visits.

Gidday mate!

wooden sculpture in Paihia

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The unlimited amount of fresh fruits and veggies was extra exciting. Each week, there was a Farmer’s Market in Paihia (pronounce similar to Pie-Here). It was always easy to catch a ride with someone who had a car and was going in the same direction, and a stop at the Countdown supermarket was always a must on the return trip. On my first trip to the farmer’s market, one vendor wanted me to keep talking because he loved my accent. I was surprised because I felt like he was the one with the awesome accent! Occasionally, whether I’d borrow a car or ride with someone, I’d get to the Warehouse (similar to Wal-Mart) and New World grocery in Kerikeri (Maori pronounciation Kitty Kitty).

Almost daily walks became a part of our routine. There is an old railway path that runs out of Opua and is perfect for a scenic walk, run, or bike ride. Some venture the opposite direction and down a rockier path along the shoreline from Opua to Paihia. Two hours later, they’d arrive in Paihia for an ice cream treat and then call for a ride back to Opua. Our kids did the hike to Paihia for ice cream, and then they were picked up by the Sueño van as we were on our way to the Waitangi Treaty Grounds. On occasion, I’d do a girls’ walk along the path to Paihia, but only totaling about an hour walk time.

Te Pitowhenua ~ resident Maori performance group at the Waitangi Treaty Grounds

Te Pitowhenua

a Haka war dance

notice the tongue!

Maori Haka dance
The kid activities were numerous while we were in Opua. Each day after school, the kids would play ashore with other cruising kids. At one point, we counted 25+ kids on the Opua waterfront. I’m sure the local store owners were overwhelmed with the amount of kids hanging out and running around. Through word of mouth, the kids discovered a local guy who taught bone and wood carving in a shed in his front yard. He was there almost daily and would work with the kids for free, but greatly appreciated any small donations. As Christmas time approached, Justine attended a dance class taught by another cruiser at the nearby community center. The cruising kids could also join in sailing Optis with the Opua Cruising Club. At Christmas time, the Opua Cruising Club hosted a Christmas party for the kids where they did a scavenger hunt, and they received a visit from Santa Clause.

springtime ~ New Zealand's Pohutukawa flower ~ also known as New Zealand Christmas tree

New Zealand Pohutukawa

dance class at Opua's community center

gifts from Santa at the Opua Cruising Club

 

 

 

 

 

Opua has many available services (although most are a bit pricey) within a short walk, such as marine supply stores, a country store, laundry facilities (right across from the dinghy dock), and internet. The marine stores carry just about anything you need, and if something isn’t available, it’s always easy to get items shipped in.

Life was good and easy in Opua and the beautiful Bay of Islands. There were just a few hiccups that got in the way . . .

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offline until hawaii

Posted on September 16, 2014 by Jenny

September 15, 2014

Full Monty under sail in French Polynesia

Sorry folks! For the time being, the rest of the New Zealand postings are going to have to be on hold. The Full Monty crew is preparing to depart French Polynesia and set sail for Hawaii. There is only a tentative plan of course, and only the wind knows which direction we’ll go before reaching Hawaii. Unfortunately, that means we will most likely be offline until our arrival in the Aloha State. In the meantime, you can follow our progress by viewing our position reports in the right-hand column of our blog. As we get closer to U.S. waters, the SPOT positions may begin working again, but we won’t know until we get there. We have another long journey ahead of us, but we are looking forward to our next big adventure . . . this time, back in the Northern Hemisphere!

Until then . . .

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