HEADING NORTH

SUNDAY 7th APRIL, 2013

As we were anchor in Mansion House Cove we picked up the weather forecast for the following day:- squally showers and hail at times.  We set off north the next day and although the clouds looked black over Auckland the weather was clear but cold near us.  We motored sailed most of the way and it was only the last few miles that we had a good enough wind for a very good sail. No hail, one rain squall early and then bright sunshine, warm enough to sunbathe.   We managed to catch a lovely little 4lb Tuna just right for dinner.  We sailed into the estuary of Whangarei and part of the way up river keeping well within the buoyed area as there are sand banks everywhere.  At first it is a deep channel as ships come in to the oil refinery, the only one in New Zealand.  We dropped anchor in a quiet cove called 'the Nook'.  This morning we came back down river to go into the marina for a couple of nights as we hope to meet up with an old Rally friend for lunch tomorrow.