Waiting Over
Where Next?
Bob Williams
Sun 18 Apr 2021 04:08
1500 Position: 35 48.4 S 174 37.4 E
Course: North Speed: 6 knots
Wind: WSW, F4 Sea: slight Swell: negligible
Weather: overcast, mild
Day’s run: 20 nm
Last Thursday we moved back to the anchorage off Norsands
Boatyard in the Hatea River to top up supplies, to complete a post-refit survey by a local shipwright, and to at last collect the replacement Dubarry sea boots. Now that is all done, we are free to venture a bit further afield, so this morning we weighed anchor,
motored out of the Hatea River and sailed out of Whangarei Harbour in a light south-westerly breeze. Now we have rounded Bream Head, the wind has veered and freshened a little into the WNW, and Sylph is close hauled to a moderate breeze. During the afternoon
we have enjoyed the company of a couple of classic boats; one an immaculate old wooden fishing boat that I recall seeing on the hard in Docklands last year, and another a beautiful little gaff rigged schooner. I am pleased to say that Sylph with her clean
smooth hull has left them both behind in her wake as she makes a steady six knots to windward.
The plan is to sail overnight to the Bay of Islands, where
we will spend about a week or so for one last hurrah in this idyllic little cruising ground and to catch up with some sailing friends that are in the area. Then we will make our way back to Whangarei for Oli’s final vet visit on 3 May to obtain his export
permit from New Zealand. Once that is done, we will make our way back up to Opua in the Bay of Islands to clear Customs and then start the return journey to Australia.
All is well.