36 37.43S 174 47.28E - Safely Tied up in Gulf Harbour
Aurora_b
Mike and Liz Downing
Sat 31 Mar 2012 12:14
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On leaving the Mercury Islands we couldn't believe our luck to
find that for the 3rd day running the wind was going to be from the
southeast, giving another downwind passage. So it was the two genoas up
again and we were making 7- 8kts in a wind of 20kts. The forecast was for the
winds to increase during the day to 25k, gusting 35kts. Not what we
wanted to hear, but the forecast for the next few days, with the big
tropical storm coming down, is far worse, giving 25 to 30kts, gusting
to over 40kts. The forecasters still can't make up their minds on which
direction this storm will take, but it looks like the winds will start
increasing on Sunday night and go higher on Monday and Tuesday. They're also
predicting 70mm of rain during Tuesday, so it's going to be both windy and
soggy! An added complication is that in addition to the low pressure system
coming down from the tropics, another low is forming in the Tasman sea and also
heading for New Zealand at about the same time. If these weather systems combine
over New Zealand, it could be quite a storm.
On going through the Colville Channel, the wind increased to a
steady 30kts and the seas started to churn - short, sharp and confused - lumpy
would be an understatement! With a just a scrap of sail up we were
continuing to make 7 - 8kts and there was always the concern that one of the
rogue waves might find its way on board. Despite the conditions, it was a pretty
comfortable ride most of the time, but cross seas every now and again caused a
significant roll, first one way and then back the other. These are the
moments when you're glad you spent the time tying everything down. However, once
halfway across the Hauraki Gulf the wind dropped back to 20kts and the seas
calmed down, so up went more sail and we maintained 6 - 7kts. The last 3
days have been a good re-introduction to ocean sailing. We never expected to use
poles, but have used them every day. So lots of good practice.
Gulf Harbour is on the mainland and not far
from Auckland. It's relatively new and one of the biggest marinas in New
Zealand, having 1000+ berths. It's also very well sheltered, so a good
place to be (we hope!) when the wind and rain comes next week. We're hoping to
stay here for a week or so before continuing further north. In the
last 3 days we've covered 130 miles and this is about half way to the Bay of
Islands. Another good reason for leaving Tauranga when we did, is the
potential for yet another fall-out from the Rena. The forecasters
are predicting the swell will increase next week from the normal
figure of 1.5 - 2 metres to over 6 metres. If the winds and seas give
what's left of the Rena a real bashing, there could be more containers
afloat in the Bay of Plenty and possibly more oil. This could block any
passage north for some time. (In the last 3 days we haven't seen any
debris from the Rena. However, most of the time the seas were quite
rough and in these conditions we could easily have
passed close to a container not seen it.)
 Passing the Channel Island, going through the
Colville Passage to reach the Hauraki Gulf. From this
point
on, the conditions started to
deteriorate.
 White water as Aurora B ploughs through the short
sharp seas.
 Channel Island in the distance - high winds
and quite rough seas.
 Cape Colville - marking the northern end of the
Coromandel Peninsular.
 Just before reaching Gulf harbour you pass
Tiritiri Island, with the lighthouse on top. The island is
a
wildlife sanctuary where indigenous
species that are failing to
survive in the wild (due to introduced rats
and stoats)
have been successfully reintroduced.
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