Puriri Bay, Tryphena Harbour, Great Barrier Island, North Island
Thursday 17 June 2021
It was an early start today, with the expected 50-60 miles ahead of us, likely to include a few tacks on account of the predicted wind basically coming from the west – the direction of Kawau Island, our chosen anchorage for the night.
It was also where we were going to pick up our next crew member, Nicola, who lives in Auckland and was going to catch the ferry across to meet us tomorrow morning.
Kawau Island is also the home of a woman – Lin Pardey – whom I met in January last year while in Melbourne preparing to head to New Zealand. Lin was travelling with a bloke named David, on his yacht Sahulu. Anyway, it’s a long story, but as they waved us good-bye from the Western Port Marina dock, they invited us to visit them at Kawau Island. (Refer to Ships Log from January last year, HERE … and more about Lin Pardey HERE
At the time I really didn’t know where Kawau Island was. It was too far in the future to afford it any brainpower, but it was north of Auckland, on the way to the Bay of Islands, and so I figured – “No worries, see you there!”
So, here we were, beating into a strengthening westerly wind, our destination – North Cove, Kawau Island.
The good news was that after a bright, clear start to the day, the sun continued to shine. Low in the winter sky admittedly, but at just the right angle to create sparkles and glistening spray in the waves of water pushed from the bow as we beat our way forward. Sometimes our course took us in the direction of the rugged Coromandel cliffs, on a starboard tack, then out to sea again as we crossed the wind onto a port tack.
Nearing the top of the Coromandel Peninsular, I was doing some mental calculations. As you do. Assessing the 4-5 hours of sailing still ahead of us … that even with the motor running we were barely doing 6 knots into the conditions … the possibility of arriving after dark into an unfamiliar bay … not to mention the frustration that of all the places we could be going Kawau Island just happened to be where the wind was coming from.
Just then I received a text from Nicola asking … “Are you still on track for Kawau, or are you going to Great Barrier Island?” … which had me looking again at the chart and Cruising Guide.
“Can you catch a ferry to Great Barrier Island?” I replied … “No, but I can catch a small plane”.
After a bit more texting back and forth, I confirmed that we’ll skip Kawau Island and go straight for Tryphena Harbour, Great Barrier Island … a mere 15 miles to our north – Nicola will fly into the nearby “airport” (less than 60 miles from Auckland) and catch a taxi to the bay and join us at 11:00am in the morning – just in time for second breakfast.
Wow, that was easy … and a great solution all round. Sure, I’d miss out on possibly meeting Lin and David again, but sometimes you’ve gotta do what ya gotta do.
Anyone familiar with the various points on a compass – or using Google Maps – will realise that our new northerly destination was at right angles to the westerly wind that we were, up until that point, beating into. Having made the decision to go to Great Barrier Island, it was a simple task of baring away 30-40 degrees, (to starboard) easing the sheets and turning off the motor. Almost instantly, the speed increase to around 8 knots and the pounding forward motion was replaced with a steady, stable “ploughing-forward-and-through” motion – it was bliss.
Less than 90 minutes later we were dropping anchor to the right of the moored boats in the bay, just past the 5 metre line, less than half a kilometre from the shore and in the lee of the surrounding hills. What’s more, we had the whole afternoon to relax and didn’t even have to go anywhere in the morning – just sit around and wait for Nicola to turn up.
There was also time to have a look at the anchor winch and pretty soon Gary was wrist deep in wires, poking this way and that with the multi-meter, working his way from the power source, through the switch mechanism to the motor itself. Thinking it might have been the solenoid, I dug out a spare from the electrical drawer … but it seems the problem may lie in the motor itself – or possibly another connection within. At this stage, all we can say is that it’s a work in progress. Hopefully we can solve the dilemma tomorrow!
Having good internet and phone communications, I received a Travel Advisory from the Australian Government today saying that the Victoria-NZ travel bubble would be opening up on the 22 June … just three days before Linda is due to join me … and little more than 8 days away, next Friday! Not many sleeps now, with Matt, Cathy, James and Eva due to also step aboard a week later on 2 July. Talk about cutting it fine!
It was another wonderful dinner tonight– one of Martyn and Annette’s chicken creations (pre-prepared and frozen) and while I’ve retreated to my cabin to write today’s missive … they are all in the saloon playing a 6-dice game called Farkle – nothing to do with gambling I’m assured. Outside, it’s as calm as … bro … the sky is clear, it’s a bit on the chilly side and the anchor is well dug in. All is fine with the world! At least this little part of it…
Smooth seas, fair breeze and slight change of plan
Rob Latimer
Learn more about Great Barrier Island
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