Kawau Boating Club Wharf, Bon Accord Harbour, Kawau Island, North Island
Saturday 19 June 2021
Despite the howling wind and driving rain that descended on us in the early hours of the morning, our anchorage at Wairahi Bay remained still and calm.
After giving us a good shake-up, the storm-system moved onto the Auckland region leaving a trail of destruction in its path. You can check it out HERE
Around 8:00am, however, as we contemplated the day’s activities – the passing gusts swinging us this way and that – I wasn’t convinced we’d be doing anything; other than retreating to our cabins, or the corner of the saloon to read a book.
It’s amazing the difference some blue sky and sunshine can make though, with the latest weather forecast also predicting things to lighten throughout the day – but more importantly, all the wind, along with the rising seas, would be going our way. Which made a change, because since leaving Tauranga last Monday – about 6 days ago – we’ve largely juggled around wind that seemed to be going the wrong way.
Pretty soon it was agreed that we’d try and head out, setting a course for Kawau Island, and if things were too unpleasant, we could always find another small anchorage in the Great Barrier Island region to find some shelter.
The small dinghy was lifted onto the stern davits – a process that can take 15 minutes or more, as it is securely tied in all possible directions in order to ensure it doesn’t swing about. By the time it was up and stowed, everyone was in their full wet weather gear, all hatches were closed down and all lee clothes up. The wind kept gusting, but the blue sky was breaking through and the clouds appeared to be lifting.
Next, it was time to wind in the chain and lift the anchor – and yes, the newly “fixed” anchor winch did its thing and worked perfectly. One small problem, however, was the mud which came up with the chain – messing our beautifully painted deck and requiring a bit of water to be thrown around in order to make good.
Our course took us back out past the Spirit of New Zealand, still lying at anchor with no life to be seen on deck, and through the Man of War Passage. It was past this point, with ample sea-room, that we hoisted a double reefed mainsail, pointing up into the wind to ensure the sail’s smooth travel up the mast. Soon after came a heavily reefed jib as the wind began to set in, despite the shelter afforded by the land on three sides.
Dropping below the Grey Group Islands, a course was then laid for the Kawau’s North Channel, a distance of around 25 miles, which we hoped to do in record time – maybe 3 hours, on account of the wind up our tail.
Clear of the land, the wind picked up, with the sea off our starboard stern quarter lifting us at regular intervals, moving us forward in predictable surges. It was truly a pleasant ride. Smooth, stable and above all fast. The 720 metre high Little Barrier Island soon came and went off our starboard side, and as we passed the half way point the seas had definitely flattened out somewhat. The lightening wind had us fully hoisting the mainsail, rolling out the jib to its full extent and even giving the staysail a fly.
Pretty soon we were rounding the northern tip of Kawau Island, the returning Spirit of New Zealand clearly visible on the horizon, also making her way back from Great Barrier Island – no doubt to drop off her latest complement of intrepid teenage adventurers.
As mentioned in earlier posts, my reason for coming to Kawau Island was to take up the offer to “drop in” on Lin Pardey and David Haigh, whom I met briefly in Melbourne in January last year. They waved us off as we set sail to New Zealand, from the Westernport Marina, with the parting words … “make sure you drop by, when you pass our way…”
Well, here we were, and sure enough, we were dropping by. Trouble was, I didn’t know Lin and David’s address and didn’t even have a phone number or email address.
After a little bit of online detective work, I deduced that they were in North Cove. At least this was a start. The next question was … which wharf? Because pretty much every house had its own private jetty and even if I anchored out in the bay, and returned in the dinghy, I’d still need to know which door to knock on.
Fortunately, Nicola had the idea to call the local ferry service. The one she nearly used before the plan was changed to instead meet us at Great Barrier Island. Maybe it was Nicola’s trusting voice that did the trick, because after providing some initial qualifying information to the natural question … “why do you want to know where Lin Pardey lives?” … we learnt all we needed. This was confirmed by a couple of lads, paddling in the bay, on our arrival, who pointed out the property and wharf as we lolled past the various moored boats that crammed the bay – the sunny stillness making for a perfect afternoon.
After hovering off Lin’s private jetty for 5 minutes or so, it was clear – or, seemed clear to us – that no one was home. We contemplated anchoring at the entrance to the bay, but it’s a small bay and not wanting to get in the way of the regular ferry that drops people, parcels and mail to each of the private jetties – just like the postman might – we instead chose to chug around the headland into the main bay … Bon Accord Harbour (aka Shark Bay)
There was also the need to fill up our water tanks – all those hot showers and clothes washing had taken their toll – and there was a good chance we might find a public jetty in the bigger bay, one that had a tap! Nicola did some more homework and discovered that we could tie up at the local boating club, where water and fuel could be obtained. Despite flying two flags high on their clubhouse, no one was in residence at the club, but we tied up anyway, safe in the knowledge that we weren’t going to be in anyone’s way – even though this was a sunny Saturday afternoon.
Once tied up, the water tanks full again, I managed to track down David Haigh’s phone number through a mutual friend and soon discovered that he and Lin were home and that tomorrow at 3:00pm would be fine to drop back; there was being a nearby mooring we could pick up.
Afternoon tea, led to an afternoon sleep, with dinner soon after, followed by a couple of hours chatting, message-checking and storytelling in the saloon.
The weather forecast spoke of continued storms and rain over the next 24 hours, so it looks like we are in the right place at the right time. Our passage north to the Bay of Islands will likely resume on Monday, with the winds expected to start blowing from the west and south – not bad for heading north!
Right now it’s pouring with rain and there’s something comforting about the sound coming through the coach-house roof – particularly while securely tied to a floating wharf.
Smooth seas, fair breeze and really didn’t think we’d be sailing today
Rob Latimer
NZ2020 