Author Archives: freedomsail

Robertson Island (Motuarohia Island), Bay of Islands Marina, North Island Thursday 8 July 2021 It really was a comfortable anchorage last night.  So comfortable in fact that by around 8:00am I was the only one awake and ready for action.  Being something of a morning routine, I turned on the generator around 7:00am, which isContinue reading “In Search of 4 Bars”

Otaio Bay, Urupukapuka Island, Bay of Islands Marina, North Island Wednesday 7 July 2021 After the excitement of finally arriving, despite the forces against it, our latest arrivals – James and Eva – crept off to their cabin around 11:00pm last night, closely followed by everyone else; not to James and Eva’s cabin you understand,Continue reading “Precious Moments”

Bay of Islands Marina, Opua North Island Tuesday 6 July 2021 Our anchorage-for-the-night remained calm, (despite the pesky roll that got a bit more pronounced as the night went on) with the grey, windswept morning sky pointing to the blow that was expected to come through later in the day and evening. Already we couldContinue reading “The Gang Together at Last”

Waipao Bay, Moturua Island, Bay of Islands Marina, North Island Monday 5 July 2021 In the end, the rolly-ness of last night’s anchorage did not prevent us from all getting a good sleep.  It was a lazy start to the day, with grey clouds covering the sky until the sun finally broke through and madeContinue reading “Paradise Had No Internet”

Mangahawea Bay, Moturua Island, Bay of Islands Marina, North Island Sunday 4 July 2021 John joined us for breakfast around 8:15 this morning and as if two new pumps on order wasn’t enough, the ever-reliable, and over used, freshwater pump – which delivers hot and cold water to the galley, the two wash basins, theContinue reading “Hellos and Good-Bye”

Bay of Islands Marina, Opua, North Island Saturday 3 July 2021 After all our travels together, there’s every chance that today was John’s last sail aboard Chimere.  Makes me sad just thinking about it.  John, my old university flatmate (1980 & 1981) first stepped aboard Chimere in 2013.  He’d flown over from New Zealand toContinue reading “Starting to Say Good-Bye”

Bay of Islands Marina, Opua, North Island Friday 2 July 2021 The south east wind kept up through the night, with showers coming and going – adding to the snug feeling and overall warmness within. The seas, in the confines of this small harbour, were flat, which was fortunate, because normally you wouldn’t choose anContinue reading “Rainbow Land”

Robertson Island (aka Motuarohia Island) … Bay of Islands, North Island Thursday 1 July 2021 After our big day yesterday, we were slow to climb from our bunks this morning, sleeping in to around 7:45am.  It seemed particularly late because our friendly marine electrician Chris was due to return around 8:15 to remove the low-pressureContinue reading “Eight for an Over-nighter”

(Back at the) Bay of Islands Marina, Opua, North Island Wednesday 30 June 2021 If yesterday we were down in the valley looking up, today it was the reverse … we were up on the ridgeline looking down.   After a restful night’s sleep, our Land Adventure slipped into high gear today, or more correctly …Continue reading “Land Adventure Continues”

Mountain Road, South Hokianga, North Island Tuesday 29 June 2021 The day started with two marine electricians, both named Chris, turning up as planned to check out a couple of non-functioning pumps and electrical connections … at least, that’s what we think it might be … but the good news is that my “problem” isContinue reading “Land Adventure”