Spending the South Pacific cyclone season in New Zealand
18-Feb-2013, Cavali Islands, 15nm north of the Bay of Islands

Nicky has been very interested in NZL2, New Zealand's high-tech catamaran for their latest America's Cup challenge. He build a Lego model from a picture in a sailing magazine, albeit with a Teutonic twist: While the orginal carries a giant "Fly Emirates" commercial on it's main sail, Nicky changed that to good old trusty Lufthansa. Who knows... we've been a bit cut off from news from Europe...perhaps the German flag carrier is indeed sponsoring another entry into the next cup...

Turning to marginally slower vessels: Namani's been treated to a new bimini during our recent stop in Opua (pictures to follow). Marnie from the Canadian boat Picara had taken up a job with Opua Canvas and so we were lucky to have her work on the bimini. Nicky enjoyed his time with the boys from Samba while we were at the dock, and we got some more jobs knocked off our boat to-do list (changing engine mounts, fixing the windlass motor, shortening the inner forestay - more on these in a different post).

We left Opua on Friday and spent a relaxed two days off Motorua in the Bay of Islands. Today (Monday, 18FEB) we sailed the 20nm to the Cavali Islands in light airs (average speed < 3kn...). From here we plan to head to Whangaroa (a full 10nm to the east) tomorrow, where we'll spend a few days.

Nicky has been promoted to "Chief Parasailor Operator" aboard Namani. You can see him in action in the short video clip below during today's sail.

10 - in New Zealand

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Spending the South Pacific cyclone season in New Zealand
10-Feb-2013, Docked at Opua Marina, Bay of Islands

After almost two months we're now (Sunday, 10FEB) back in Opua in the the Bay of Islands. After leaving Oneroa Bay off Waheke on Wednesday, we stopped in Bon Accord Bay (Kawau Island at the northern end of the Hauraki Gulf), and then had two longish sailing days, first to Whangarei and then to Whangamumu (old whaling station), before turning the corner around Cape Brett and into the Bay of Islands on Saturday afternoon. We had a nice night at anchor off Urupukapuka Island here in the Bay (see picture above) and then came back into Opua Marina this afternoon. We plan to be here for three days to get a new bimini fitted and knock a few more odd jobs off Namani's to-do list (changing engine mounts, another fix to the windlass motor, plus some smaller stuff).

We had a nice surprise this afternoon when he heard Mel from the boat Samba call out "Namani" when we came into the marina today. We enjoyed a nice evening with them and are now ready for some boat work again ;-)

10 - in New Zealand

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Spending the South Pacific cyclone season in New Zealand
05-Feb-2013, Anchored in Oneroa Bay off Waiheke Island in the Hauraki Gulf

We changed our minds yesterday morning and rather than going back to Motuihe we went to Oneroa Bay on the northern side of Waiheke Island (still only 7nm away but quite chilly as you can see in the picture above...). While the wind was still gusting in the 30s the sun came out shortly after we dropped anchor and we had a nice little excursion to the town and beach ashore. Very reminiscent of some of the pricier weekend destinations along the New England coast in the US. What used to be little baches are now houses priced in the million NZ$ range. Very nice in any case and we enjoyed a dinner snack on the beach from the "Dragonfire" mobile pizza oven.



With us in the anchorage here was also one of the "Pacific Voyagers" tradtional Polynesian boats ("vaka") that we had first seen in the Galapagos. It seems that all roads lead to Waiheke...

10 - in New Zealand

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