12 April 2024 | We are back aboard Tregoning in Mersin Marina, Mersin, Türkiye
02 April 2024 | We are in Toronto Airport, Canada: Tregoning is in Mersin Marina, Mersin, Türkiye
25 February 2024 | We are back in Gainesville, FL: Tregoning is in Mersin Marina, Mersin, Türkiye
18 February 2024 | We are in Glenwood, New Mexico: Tregoning is in Mersin Marina, Mersin, Türkiye
12 February 2024 | We are in Morro Bay, California: Tregoning is in Mersin Marina, Mersin, Türkiye
19 January 2024 | We are in Vancouver, BC Canada: Tregoning is in Mersin Marina, Mersin, Türkiye
01 January 2024 | We are in Washington State: Tregoning is in Mersin Marina, Mersin, Türkiye
15 December 2023 | We are in Minnesota: Tregoning is in Mersin Marina, Mersin, Türkiye
18 November 2023 | We are in Florida: Tregoning is in Mersin Marina, Mersin, Türkiye
29 October 2023 | We're in Florida - Tregoning is at B-dock, Mersin Marina, Mersin, Türkiye
21 October 2023 | 7 Oda Kapadokya Cave Hotel, Ürgüp, Türkiye
14 October 2023 | Hotel Aşikoğlu, Boğazkale, Türkiye
07 October 2023 | B-dock, Mersin Marina, Mersin, Türkiye
19 September 2023 | “Chez Jon & Angela”, Near Otterton, Devon, UK
14 September 2023 | Airbnb in Fortuneswell on the Isle of Portland, Dorset, UK
11 September 2023 | With Mike, Grange-over-Sands, Cumbria, UK
03 September 2023 | Ardington House, Ardington, Oxfordshire, UK
24 August 2023 | Near "Chez Joan and Peter", College of Roseisle, Moray, Scotland
11 August 2023 | Andrew's house (not exactly), Lichfield, UK
22 July 2023 | Chez Gail, near the New York Café, Budapest, Hungary
Autumnal weather
13 May 2018 | Islington Bay, between Rangitoto and Motutapu Islands, Hauraki Gulf, New Zealand
Photo: Despite the bias of our photos, it is not always sunny when cruising. Passing Ponui Island on a drizzly morning.
Having enjoyed plenty of hiking and bird-watching on Rotoroa on Thursday (10th May) and Friday morning, we were not too disappointed when the weather became showery on Friday afternoon. We spent a second night in the Home Bay anchorage and awoke on Saturday to steady rain and a northerly breeze.
With little desire to go ashore in the rain, we raised the anchor at 8 am and, using only the jib, we sailed downwind between Ponui and Waiheke Islands. We then turned westward and sailed along the south coast of Waiheke.
I was a bit sorry that we had not had time to visit this attractive and popular island. Second only in size in the Hauraki Gulf to Great Barrier Island, Waiheke has its "own unique warm microclimate" which supports 18 of "New Zealand's award winning boutique wineries". With many sandy beaches, some good restaurants, ziplines, and several walking tracks, the island is a popular day-tour from Auckland.
On reaching the south side of Motuihe Island (owned by the Department of Conservation and open to the public), we furled the jib and motored north, crossing the paths of several fast-moving catamaran ferries, into Islington Bay. There were a dozen boats in the bay but it is so large that we could easily find a suitable spot to anchor. We only saw the top of Rangitoto volcano briefly between showers so we did not bother to launch the dinghy. It is a very convenient anchorage before heading into Auckland Harbour and, as at Urquhart's and Kawau, we had plenty of good memories of exploring Rangitoto and Motutapu Islands from our visits during the previous year.