Day 19 – Sat 19th Feb
Last full day on board – sailing as crew today so will get some grinding exercise on winches (Lewmar 66’s!) Depart Tawa Bay in Tory Channel at 09.45 and raised main with first reef in place. Sailed across to Arthurs Bay in Bay of Many Coves, arriving at 11.45 with…
Day 18 – Fri 18th Feb
Left Ship Cove mooring at 09.45 – galley crew today (ugh!) Sailed upwind for 3 hours toward Cape Jackson to see the famous lighthouse (unmanned) perched out on a windy peninsula in heavy cross-currents. Stood on foredeck at mast facing forward and inhaling expansive vista of horizon and blue, blue…
Day 17 – Thurs 17th Feb
Diving Day!!! Late start today while we waited for Chef Dale to cook fresh cinnamon buns (from scratch) on board Vis a Vis, sharing ovens with Antares (our oven didn’t work!?). Delicious and even better than Nancy’s Bakery in Lund (Sunshine Coast) – Nigel you will remember! Moved dive gear…
Day 16 – Weds 16th Feb
Cast off 2 rafted vessels and mooring buoy at 09.30 at Ngakuta Bay off Groove Arm and sailed out into Queen Charlotte Sound. Daily crew rota for skipper/crew and galley duties. Today I’m SKIPPER – yay!! – with 3 male crew – John, Frank and Kin. Studied charts and maintained…
Day 15 – Tuesday 15 Feb
Cruise #2 – Marlborough Sounds! This marks the end of our time on shore and the beginning of our cruise in the Marlborough Sounds at the tip of South Island, at the mouth of Cook Strait which runs between Wellington and Picton. Eggs benny breakfast at Blenheim at 8am before…
Day 14 – Valentine’s Day!!! – 14th Feb
Another day, another winery! This time Wither Hills (near Cloudy Bay winery where we went yesterday afternoon by the way!) Very grand exterior, lovely layout and expansive views sweeping across the valley from mountains in north west to the southern hills. Horse riding country and vineyards galore! Windy and warm…