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…
Day 13 – Sunday 13 Feb
Winery Day – Astrolab in the morning – a charming NZ family (husband and wife team) at their private home. We sat in their garden overlooking the olive orchard and revelled in the wine tasting, walking through the vines, stroking the cat, snapping photos of the chickens, beautiful home, walnut…
Day 12 – Sat 12 Feb
Wellington (North Island) to Picton (South Island) – 3 hour ferry ride. Weather dull and rainy so not as impressive a cruise as hoped. In fact the ferry rides in BC way more impressive, although scenery very similar. Picton very small town and got bus to Blenheim about 15-20 mins…
