Christmas Cruise - Hauraki Gulf

 

After a few days in Kerikeri (via road) we dashed back to Gulf Harbour on New Years eve, jumped on board Agnes and headed off to Islington Bay for the night. Spotted a Logan in the distance coming through the Rangitoto Channel, phoned Jeff and lyn of Lynette and it was them, caught up with happenings since we last saw them at Great Barrier Island earlier in the year.

New years day went via Hooks Bay to Coromandel, settling in at Woolshed Bay (pic above) for the night. The next day the tide was right so we ventured up to the town, it is a must do experience. Had nights at Deep Cove (see earlier entry), Te Kouma Harbour (East & Squadron and across the harbour (southern side). Came back via the Waiheke channel (overnight at Man-o-war Bay)) and then through to Rakino for the final night. Brilliant weather and a very relaxing time. Pics of some of the anchorages plus notes and other points of interest can be viewed here.

Tiritiri Matangi (Tiri) Island

 

With Agnes moored at Gulf Harbour Marina, Tiri was the closest Island to home base but also the one that we regrettably ignored for so long. It was never an overnight destination (although I know that many do stay there - it is shelterd from the north easterly) and we never set time aside to call in on the way home. When we finally did, we became hooked.

Apart from Hobbs Beach being a delightful anchorage for swimming or just relaxing, once ashore we found the island unique. Everything from the wonderful effort that has been put into restoring the fauna on the island through to finding what the bush was like when the birds ruled.

The tracks are brilliant with some extensive boardwalks through areas of the bush. When landing at Hobbs Beach you can walk in either direction along the beach onto tracks. Walking east will take you up to the lighthouse, heading west you have two options, take the western most which winds around the western edge of the bay and then into a well established area of bush. We have found this to offer some of the more amazing encounters with the birds, particularly the bellbird, robins and saddleback although we did stumble upon a pair of Kokako. As a budding photographer (as well as wannabe boatie), the Island offers some amazing opportunities that I have not had in other areas around the Gulf.

The anchorage is exposed to the West, particularly the prevailing south westerly wind. Tiri channel can also get rough in wind against tide conditions.

View my Tiri Gallery

The Logan 33 - now a limited edition in NZ

 
No further Logan 33 classic launches will be produced in NZ making the launches in NZ a limited edition.

Mahurangi Auckland Anniversary Day 2009

 

I have been very remiss in not updating the blog more frequently. Having upgraded both my internet connection and PC there are probably few excuses. So a bit of a backlog to get through.

Classic yachts and launches rules the weekend, some great sights accompanied the great weather. View more pictures from the weekend here:

Great Barrier Island - Port Fitzroy

Port Fitzroy was everything that I expected the Barrier to be. It felt remote, relaxed, spectacular surroundings, general store and not much more.

The "bay" is more fjord like and as such, there is not a lot of room to accommodate a large fleet of boats. In addition, it is a commercial wharf with ferries from the mainland coming and going on an infrequent basis. However, it is very sheltered. On one occasion we visited in a strong south westerly, probably the wind it would be most exposed to, and it was tenable although rowing the dinghy in was a bit dodgy.

We did not anchor overnight but there were b oats who obviously had. However, like most others who were cruising in the area, we did visit several times to drop off rubbish at the public bins a few metres along the road from the wharf. A 100 metres in the other direction is the general store that has a range of most goods but don't expect mainland prices.

We found bread supplies sporadic but they did have frozen "dough bullets" which have the flexibility to bake into bread, buns, etc. Certainly recommend them.

You can also hire vehicles from the information kiosk just before you get to the store. We did that $115 for the day covered petrol and insurance. It is a great way to see the Island but more about that in another post.

Port Fitzroy Village

Port Fitzroy from anchor

Anchorage: Port Fitzroy
Postion:
Date Visited: Feb 2008

Images from: Mahurangi

Images from the Mahurangi Region - click on links to view related posts
Warkworth Town WharfMita Bay

Moturekareka Island

Big Bay

Images from: Kawau Island

A summary of images and links to the posts about Kawau Island anchorages

Bon Accord Harbour - Sunset

Burgess Bay

Bosanquet Bay

Vivian Bay

MansionHouse Bay

Kawau Island: Bon Accord Harbour

Agnes is a frequent visitor to this harbour but I have never bothered to write up any notes on it.

It can certainly accommodate many craft as anyone who has been there over new year could testify.

Your choice of anchorage will be determined more by; what is available, wind direction and draft.

However, a good sleep can be assured as the water is flat and if you anchor well inside the 5kt restriction area you will not generally be pestered by wakes. Outside of that area it can be "rough going" with the bigger boats always seeming to need to go at full speed right to the 5kt markers.

My only disappointment with Bon Accord is that there are limited opportunities to go ashore and walk. You can walk from Schoolhouse Bay through to Mansion House although access at Schoolhouse Bay is limited by the tide. If anyone has walks they can contribute please do so.

A tiki tour in the tender close to the shore reveals a great cross section of Kiwi baches.

Fuel is available at jetty at Kawau Yacht Club - store also, although I have never had the need to use either.

Anchorage: Bon Accord Harbour - Kawau Island
Position:
Date Last Visited: Feb 08

Great Barrier: Smokehouse Bay

We were fortunate enough to catch up with Jeff and Lyn O'Neil of Lynette (another Logan33) at Great Barrier Island in February 08.

In addition to them sharing an energetic walk over to Katherine Bay from Karaka Bay (another story), Jeff had a catch of snapper that he was keen to try an smoke at the smokehouse at, Smokehouse Bay.

This is a fantastic facility offering washing facilities, clothes lines, a bath house with (fire generated) hot water as well as tables and benches for an on shore break.

Jeff's smoked schnapper come highly recommended. Thanks for the food and company.

Additional to the above, the anchorage wass very sheltered from the west - south west winds that plagued us for a few days.

Anchorage: Smokehouse Bay
Visited: Feb 08
Position:

Moturekareka Island

Called into Moturekareka and anchored inside the wreck "Rewa" (originally the Alice Leigh) sunk to make a breakwater when Charlie Hanson owned the Island.

When delivered it was complete with rigging and sails. I have just read more about it with photographs in "Dark Sun" by Erica Grundman about the Sailor/philosopher George Dibbern and his ketch Te Rapunga who visited Chalie Hanson in 1935 and obtained block & tackle and ropes from the Rewa .

Sheltered from all winds inside the wreck there is room for 1 or at least two Logan 33's rafted up.

Snorkelling the wreck is fun. A lot of of the ship was salvaged in earlier years, but still gives an awe when swimming inside the hull.

Lying on the northern side of Moturekareka Island is the rusted steel hull of the Rewa, a sad end for a once proud ship which at 3,000 ton had been the biggest four masted baroque afloat in her day.

The Rewa was brought to Moturekareka to act as a breakwater across the bay and to serve as a floating boatel for guests of its owner, Mr Charlie Hansen.

The vessel was fully equipped right down to table napkins. It was intended that the vessel should lie with her bow towards the shore but the ship keeled over in a storm and settled on a ledge where she has remained ever since.

Anchorage: Moturekareka Island
Last Visited: Jan 08
Position:
Contributed by: Alan & Nicky Good - Lucille - Logan 33