Monday, February 5, 2018
Russell Museum
This very well organized museum has a 1/5th model of Endeavor in which Captain Cook sailed into the Bay of Islands in 1769.
Russell
The history of Russell dates back to before it was named in 1844 . When Captain Cook sailed Endeavour into the Bay of Islands in 1769 the town was already an established settlement for the Ngare Raumati people.
There is a famous pub the Duke of Marlborough which to-day has been greatly renovated and we enjoyed dinner there. The first licensee John Johnson, a time-expired convict, established a grog shop there in 1827. We hiked up Flagstaff hill which has an extraordinary history of the British four times erecting a flagstaff and each time it was chopped down by the local Maoris. Eventually the Maoris put a flag staff up themselves and after that there was peace.(It was too wet to take photos of the flagstaff).
There is also a Swordfish Club which became world famous as a result of the angler Zane Grey promoting it. Each year they have an International Billfish Tournament. We had dinner there on our second evening in Russell.
There is a wonderful group of mainly volunteers who operate Russell Radio - Great Escape Charters requested us to check in with them each day and inform them of our float plan.
There is a famous pub the Duke of Marlborough which to-day has been greatly renovated and we enjoyed dinner there. The first licensee John Johnson, a time-expired convict, established a grog shop there in 1827. We hiked up Flagstaff hill which has an extraordinary history of the British four times erecting a flagstaff and each time it was chopped down by the local Maoris. Eventually the Maoris put a flag staff up themselves and after that there was peace.(It was too wet to take photos of the flagstaff).
There is also a Swordfish Club which became world famous as a result of the angler Zane Grey promoting it. Each year they have an International Billfish Tournament. We had dinner there on our second evening in Russell.
There is a wonderful group of mainly volunteers who operate Russell Radio - Great Escape Charters requested us to check in with them each day and inform them of our float plan.
Motuarohia Island
Motuarohia Island, also known as Roberton Island is mostly a National Park. It also has Cook Cove in it where Captain Cook first landed in 1769.
We went for a hike on a windy day.
We went for a hike on a windy day.
Five days cruising in the Bay of Islands.
Sailing in the Bay of Islands was something that many ocean sailors plan to do as it is a natural place to stop after crossing from Tonga and Fiji in about November, prior to the cyclone season in the south pacific ocean.
We had four days of great sailing in warm weather. For three of them the wind was more than 20 KN and so we had two reefs in the mainsail most of the time. We also sailed downwind as much as possible. Going up wind the sea was lumpy and we motor sailed to make it more comfortable.
On the fourth day a deep weather front came through so we picked up a mooring and spent the day in Russel. In the evening while we were ashore there was torrential rain for about an hour then miraculously it stopped so that we could get back aboard in the dingy without getting soaked.
The first night we anchored in Wharengaere Bay, the second night in Motuaohia Island (Roberton Island), the third and fourth nights in Russel and the fifth on a mooring at Opua. Each day we also anchored for lunch in mostly deserted bays.
On the last day we met up with Nina and Tony (Ocean Cruising Club Port Officers) with their Nicholson 45 in which they had sailed from Portsmouth England in 1991 with their four children aboard.
We had four days of great sailing in warm weather. For three of them the wind was more than 20 KN and so we had two reefs in the mainsail most of the time. We also sailed downwind as much as possible. Going up wind the sea was lumpy and we motor sailed to make it more comfortable.
On the fourth day a deep weather front came through so we picked up a mooring and spent the day in Russel. In the evening while we were ashore there was torrential rain for about an hour then miraculously it stopped so that we could get back aboard in the dingy without getting soaked.
The first night we anchored in Wharengaere Bay, the second night in Motuaohia Island (Roberton Island), the third and fourth nights in Russel and the fifth on a mooring at Opua. Each day we also anchored for lunch in mostly deserted bays.
On to the Bay of Islands
In order to see the country we took a four hour bus ride to Paihia and the Bay of Islands. After one night in another hostel we picked up our charter boat at Great Escape Yacht Charters.
Great Escape Yacht Charters
Just after we had gone aboard we were joined by Celia for a visit. As the coordinator of the Ocean Cruising Club's Youth Sponsorship Programme I had helped her obtain a grant to enable her to join an OCC boat in Fiji and sail to Opua in the Bay of Islands. Meeting her was a remarkable coincidence. Although I have helped several youth during the last few years to obtain these grants I had never met one in person as all the applications are handled by Email. Celia normally lives on the island of Guernsey but has decided to have an extended stay in New Zealand before returning home.
Great Escape Yacht Charters
Just after we had gone aboard we were joined by Celia for a visit. As the coordinator of the Ocean Cruising Club's Youth Sponsorship Programme I had helped her obtain a grant to enable her to join an OCC boat in Fiji and sail to Opua in the Bay of Islands. Meeting her was a remarkable coincidence. Although I have helped several youth during the last few years to obtain these grants I had never met one in person as all the applications are handled by Email. Celia normally lives on the island of Guernsey but has decided to have an extended stay in New Zealand before returning home.
A tour of Auckland harbour
It was a very hot day - 26-30C - so we decided to take a boat tour of the Auckland Harbor. Great views.
The Americas Cup
It was of interest to visit the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron where the Americas Cup is on display. The next Americas Cup Race will be in Auckland in March 2021.
2021 Americas Cup Protocol
2021 Americas Cup Protocol
On to Auckland
After our two days in Ohakune tramping and jet boating while staying in the Station Lodge YHA we boarded the train again for another half day north to Auckland. Here we had booked into an AirBnb close to downtown Auckland within walking distance of the water front. The AirBnb was owned and managed by Rene who was severely visually impaired. He was a very helpful host and even walked us to his favorite eating places. It was then that we realized how little he could see. He has a guide dog and a white cane. It was remarkable to see how he managed. We were happy with the AirBnb although not nearly as nice as the one we had stayed in in Wellington.
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