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   APRIL , 2009
MORE EXPLORING


March 23 - April 30, 2009

We spent a few quiet days in Kenepuru Sound.  There were very few boats out and about and no one anchored nearby.  We spent our time relaxing, completing boat projects, and hiking on shore.


The dreaded task of cleaning the oven!  Cleaning an oven and trying to conserve our supply of fresh water is no small feat.


Paul stepped out into the cockpit one morning and was startled to see a powerboat slowly coming right up to us.  We hadn’t heard them coming as the hatches are all closed now that it is autumn.  There were several people onboard and the owner stated that he had come over to invite us to get fresh water at his jetty, which was less than half a mile away, whenever we needed some.  This is an example of the friendliness of the Kiwis that we have experienced since we arrived in New Zealand.  The people who we have met have been very helpful.

We have been coming across these very colourful mushrooms on our hikes since we arrived in New Zealand.  They sure are pretty.


March 26, 2009

While we were in Havelock earlier, another yachty had told us that one of his favourite anchorages is in Tennyson Inlet so we decided to head over there for a few days.  The winds were predicted to be quite strong out of the north for a few days and we settled at anchor in a small bay that had good protection from the north.  Paul named this bay ‘Tranquility Bay’ as it was very peaceful.

Here is our view, from Bella Via, of the entrance to Tranquility Bay in Tennyson Inlet.  It was a very peaceful anchorage.


Paul went fishing several times from the dinghy with minimal success.  On one occasion he returned home, baited a hook, cast his line into the water, set the rod on the rod holder and proceeded to go for an afternoon nap, only to be awakened about ten minutes later by Mary holding the biggest snapper that we have caught yet.  A fish she landed entirely on her own while Paul slept.  Mary complained that the sound of the line ripping out of the reel disturbed her peaceful reading time!


If you look closely, you’ll see Bella Via in the distance, beautifully framed by lush foliage.  This picture was taken during our walk around Tennyson Inlet.


During our last two days in Tennyson Inlet, a change in wind direction occurred and our small bay started to become quite choppy.  We moved over to the other side of the bay and spent a comfortable two days there.

April 2, 2009

We decided that it was time to start heading to Queen Charlotte Sound and spend some time in that area.  But first, we wanted to collect some more green shell mussels.  We suspected (and correctly so) that we would not find any mussel farms in the more populated Queen Charlotte Sound.  We stopped off in Port Ligar (at the entrance to Pelorus Sound) for two nights and Paul went off in the dinghy to collect some mussels.  To keep the mussels fresh, Paul placed them in a net bag and tied the bag to a cleat and let the bag hang over the side of the boat.  The chef in Havelock had told us that mussels don’t like changes in temperature and keeping them in the water over the side of the boat would help to preserve them.

April 4, 2009

We had about 30 miles to travel to get to our intended anchorage in Queen Charlotte Sound and so we set off right after breakfast.  Once we got out into the open we were able to put up the spinnaker and we had a wonderful run of about 20 miles, except for when we went between two islands and the spinnaker collapsed.  It was like someone had suddenly put on the brakes.  We started both engines and powered through the gap between the islands until the spinnaker refilled.  We took the spinnaker down just before we rounded Cape Jackson and headed into Queen Charlotte Sound.  At that point we motor sailed with just the jib (foresail) but then later put up the mainsail.

Disappointingly, we discovered that we had lost our mussels.  Paul had pulled the bag out of the water (left it tied to the cleat) and placed the bag in a pail of water on the stern step.  The ride was obviously too lumpy for this set-up as we lost the pail and the mussels.

The current was with us and our speed was good so we went further than intended and settled in Kumutoto Bay, a very pretty little spot.  There are club moorings in most of the popular bays in the Sounds, and the locals had told us that we can pick up a club mooring but may get asked to vacate the mooring if a club member wants it.  In our few weeks in the Sounds, we have twice picked up a club mooring and never been asked to leave.  This time, as it was a Saturday and more boats would be out and about, we decided to anchor instead.

The next day Paul went into the town of Picton by dinghy – a distance of only 4 miles.  While he was gone, the wind changed direction slightly and built to 30 knots, with gusts of up to 40 knots.  Our anchor held but we were getting too close for Mary’s comfort to the shore and the rocks during the strong gusts.  Mary hauled up the anchor about 20 feet and took off the bridle and hoped that Paul would return soon so that we could re-anchor in a better spot.   If need be, she could handle the boat by herself but would prefer not as it is really a two-person job.

Paul returned to the boat shortly after and we decided to pick up one of the club moorings for the next two nights and were undisturbed.

April 8, 2009

We went into Picton for one day and stayed overnight at the public jetty for a charge of $22.00.  We had several purchases to make (including groceries) and we needed to fill our water tanks.  The grocery store in Picton offers a free ride back to the marina with the groceries and we took advantage of this great service.

April 9 – 12, 2009

We left Picton and returned to Kumutoto Bay but this time we went into the second of the two small coves.  There was good holding and great coverage from the strong north winds.

One night, just after dark, we were startled to see navigation lights slowly going by and hear voices.  We went out on deck and saw a boat being rowed to shore.  Their intent was to drop the anchor and row to shore.  Their first attempt put their anchor too close to Bella Via and we were happy to see them try again.  In fact, it took them five attempts to get it right.  Paul couldn’t wait to go over in the morning and talk to them.  He learned that it was group of teenagers and their two adult leaders on a three-week “Outward Bound” leadership course which cost each student $3,500.00.


This picture shows the students rowing away from the anchorage very early in the morning.  The vessel is a replica of the kind of cutter that Captain James Cook would have carried aboard his vessel “Endeavour”.  Once the crew rowed out into open waters they received training and practice on how to reef the sails.  They eventually sailed away to their next adventures, which would include kayaking and mountain climbing.

April 13, 2009

It was time to move on and explore some new areas so we moved all of about 4 miles to a small cove called Christy’s Bay. 


On our way to Christy’s Bay, we were able to get a close-up picture of a sight that had been disturbing us for a few weeks.  We couldn’t figure out why there were sometimes dying pine trees on the mountainsides.  We recently learned that these trees have been killed with poison by the landowners because they don’t like the pine trees.  Apparently the pinecones are a nuisance!


Our cruising guide suggested that a stern tie up to shore is the best way to enjoy Christy’s Bay as the water is quite deep up to shore.  When we approached the bay, we saw a bach (holiday house) and a boat at anchor and two people diving and cleaning the boat bottom.  We slowly motored along the shore to check out the depth and shoreline and then went over to the people at the boat and told them our intentions.  The owner of the boat, Mike, invited us to stay on his additional mooring, which is just another example of how well we have been treated in New Zealand.  We took him up on his offer and stayed on the mooring for a few days.  We enjoyed a drink with Mike aboard Bella Via the night before he left to return to his home in Wellington.  Before he left, he made it clear that we could stay on his mooring as long as we want.

Late afternoon in Christy’s Bay with the sun shining on the hills.  Mike’s beautiful classic sailboat is to the left.  Mike and Tracey also own a 60’ catamaran, which is currently in the Mediterranean.

Paul couldn’t believe it when he caught this unusual fish in Christy’s Bay.  He didn’t know what kind of fish it was and we spent a lot of time reading our fish books.  The pink-coloured fish has beautiful blue pectoral fins that look like angel wings and Mary said that it is too pretty to eat.  Paul went over to Mike’s house and showed him the fish and he stated that it was a gurnard, which is excellent eating, and he had never seen one in this bay.  Paul enjoyed the sweet-tasting fish that evening.  He caught another one the next day.

 


April 19, 2009

Early in the morning, we looked out and saw Albert (who we had met in Picton) approaching us on his sailboat.  He was on his way by and came over specifically to ask if we knew that a strong southerly wind was coming the next day and to warn us that we would not want to be at Christy’s Bay in a southerly.  We had just been discussing the weather forecast and asked him for a suggested anchorage.  He recommended Governor’s Bay, again only a distance of one or two miles away.  

Governor’s Bay is deep to shore and Albert suggested that we would anchor in 45-50 feet of water and then tie the stern to shore.  That way we would be tucked in and would avoid the strong wind that sometimes swirls around in the bay.

We had a comfortable few days in the bay, socializing with Albert who had picked up one of the club moorings.  Albert is a single-hander and has lived on his boat for 18 years and traveled extensively in the Sounds.  He goes into Picton every Wednesday to get provisions and to visit and check on his mother who has health issues.  Albert was a great source of information to us about businesses in Picton and good anchorages in the Sounds.

April 22 - 29, 2009

Back into Picton we went and this time we stayed at the marina for one night.  Paul wanted to equalize the batteries and being on shore power was the easiest way to have the batteries fully charged.

We did a final big grocery shop in Picton and stocked up for at least two months.  We would be looking for fresh fruit and vegetables from time to time but we were stocked with staples.

We left Picton and headed over to Flippers Bay, a very small cove with deep water to shore.  It is a popular anchorage for the locals and there are lines and a block (pulley) tied to trees at the water’s edge in various places to make it easier to tie the stern to shore.  Albert was in Flippers Bay as well and we enjoyed our few days there.

On Monday, April 27, 2009 we headed back to Mike’s mooring at Christy’s Bay because Paul needed to go into Picton by dinghy to get a part for our LPG (propane) line.  We have a sensor (we call it the sniffer) in the galley that sets off an alarm if there is a propane leak and sends a signal to the solenoid (an electric switch) in the propane locker to shut the entire system down.  We have previously had problems with the sniffer.  No propane leaks, just problems with the sniffer setting off a false alarm.  Seawind replaced the original sniffer during the first week aboard and within the last year Paul had to replace a thin wire that had corroded. 

A few days ago, the alarm kept sounding and shutting the propane down.  After carefully making sure that there was, in fact, no leaking propane, Paul bypassed the sensor and we were still able to use the stove and barbeque.  During these temporary alterations, Paul discovered that the solenoid in the propane locker had corroded significantly and was very hot to the touch.  Fortunately we were still close enough to civilization to procure a replacement solenoid.  By the end of the day all was repaired and the propane sniffer was back on and functioning properly.

April 29, 2009

We will start to head out of Queen Charlotte Sound today.  Our friends from Australia, Peter and Ilona on Lode-Star, made landfall in Nelson from Australia one week ago and we are going to meet them in a few days at D’Urville Island, near the French Pass and the entrance to Marlborough Sounds.   It will be great to catch up with Peter and Ilona, as we haven’t seen them since we last shared an anchorage with them at Line Reef, just north of the Whitsunday Islands in Australia.


 

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