NZ, June 2010, ready to go

We made our self ready to leave for the 4th of June.
To clear out from Whangarei, you have to make your way down to Marsden Marina where the clearance dock is. This new marina is located after the new commercial port coming up the river. (Way point of the entrance of the channel leading to the marina is: 35°49.86S; 174°28.45E.)


Next morning as we were passing Bay of Island, we got informed that the conditions after North Cape were very ruff. We decided to get shelter in Whangaroa harbor. We informed Maritime Radio about our decision.

We had to text twice a day the custom officer in Opua our position in the bay, the third day we had the visit from the coast guards, every thing went smooth.


June 9th, we made our way back to Opua, cleared in again and waited for the next weather window.

In the summer time, the High pressure systems push the lows down to the South Island. At this time of the year the Highs are weaker and the lows cross the Northern Island. They say to leave after a low crossed the Northern Island, to get pushed north. That’s the theory. All depends how quick the next low shows up to smash you.

We finally made a second attempt June 16th. We started with strong winds 20 to 25 gusting 30 knots knts from SW, but smooth sea being sheltered from the land. Next day after we passed the North Cape we had a ruff sea, but was ok sailing beam reach.

I lost my lifebuoy with floating light and danbuoy. Then the wind turned E-SE 15 to 20 knts, beam reach on the other tack.



On the way we had to watch for a low coming down from Vanuatu and other forming over Queensland.

To avoid the first we made course to Norfolk Island to get the back of it; that means strong S-SW winds. As we were progressing north, this two Lows disappeared.

Then the 6th day we had no wind and motored one night. Next day in the evening we passed Boulari Pass and anchored for the night behind Phare Amedee.

Next day we cleared in Nouméa Port Moselle operating on Channel 67.

We made 903 miles in 7 days and 9 hours. Average 5.1 knts.

It was a fast and sporty passage; we had to jump very quickly in our sea legs.


I sent an email to Russell Radio to inform them about the loss of my safety equipment.

NZ, end of May, before leaving New Zealand

We had a last lovely dinner at Janet’s place, the Immigrant Leprechaun. I met her with her husband Allan in July 1999 when I flow the first time from Switzerland to New Zealand to find a yacht to buy.

Together they were managing the Bread and Breakfast. Allan was a retired pilot.

I can’t forget his stories when he was flying over Papua New Guinea and had to make an emergency landing on a sand bank in the middle of a river surrounded by crocodiles.

Then they had to dismantle the plane to bring it back to the mane land. At night he was waked up buy his companions because he was snoring the way the male crocodile does to call a female.

Allan past 3 years ago, and today the place still exists. It’s not advertised anymore but regulars are always welcome.

We met Andrew, and together spent some lovely evening enjoying every body’s specialties.

NZ, May 2010, Whangarei, drive unit

On the way back to Whangarei, I realize that the drive unit from the autopilot steering was giving sign of fatigue desperate the reconditioning done while I holed out the yacht in D5.

So I had to stimulate ones again the economy. The old drive unit was Cetec Benmar heavy duty stuff used on fishing boats. As you know I hate Raymarine’s toy program.

So I asked Wayne from Waypoint electronics to organize a professional unit used on fishing boat. I got a Yaskawa unit made in Japan. It’s a print motor 12V with electro magnetic clutch used on industrial robot arms. The new unit had twice the revs per minutes than the old one.

Over a weekend I brainstormed a new bracket with extra ratio gear to match the old one. I was proud of the result.

Then I approached Northern Marine Machining close to D5 with a draft and in one week I was ready to reassemble the unit.



To enjoy sailing it’s important to relay on a good autopilot steering system.

NZ, May 2010, back to Whangarei

We spent some more time on Waiheke by Patrick and Rosie’s place. We had some nice parties with the neighborhood.



After a nice cheese fondue party we made our way back to Whangarei to make us ready to cross the ocean to New Caledonia and to head to warmer climate.

One picture seems not to be at the right place! Well that was another gorgeous meal, one of Rosie’s specialties, lamb shank.

NZ, May 2010, Auckland

We went back to Auckland by plane on the 5th of May. It took only one hour.


We spent the night close to the airport, and next day we went to town by bus. It’s always easier by day time.



We were surprise how the Asian community is present, the people in the streets, the shops, restaurants, takeaway and so on.

The architecture is very impressive, a lot of recent constructions.

In the afternoon, we went back to Waiheke with the Ferry. Patrick picked us up at the terminal, and together went to his place.

NZ, May 2010, Wellington, Cable Car and Observatory

A five minutes ride brings you up the hill and gives you a nice overview of the city.

On arrival, there is the cable car museum.

The botanical garden and the observatory are Five minutes walk away from the station.

For those who like to stretch their legs, there is a walkway down to town.

The observatory has a planetarium. It reproduces the sky over Wellington at night at different seasons.

Even in a clear starry night, you won’t see all the stars because of the light pollution of the city.

It’s very different on a passage in open sea; you will see much more of it.

NZ, May 2010, Wellington, TE PAPA museum

This very modern museum is located close to the waterfront.

There is no entrance fee, and it’s a good place to be sheltered from the wind.

The puzzle tells more about the place than 1000 words, (well it’s so wonderful; we don’t know how to describe it).

What do you say? We are lazy?


Yes we are! But it was still some work to put it together.

NZ, May 2010, Wellington

We arrived late in the evening in Wellington, and just opposite the railway station we found a backpacker to stay for the night.

Next day in the morning we had an appointment at the French Embassy to apply for Pui’s New Caledonian visa. It was quick and efficient.


Then we had a walk in the city discovering Wellington’s treasures. It’s mix between very well maintained old buildings and new architecture.

The downtown has a pedestrian zone with a lot of attractions and restaurants from all the places of the world; Asian cuisine is very popular from the chic restaurant to the takeaway.

Cuba Street is one of then. Also the waterfront is nice to walk thru.

There are mice museums to visit. The new, modern and entrance free of charge TE PAPA museum, also the Wellington museum. The cable car is also famous with is observatory.

Wellington is a very windy place. No body is using an umbrella on a rainy day, it wouldn’t survive the day.

You can be walking in a sheltered street and see in front of you in a perpendicular one people being almost blown away.

It’s real fight to walk against the wind. Luckily there are also days with no winds.

NZ, April-May 2010, The Overlander

Pui came back from Bangkok April 27th. We went with Patrick to the airport to pick her up. She had a comfortable flight, and I was happy to meet her again.

Pui came from 35 C° plus in Bangkok to Auckland 15 C°, quite a thermal choc.

For Pui to enter NC, she needs (for a change) a visa we have to get in Wellington at the French Embassy. Like for Rome, there are many ways to get there; Plane, car, or train.

We heard about the Overlander, this train start’s at seven in the morning from Auckland and arrives at seven in the evening in Wellington. We chose to go by train to discover the NZ landscapes on April 29th.

That’s what the brochure says:

“-We cover 681 km, cross 352 bridges and travel thru 14 tunnels. Kicking of in Auckland we head south over lush farmland and bush-clad mountains. We then climb the impressive feat of engineering that is the Raurimu Spiral and arrive upon the volcanic plateau.

If it's a clear day, you'll see Mount Ruapehu, Mont Ngaruho, and Mount Tongario-all active volcanoes. The train stops at National Park each day. Down from the plateau, the scenery becomes leafy and green. Keep a look out for the dramatic white cliffs and Viaducts of the Rangitikei River. And when we're closer to Wellington, watch out for Kapiti Island.-“






It was not exactly like in the brochure, we started with fogy conditions and some rain up to the national park. The second part had better conditions.

At one stage the rails make a spiral to gain height in confined space. It’s called the Raurimu Spiral.



It reminded me the Gothard tunnel in Switzerland.


It was a nice relaxing voyage.

Beautiful landscapes, just at the end of voyages the comments from the staff about the surrounding ended in the dark because heading to winter time, the sunset falls earlier.