14 November 2024 -New Zealand-Waiheke Island to Auckland

We woke unfortunately to another grey day but this time with rain and heavy rain at that. We thought of going to Auckland and stopping on the way at an anchorage but the weather took paid to that. We therefore had a leisurely breakfast of porridge and fruit and coffee and then read and chilled for most of the morning. I had a good book by David Nicholls which had me chuckling and not many books do that.

I had yet to hear from the plumber about where we will moor in Orams Marina (next to Westhaven Marina) but planned using the chart plotter as to how we would come into Auckland Harbour bearing in mind the cargo ships, ferries and other harbour traffic. This meant avoiding the main channel as much as possible and working out a route.

We had a light lunch and upped anchor about 1.30pm and headed out of our bay. The wind was 17-20kts and we had gusts of up to 28kts on our trip. This wind caused the waves to be about a meter high in places and we passed a number of ferries whizzing from Auckland to various islands including Waiheke. We passed a number of islands on the way but before long we had to pass between two buoys and could see the main channel and the harbour in front of us with the  main harbour bridge crossing over the harbour. It looked like a mini Sydney Harbour bridge.

We kept inside the port red buoys and we could see the docks and a tanker being loaded. We also passed a number of ferries coming out. We motored on past the tanker and a number of docks on our port side and just before the bridge we turned in toward the marina. There were some sailing races going on in the harbour and some windsurfing would you believe it.      

We came into the marina and the plumber and his team were waiting for us and helped us with our lines. We were in a marina with superyachts and massive motor boats. Aquijo the massive ketch (the largest in the world which we had seen in the Tuamutos and Tahiti was there. On the way in we had seen a huge shed – the Emirates New Zealand Team. This must be the base of the yacht which has recently won the Americas Cup again in the final competing with Great Britain and Ben Ainslie. Shame we could not do it this time.  

We moored up and the guys quickly fixed the rear heads (toilet) which was great. They also had the new washing machine which they will fit tomorrow. We lowered it through the rear hatch in preparation and they will fit it tomorrow. Malcolm the guy in charge was very helpful and showed me around and recommended some places to eat. I went through the list of jobs with him and this was all fine. They have such a good attitude here.

Once we sorted ourselves out Sarah Bernstone (Earl as I knew her) came to visit Stormbird with her husband Louis. Sarah was friends with Stig and Cari who came on Stormbird in the Caribbean. I last saw Sarah about 32-35 years ago at Henley or at a party and she knew my brother Andrew. I had emailed her before I came and we agreed to see if we could meet when I arrived in Auckland. It was great to see her and to meet Louis and we had a drink and a good chat and a catch up. She came to NZ about 15 years ago.

As they had eaten they would not join us for supper but we hope to meet up with them again. It is funny I have had to come half-way round the world to meet again.

We had a shower and tidied up a bit and walked out of the marina to a restaurant called Swashbucklers. We had some great fish and chips and a really nice supper. We could see the city around us and the tower all lit up. We look forward to exploring tomorrow and to having the things fixed on Stormbird.

The picture of the day is Sarah and Louis visiting Stormbird.

Opportunity Year Two

In year two I will be going from New Zealand in early January 2025 across to Sydney and up the Eastern Australian Coast, Indonesia and then through Bali, Singapore and on to Thailand to end year two about the end of November 2025. I will need some more crew.

If there is any interest do email me at  hine.nick9@gmail.com  

The blog will continue as we continue the journey. If you have any comments or suggestions about the blog then do email me on hine.nick9@gmail.com