4 November 2024 -New Zealand

It was our last day hopefully in the marina. I got up early and headed off in the car to Pahia to do some shopping. It was quiet and easy to do. I then filled up the hire car with petrol and then went to the Pharmacy as soon as it opened as I needed to get some help with my hay fever. I explained what I usually used at home and they had it so I bought some. The lady said hay fever was very bad this year.

I got back to Stormbird and took some medicine and as I write this I feel much better.  I had two jobs to resolve namely to check the hot water system is working and to ensure the VHF aerial and ais aerial was working properly. I spoke to the Seapower man and he had organised for a plumber and the mast guy was due to return. The plumber came and all was well and then the rigger came and he checked everything at the top and had cleaned up the VHF aerial contact. They then contacted Marine Radio and we had a very clear signal so it seemed to have worked as normally the signal is bad from the marina. We were about to leave when I noticed a leak on the rear toilet again so I got the man back as a fitting was loose. They came back and fixed the leak.

We left the marina about 1.30pm and we headed back out toward the entrance to the Bay of Islands but before the exit we then headed east and anchored in Robertson Bay or what is called Motuarohia Island. This is a lovely bay with a curved beach and it has two sea lagoons on its North side which fill at high water. We had some lunch when we arrived and then we headed ashore. This was a bay that Captain Cook had landed in.

He came to this bay on 28 November 1769 when hundreds of Maori’s crowded around the Endeavour- his ship. They invited the Maori’s to trade and all went well until they took a buoy away with them in a canoe. The crew then fired musket balls at them. When Cook landed on the beach many Maori warriors brandishing weapons surrounded them. Cook drew a line in the sand and indicated that if any Maori crossed it he would open fire. As the warriors continued they opened fire at the warriors. Eventually things resolved themselves. It was interesting we were in the very spot and we went ashore to explore.

There was a walk which took us to the top of the island which had wonderful views of both sides of the island. The picture of the day is from the viewpoint looking over the bay and Stormbird is anchored in the bay. I disturbed a Kiwi bird when ascending.

When we came down we returned to Stormbird and then headed off to Opunga cove which is a very sheltered bay only a couple of miles away. There were no other yachts in the bay and we were the only one to anchor. We all had a sundowner in the sun on the aft deck which was nice but as soon as the sun goes down in it is cold.

We had a Lasagne with salad for supper which we eat inside again as the temperature drops when the sun goes down. We will chill out tomorrow and then see what we will plan to do.

The picture of the day is the view from the top of Robertson Island.

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 move through French Polynesia and beyond. If you have any comments or suggestions about the blog then do email me on hine.nick9@gmail.com