Out & about in the Bay of Islands

Farewell to Vagabond

On the social front, we have had to say our sad and fond farewells to Otto & Lil, our long time cruising buddies aboard Vagabond as they finally sailed out of Opua to move down to Tauranga.  This is where they are now busy starting up their new business and new life after receiving their New Zealand residency.

No sooner did they sail out of the bay where we waved and waved until we could no longer see them around the corner of the headland, than we were invited aboard Albatross III, another South African boat owned by Rob & Ruth.  As we were never able to move Calypso due to all the ongoing projects, we never got out to the outlying islands so they decided to take us away for a few days and show us what we were missing.  
 

Aboard Albatross, a nice big catamaran, we sailed to Roberton Island about two hours away where, as we rounded the headland, who did we find but Vagabond sitting waiting for us in the anchorage.  They were supposed to go on to an island much further out in the bay but …. well, a great excuse for yet another final, final farewell that evening.  However, the following morning, they did eventually sail away.

 
We then moved over to Moturua Island where we did a three-hour hike over the top and around the perimeter.  It was a beautiful day with some magnificent viewing spots out over the many islands of this, the Bay of Islands.

A snorkel was also on the agenda but……they can keep it!  The visibility was poor, the fish life grey and the water freezing.  I think I’ll wait ‘til we get back up to Fiji before I try that little lark again.

We had a great spinnaker run back to Opua and felt as though we’d been on holiday.  Thank you Rob & Ruth for a great trip and a wonderful weekend.

They have also just received their New Zealand residency so, like Vagabond, we’ll be leaving them behind when we sail back north.

We had met acouple while up in Fiji is Wattie, a kiwi and his partner (another South African), Diana, aboard Cariad.  By returning to New Zealand, Wattie has now completed his 17-year long circumnavigation.  Prior to leaving, he had built a house not far from here in Kerikeri and has now moved back in.  Di, after many years at sea is loving the opportunities that shore life offers and the fun of tramping around garage sales picking up bargains in an effort to furnish the otherwise completely empty house.   As a point of interest, he also built his wooden boat from scratch, all from wood grown on his land.

The house is on a farm, primarily growing kiwifruit but with a few cows and lots of persimmon trees as well.  We’ve been over several times for a braai (BBQ) and gathered bags of misshapen kiwifruit to bring back to the boat.  Only the perfectly shaped ones are kept for export purposes.  I’m living in hopes that they retain their reputation of being very slow to ripen when picked green so that we have plenty of fresh fruit when we get up to the islands. Meanwhile, she’s been busy making persimmon chutney and kiwifruit jam and Calypso is seeing some of the benefits of this production line.  

Kiwifruit  on the vine

We've just taken another trip out to the islands.  This time to scrape the bottom of the hull which has, in the five months we've been here, grown it's own entire eco system in the form of a reef.  It was certainly very sluggish going with all this excess growth.  However, what started off as just us and Albatross, ended with Cariad joining us as well as a couple of other boats.  One of these had a Hooka diving system which allowed the guys (Paul and Rob) to really get stuck in there without the encumbrance of tanks.  Paul usually free dives but the water is just so cold, he'd never be able to stay in long enough to complete the job.  It was done lickedy split with Rob's help so we were able to enjoy the rest of the time digging up our own mussels and partying with great food and company.

Ruth & Di with Di's mussel chowder

Anchored in cleaner water

Diana is yet another cruiser we will be leaving behind as she, too, has applied for NZ residency and, as a partner to a citizen, should have no problems staying in the country.  With the addition of Andrew from Mariposa who met a New Zealander in our homeport of Simon’s Town, this now makes two couples and two single friends who are stopping here permanently.  It’s going to feel awfully lonely out there on the high seas.

To all of them, we wish the very best of everything while they settle into their new homes.  We’re going to miss the camaraderie we experienced by knowing them and sharing islands and anchorages together.

PHOTO GALLERY:

Views from the top of Moturua Island

Di - the kitchen godess

With Ruth helping out

Rob -the braai  master

Our ducks: they came to our boat every day for breakfast AND dinner then disappeared for a while.  We discovered the reason - the arrival of Huey, Dewey & Louis.  They became so tame they even joined us in the cockpit for evening sundowners.

Earlier on, we also got out to do some hiking around Kerikeri where there are some lovely waterfalls and beautiful, well-maintained hiking trails.  New Zealand is a hiker's paradise.