SEA SAIL AND US: février 2019

1811 NZ BACK SOUTH FROM CAPE REINGA

November along north coast...when kiwi wheather shows his good face...what else ?

Manganui: not easy to find a space among the private moorings

Mangonui fish n ship is supposed to be the best in the world...

...May be but a very good buisness in any case...

...even if some un ininvited guest try to avoid the cashier point.

On the way south

A lot of choice of anchorages in huge and perfectly protected Whangaroa

Wild side: scenic anchotage just right after the entrance

Dinghy ride to the end of the inlet offer unusual feeling

Anchored close to cultural side, with also a very good protection

No doubt about the main activity of this remote place

And this is from a long time...

Sailing south again

In the Cavalli for the second time with a much better visibility

One of the last spearfishing party

and better result: we love the red "pigfish" very similar to tropical hogfish

First magic encounter with killer whales; this family of 3 orcas is probably hunting for small swimming pinguins

1811 NZ OPUA to CAP REINGA

Arrived in NZ on 9 november, we have the time to cruise to cape Reinga before lifting the cat in Whangarei dry dock; Jim is reaching us from Auckland: Bay of island is a nice park, very organized with a lot of protected bays, plentifull of walks but a tourist boat is never very far. The park offer protected bays in already protected area but as soon as we sail out, we found absolutly no cruisers at this time of the year; we anchored in Cavalli island, Matai Bay, magnificent Waipapa bay, trying our spearfishing luck as perfect beginners in these chilly (15 degres) waters. The clarity is not as fantastic in the tropics but enough in some places at time for enoyable underwater fishing party... At least you don't stress when you get a fish as kiwi sharks are invisible and you don't need to race on board of the dinghy to keep your prey.

Happy to move legs onshore in Opua

nearby Russel historic village: The style as nice inside as outside

How kiwis preserve the young history of their country

Bay of island sailing: Famous Tucker Thompson in th back: a living monument made 100% here.

Quiet and safe sailing in the Bay of island

Evening anchorage: promess of a perfect night in an ultra protected place !

Sailing out of the park...

Different type of fishes here...we try n make mistakes...

Keep sailing north

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The emblematic nz snapper caught with the rod by Jim

Cape REINGA !

White sand but impossible to approach as the swell break heavily

Can't approach closer these whitesnow sand dunes with these conditions as the swell is breaking quite far offshore

1811 NEW CAL TO NEW ZEALAND

Just a couple of days in Noumea to say hello to family and goodbye to Alain, we rush with Philippe to clear the boat out fromNew Caledonia as it seems to be a good window coming; we do a short stop in Ile des Pins...this year unlike 2017, the way south was as quiet as the way north.