Category Archives: Uncategorized

Bay of Islands at last

  Spring has sprung. A small gap in the blog previously.   I was busy writing six stories for Cruising Helmsman.  Two were published in June and July, and four more are begging to be published.  I’ll give the commercial stuff … Continue reading

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New home for Wild Bird

Mooring in Opua About 30 years ago we had a mooring made up and dropped at Tapu Point in the Bay of Islands.  It was for our yacht Wild Honey, a Hartley 32 foot ferro yacht that I had recently … Continue reading

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the genisis of Wild Bird

In Whangaruru Harbour, I built a house and fitted it out over five years.   At first the walls were paper, with dragons painted on for the kids.   The basement was filled in after we left, but it has … Continue reading

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Coromandel Coast

What can I say. A great day on the East Coast. Wild Bird is just only seen on the right below the point, in a bit to the right.  Unfortunately the stitch did not quite get the horizon ok.

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Laundry at Oke Bay

Ahh one of the great joys of cruising is doing the washing on a stony beach under a free flowing fresh water stream.   Tonnes of water for rinsing and no restrictions on supply.. . This is a repeat of many … Continue reading

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Spring has sprung

Spring has sprung. A small gap in the blog previously.   I was busy writing six stories for Cruising Helmsman.  Two were published in June and July, and four more are begging to be published.  I’ll give the commercial stuff a … Continue reading

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Cruising Helmsman articles

View some adventures in Cruising Helmsman, in June edition (my Wild Honey) and July edition (changing an oil seal).

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Killer in Mercury Cove

It is so shallow in Mercury Cove that our keel almost scrapes the seabed.  One sparkling morning the Admiral and I were surprised by a small pod of killer whales scything the surface water as they entered for a reconnoiter of the … Continue reading

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Torment by tapping

Torment by tapping and a tribute to Willy Oliver. The wind had been screaming in the rigging as we lay in the Whitianga River.  The barometer was indicating the low (956mb) pressure system passing deep to the south of us.  … Continue reading

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On being tide rode

Whitianga, the joy of being tide rode. A long time ago we sailed into Whitianga Harbour in Wild Honey the Hartley RORC 32 I had just built.   (See Cruising Helmsman, June p 18) The Admiral and I were on a … Continue reading

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