Breakout

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Wednesday, 26 November 2008

Breakout

Today was when Hakura with Capt Doug finally managed to get out of Queen Charlotte Sound, after two weeks.

However, we need to go back 12 hours to yesterday afternoon when Lorrine decided that she needed some time ashore. So I was back to the fuel wharf in Waikawa Marina. We will meet up on Saturday in Pelorus Sound.

After overnighting in Carey Cove (again), I headed out at 0830 (was meant to be 0730 but the old eyes would not open on time). Sails up ready for the 15 to 25 knots southerly winds.

The southerly had arrived, with a noticable decrease in temp though without the expected rain. I was still in the inner Queen Charlotte Sound so maybe there would be more wind further out.

After several hours motor sailing and off Motuara Island (which is where Cook left a marker of his visit in 1770) I decided to turn off the motor and sail. Very peaceful without the motor (though the stero was filling the cap well). After several songs I decided that as I was now doing about one knot (less than 2 km/hour) the motor was still necesssary.

At 1330 I passed Cape Jackson and was out of Queen Charlotte Sound heading towards Pelorus Sound. There was a northerly swell (about 1 meter) and very little southerly wind (or wind from any direction).

After another 90 minutes of easy motoring I arrived in “Punt Rails” just inside Alligator Head. A great place to spend the first night.

Out with the fishng rods and another small blue cod. This one went back without even a free feed. Then a bigger bite and a much stronger fight. Now there was a large red gurnard (the largest I’d seen) on board. That was dinner for the next couple of days covered plus more bait for the cray pot.

After all this hard work I decided to settle in for a still night.

Note, there was no phosphorescence.

Thursday 27th

A slow start to the day until the wind picked up from the south around noon. Now I could sail to the next achourage. This is more like it.

Underway after a quick tidyup below decks at about 1300. With a fresh southerly coming over the port quarter I was underway. I even had a trolling line out. Halfway across Guard’s Bay the line began to race out. A fish!

After heading into the wind and fighting the fish for 5 minutes, I had a good size barracouta doing a quickstep (fin) in the cockpit and my toes being kept well away from those sharp teeth.. A quick photo then a blow to the head, the fish was still and I could get back to sailing.

Couta are not great eating though it will make great cray bait.

After a great 3 hour sail I am in Homestead Bay in Port Ligar (on the western side of the enternance to Pelorus Sound) and ready for another quite night, though it does appear that is not as settled an anchourage as last night.

Friday 28th

Another slow day after a very disturbed night - lots of wind and swing plus somebody had not fixed a halyard so it banged all night. A sunny warm day so up went the cockpit tent. Then off to see the sites. Motoring again!

Well I got sick of that and headed t the next anchorage - Kute Bay. Another beautiful spot.

I decided that I would head back to Queen Charlotte Sound tomorrow so early to bed.

Yes there was a little phosphorescence, though very little. Confirmed during the nightly anchor check.

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Photos

Cape Jackson
From the outside

The Capt
What the well dressed are wearing this season?

Comments

[chris B]

yee ha sailing again
Doogal sounds good. Love the photos. Not sure about all those fish though! What else is there to eat aboard. Looking forward to the next instalment. Hope all is continuing to go well. Lots of love Chris

[Janet Ward]

hello
Hi Doug and Lorraine. The trip sounds wonderful - the photos are just beautiful. Makes me wonder why we all want to travel overseas when we have that beauty at our doorsteps . Time for the offspring to come home so we can stay in NZ!!!! So glad you are taking your time and really enjoying it ( well for the most part- engines aside) Janet