Sadiqi: October 2017

October 29 Sadiqi escaped the Riverside Drive marina for the first time since March.

Sailed to Great Barrier Island and met up with Ray on Himene.

Himene - Captain Ray

November 19 arrived in the Bay of Islands.

Bay of Islands near Russell Boat Club

November 29 arrived Cavalli Islands - Papatara Bay.

Papatara bay (Horseshoe Bay)

Cavalli Islands

December 9 arrived Whangaroa Harbour.

Whangaroa Harbour entrance

Okura Bay, Whangaroa Harbour

December 5 arrived Houhoro Harbour

Tokoroa Island entrance to Houhoro Harbour

December 12 arrived Nelson, Boulder Bank mooring

Nelson

Nelson, Boulder Bank mooring

The capricious weather of New Zealand! The remnants of cyclone Fihe gave the Nelson area a good whack mid January! It wasn't too pleasant at times on the swing mooring even with the protection of the Boulder Bank. The boat and I were shaken up. We had some of the strongest winds that I've experienced since the last time I can recall - whenever that was. Just as well I don't have much of a memory. The problem was the high spring tides and the tidal rush. For several hours the boats stern was pointing toward a little over 50 knot winds. The strong flooding tide forced the boat against the screaming winds. This created a nasty wind against tide situation. The motion at times was lousy and I felt seasick. The Nelson area experiences the biggest tides in New Zealand of 3 to 4 metres. At 41 degrees south Sadiqi was just inside the roaring forties! That is about as far south as this skipper will get - in a small boat anyway.

Sadiqi departed Nelson in early February and motored to Adele island with friends Mike and Charmaine on Tamure II for the Waitangi long weekend. I had been keeping an keen eye on the weather. Mainly using the app ‘WINDY’. I saw an opportunity with southerly wind for the voyage up the New Zealand west coast and if I timed it right and northerly wind flow when I arrived at the top. Just north of Farewell Spit the wave action was horrendous. It was a very rough channel crossing between the islands. I sailed well west of the notorious Cook Strait and the gas platforms off New Plymouth. It was incredibly rough all the same and I felt seasick. Weather forecasts from Maritime Radio on VHF advised of strong south east winds on the west coast and gale force winds on the east coast. I sailed toward Auckland and the shelter of the North Island. The strong winds never eventuated. I was having problems furling the new mainsail if there was any wind. I could unfurl the main but struggled to furl it without having to leave the cockpit and lay the luff tape correctly. Closer to Cape Rienga the wind increased to 30 knots from the north east. Sadiqi was reasonably sheltered being 3 miles off the beach. It was a good sail over the top of New Zealand. The wind dropped in the early morning and I motored to Cavalli islands and dropped anchor. Overall it was a long, tough sail. Either too much or too little wind. After two nights at the Cavalli islands I hauled anchor and motor sailed to the Bay of Islands and the Russell Boat Club.

I arrived at Great Barrier Island toward the end of February before the winds of ex-cyclone Gita ramped up. I had an excellent overnight down wind sail to to Great Barrier island in 15 to 20 knot northerlies. I found a sheltered bay and hunkered down while ex-cyclone Gita screamed all day! Fortunately the anchor held fast. I was relieved that I'd left Nelson as Gita gave that area a good flooding again.

Dinner - Great Barrier Island

East north east winds up to 25 knots were forecast for the start of March. I thought a great opportunity for a good broad reach sail toward Whangarei. It was a brisk and boisterous sail averaging 5 and a half knots. I dropped anchor at The Nook with plenty of daylight to spare.

The Nook

Solo sailors; Mennon on Kairos, Ray on Himene and Mo on Rosemary arrived at the Nook over the weekend.

The saga of the new mainsail.

Just before returning to Whangarei I wrote to Calibre Sails requesting a full refund. The sail was not up to the specifications provided, it was returned to the Calibre Sails loft for the third and final time. I saw little point in having more corrections made to the sail. The sail maker had no idea how in boom furling worked. A full refund was transferred to UK Sailmakers, who as it turned out had experience with in boom furling systems. The new sail was built, the old sail repaired and successfully raised within 2 months of payment. Phil from UK Sailmakers was a pleasure to deal with, despite being exceedingly busy, did a great job on the new sail and repairs.

May in Whangarei. Early morning temperatures are plummeting. I experienced single digit temperatures in the early morning in the first week of May – a sign of things to come. Hopefully, the waters of the tropical southern Pacific were cooling and lessening the chance of triggering cyclones.

Profurl in boom furling system.

In 2017 I had the nylon bushings refurbished in Sadiqi’s aging Profurl In Boom furling system. Terry from 'Alloy Stainless & Marine' turned out new acetal bushes. This was considerably less expensive than ordering OEM parts from the Profurl agents. While sailing from the south island I noticed the boom vang was leaking oil. I had replaced the gas strut in the vang in 2011. It was suggested I contact Nelson Lattimer Gas Stays in Whangarei to see if the gas strut could be repaired. Nelson built a new gas strut with double seals in less than 2 days costing considerably less than ordering the OEM parts.

The skipper has been checking and preparing Sadiqi for the trip north to warmer waters.