Tutukaka
Where Next?
Bob Williams
Wed 28 Apr 2021 08:18
Position: 35 37.01 S 174 32.15 E
At anchor Tutkaka Harbour
Wind: calm Sea: calm Swell: negligible
Weather: mostly sunny, mild
Day’s Run: 20 nm (1600 – midnight)
Some useable wind arrived at 1750 yesterday, a light SW’ly,
to which we set sail and shut down the BRM. It was not quite a head wind but we were close hauled on the starboard tack and were not quite able to make good our lay line for Tutkaka, our destination for the night. So, when we were abeam of the harbour entrance
we were some five miles off the coast and had to put in two tacks to gain the leading lights into the narrow harbour entrance. Fortunately the brilliant full moon, a ‘super-moon’, helped to light our way amongst the rocks and cliffs that closed in on us as
we approached the coast. We handed sail in the fading breeze and motored the last mile or so, letting go the anchor at 2350 in five meters of water.
This morning, after a swim and a bit of a clean up, I launched
the dinghy and rowed ashore to rendezvous with Kate who had parked her truck in the freedom camping park on the shore of Kowharewa Bay in the southern part of the harbour. We have enjoyed a pleasant day exploring the nearby region.
Fresh SE’lies are forecast for tomorrow with lighter winds
on Friday, so we will likely spend tomorrow here at anchor and continue on to Whangarei Harbour on Friday.
All
is well.