Skipper: Brian Renwick
Want no sandflies, no people, and fresh fish? An August sail around D’Urville Island may just be the thing for you.
On Sunday morning, an email from Brian arrived spurring me into action. We were to leave Monday morning from Tarakohe Marina.
We motored most of the way, aiming for Ragged Point at the entrance to Greville Harbour. We cleared Boulder Spit Point in twilight. Our mooring was to be about half way up Mill Arm. With me at the helm and Brian’s advice, we slowly passed spurs disappearing into the sea. Mooring buoys were just discernible and by torchlight Brian took the helm and I landed the mooring line.
Next morning, we motored further up the arm into the sun; one of the advantages of having an easily moveable camp. After breakfast, we moved to the DOC campground and rowed ashore to take water on board. We then headed back out to fish for dinner. Our blue cod limit was reached in 30 minutes; the fish must have been queuing to take the bait. After catching four cod I still had the original bait!
Our passage through French Pass would have to wait until the following day to catch the right tide. We moored in Ponganui Bay, which was crowded tonight, with only one of three houses occupied. With Brian in the galley, fish dinners quickly issued forth.
At 07:00 we were underway. With a slight ebb tide we gracefully squeezed through French Pass.
Once clear of danger, I took the helm while coffee and omelet was served for breakfast. Today, we motored and sailed up the east coast, meandering around rocks and through Stephens Passage, heading for Port Hardy.
It was fun watching our progress around rocks and through islets, offering the occasional tweaks with assistance of Memory Map on my phone. We headed down the southernmost tip of the South Arm of Port Hardy and found some more mooring buoys. As we moored, some seagulls put up a bit of a noise at our intrusion. But they quickly realised we’re here for the night. A shower was followed by beers on deck, as we watched the sundown. Fish again tonight. Life can be tedious!
Another 07:00 start. The plan today was to head back to Greville Harbour. However, with my moonlight Angelus trip starting on Friday and weather too bumpy to anchor close to the harbour mouth we decided to head back to Tarakohe. However, before we left we had a successful ‘hat overboard’ recovery; the result of a gust of wind. We then turned to starboard and headed for Separation Point in Golden Bay. At some distance from the point a dolphin was spotted, then another and another. Dolphins were seen racing from Separation Point, desperate to join the party. The dying sun, six dolphins in front of the bow with other dolphins breaking water around the boat, in twos and sometimes threes, made for a magic experience.
As we lost the sun over the bow, the moon quickly ascended from the stern. With me at the helm we cleared Motu Island, then Tata Island. Tarakohe Marina lights were clearly visible. Onced moored, we savoured a mandatory mug of tea before heading back to another paradise. Takaka Hill and the Motueka Valley were quickly traversed while we ‘sang’ along to Bread and Pink Floyd... a great ending to a very enjoyable four days.
Crew: Captain Brian Renwick, and ‘First Mate’ Mike Drake (scribe).
