Tall Ships Regatta - January 8th, 2011

Thank you to all our guests who have sent comments and photos - please keep them coming in, and we will combine them in our future posts. Email to: freewind@sailbayofislands.com


The Bay of Islands Tall Ship and Classic boat Regatta will be held on Saturday, January 8th, 2011.

This annual event, sponsored by the Russell Boating Club, is one of the highlights of summer sailing in the Bay.



The Soren Larson at the Bay of Islands
Tall Ships Regatta


Freewind will be sailing through the fleet of tall ships and classic yachts which come to the Bay of Islands every year to take part in this gathering. It is an unforgettable experience and a great photo opportunity.

On Saturday, regatta boats and spectator boats of all ages, shapes and sizes will be sailing the Bay in a  memorable collection  of sail and colour. It is a light-hearted race, where classic boat owners and sailors young and old share their love of traditional sailing boats with the aim of having a good sail and lots of fun.


If you want to join the spectator boat fleet on board Freewind, be sure to book early to secure a bunk on our overnight trip for Januray 8/9th 2011, on our website, www.sailbayofislands.com .

See you there,
Ron

Great sailing in the Bay

www.sailbayofislands.com

Hi everyone,

We are continuing to enjoy fantastic weather in the Bay of Islands.                                     Nesting Terns

There was a good breeze on the weekend, which filled Freewind’s sails and made for a great sail all around the Bay. After  a stop at Roberton Island (the twin lagoons) for lunch and some site-seeing, we carried on to Urupukapuka Islands, where we anchored for the night, sheltered from the north-westerly wind. Returning on Sunday, we sailed close to Black Rocks on the western side of the Bay, where the terns are nesting at the moment.

Sailing into Roberton Islands (Motu Arohia)	Freewind anchored at Roberton Island

                                    

The trail up to the lookout in Roberton Island is one of the most popular tracks in the Bay of Islands – short and steep, it gives you a great opportunity for some exercise with a very rewarding prize – one of the best 360-degree scenic views in New Zealand (the photo on the right was taken from the lookout at the top of the track).

More good news from DOC (the NZ  Department of Conservation): Due to combined efforts of DOC staff, boaties and the Bay of Islands community, the eradication of rats and stoats from the eastern Bay islands is bringing back many native birds, including the endangered  New Zealand Dotterels – they can now nest and breed safely there. A few breeding pairs are being monitored by DOC and the Guardians of the Bay on Urupukapuka and Roberton Islands; anyone stopping at Twin Lagoons in Roberton Islands will notice the cordoned area right on the beach that encloses the delicate Dotterels’ nesting ground. We are hoping this year will be a good one for the NZ Dotterels, which number only around 1700 and nest on the sand, just above the tide-line, where we all love to roam. So please, if you see DOC signs of Dotterel nesting grounds – please take care.

The New Zealand Dotterel (Tūturiwhatu)
 
 
 
From our Guest book [today, Mon, December 13th, 2010]:
“Thanks very much for the time aboard Freewind.  We all had a great time and loved being up in the Bay of Islands.  The hospitality was excellent and with Ron’s knowledge of sailing and the Bays, it was a  real treat.  I hope we can do it again soon.
Regards
Stuart and Ula"

See you on the water,
Ron and the crew

Welcome to Freewind's Log

http://www.sailbayofislands.com/

First update for December                                                     

Welcome to our new (b)log - a fresh start to the 2010/2011 summer sailing season, which has just begun here in New Zealand. Ron and Freewind returned from Fiji just about a month ago, stopping in New Caledonia on the way. So it's all go once again - ready to explore the Bay of Islands and show our visitors how lucky we all are to have such amazing scenic cruising grounds right at our doorstep.

Freewind is looking bright and spanky, as usual, with her new coat of varnish on the woodwork and an upgrade on the aft cabins, for extra comfort to all our passengers.

The weather in the northern part of New Zealand, the Bay of islands included, has been lovely for most of November, and although the farmers could do with a bit more rain, the sailors are happy with the blue skies and warm breezes of the last few weeks. So - it's looking like a good summer of sailing ahead.

Ron hauling the mainsail

Headsail on Freewind



On the bow

These photos, taken by Shirley Gray of Whangarei last Sunday, only prove the point - the skies were picture-perfect blue, and the wind was 'just right' for a lovely sail around the Bay, stopping in Urupukapuka Bay, Ururpukapuka Island for lunch.

Our new "Freewind Overnight Cruises" brochure will be coming out of the printing press next week, so if you would like a PDF copy emailed to you, please let us know, at freewind@sailbayofislands.com.

We will be uploading more photos and posts in the next few weeks, so please drop by again soon.

Until then, fair winds and following seas,

From Freewind, and the crew.




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Quote of the week:
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It's not which way the wind is blowing from, but the way in which you set your sails that determines where you are heading.

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Freewind's back from the Islands!

                                                                                                   www.sailbayofislands.com

Another 1,300 nautical miles have been added to Freewind's log after completeing the ocean passage from Savusavu, Fiji, back to Opua, New Zealand. The route this year was via Noumea, New Caledonia. It was only a short stopover, for the important business of checking out the venue for the 2011 Oceania Pacific Games. Geoff Taylor, coach of the Sauvsavu Junior Sailing Club joined co-coach Ron as crew on Freewind for the trip from Lautoka, Fiji, to New Caledonia. The Club intends to send four young sailors in September to represent Fiji in the Sailing events, so coach Geoff wanted to do some reconnaissance on the facilities and conditions, and brush up on his French. Turns out he managed to communicate better in Fijian and Pidgin English, but on the whole, it was a very successful trip, with lots learnt and new connections formed.

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This sunset photo was taken before leaving Lautoka, on the west coast of Viti Levu, Fiji.

 

Sunset on west coast, Viti Levu, Fiji
 



Freewind left Fiji heading south-west, passing close to the southern islands of the Vanuatu group, and sailed into Noumea, New Caledonia, 5 days later. 

 

    

Some of the Noumea Sailing Club's boats on the beach       Freewind at anchor in Noumea,  New Caledonia       

 

Geoff and Ron were shown around the Noumea Sailing Club's facilities and were definitely impressed; boats and rigs were lined up along the walls of the club - all new and of top racing quality.

 

 

 Geoff - definitely impressed!                                      A sample of the club’s fleet

 

           

                                          All new rigs at Noumea Sailing Club       





Impressive as this may be, the Savusavu kids know that you need more than top gear to win races - they will be training hard in the Optimists and Lasers throughout the coming year with hopes of winning medals at the Games in September 2011. For some great photos of the kids’ sailing, see our September posting.

Youth sailing at Savusavu Yacht Club, Fiji - great photos!

Freewind is safely moored at Nakama Creek, Savusavu, in the northern island of Vanua Levu, Fiji.
 
   
   Freewind moored at Savusavu, Fiji               Nakama Creek anchorage, Savusavu Bay      
This is Freewind's second home, where Ron has a long association with the Savusavu Junior Sailing Club, helping with the coaching, and carrying out the boat maintenance program and the building of a new fleet of Optimist sailing dinghies.
This year the club has had a real boost with the help of local sponsors, purchasing boats, rigs and upgrading the Laser fleet. This means that the older kids, who have outgrown the Optmists, can keep sailing with the club, and continue to train and improve their skills in a highly competitive international class.

Lasers require good sailing skills, and it has certainly given these talented young sailors an opportunity to display their seamanship and expert boat-handling abilities, sailing the Lasers around Savusavu Bay. But most of all - the Lasers are lots of fun, as you can see in these pictures, taken by Ron yesterday.
        

The young sailors of the Savusavu Junior Sailing Club enjoying Saturday sailing

         

    
 
 
                                                          Racing towards the finish line