The northerly gale this week in the Bay of Islands brought Freewind back to Russell after a 7-day passage from New Caledonia. It was not one of those perfect trips with nice breezes and clear blue skies. The first few days was sailing to windward, a little off course but making good speed. Once Freewind reached the northerly winds from the storm to the south it was all go towards New Zealand, with 30-35 knot winds the whole way. A rough, but speedy progress.
The boat is now safely on her mooring in Mathauwhi Bay in Russell and Ron is getting his “land legs” after all those months on board. Not for long, though – on Friday, Freewind will be out again with our first charter of the season, and another, overnight trip on Sat-Sun this weekend. For details, see September Specials on www.sailbayofislands.com .
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Freewind, on her mooring in Savusavu before her passage to New Caledonia and New Zealand | Bar-tailed Godwits with their long, upturned beaks, back on NZ shores after their long passage from Alaska |
The timing for returning to New Zealand must be perfect – we heard that those amazing voyagers - the Godwits - are also starting to arrive back in New Zealand, and their voyage is much more impressive than Freewind’s: after flying 10 days non-stop 11,000 km all the way from Alaska (!!) the Bar-tailed Godwits have also started to arrive in their wintering grounds (our gorgeous NZ summer) here in NZ.
They spend the southern summer on the Christchurch coastline and every year the City Council organises a spring celebration to mark the arrival of the first Godwit migrants. The Christchurch Cathedral bells ring for 30 minutes when the first birds are seen on the Avon-Heathcote Estuary. This year the cathedral's bells are out of action due to the earthquake, so the bells of St Paul's Anglican Church in Papanui will ring out at 12.30 for the birds today, Wednesday Sept 14th.
They spend the southern summer on the Christchurch coastline and every year the City Council organises a spring celebration to mark the arrival of the first Godwit migrants. The Christchurch Cathedral bells ring for 30 minutes when the first birds are seen on the Avon-Heathcote Estuary. This year the cathedral's bells are out of action due to the earthquake, so the bells of St Paul's Anglican Church in Papanui will ring out at 12.30 for the birds today, Wednesday Sept 14th.
Welcome back Freewind, welcome back Godwits!
Ron has posted photos from Savusavu and New Caledonia on http://captainronsblognz.blogspot.com/ .
Details on our Bay of Islands sailing trips and schedules on www.sailbayofislands.com .
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