Tall Ships in the Bay of Islands

www.sailbayofislands.com

 

I don’t think the Bay of Islands has seen a display of tall ships as that expected here on the 3rd weekend of October*, since the days of the whaling ships over 150 years ago. Eight tall ships from around the world will be arriving in the Bay of Islands to cross the finish line of the Sydney to Opua race, which is part of the Australian’s Navy International Fleet Review, the centenary of the Australian Navy. The New Zealand tall ships the Tucker Thompson and the Spirit of New Zealand will also be there, and we are sure it will be a memorable sight. *Oct 19-21, 2013,
Freewind will be out on our regular day trips on Saturday, Oct 19th, Sunday, Oct 20th, and Monday, Oct 21st, keeping an eye out for these wonderful matrons of the sea. On Saturday the 19th, passengers can be dropped off in Russell at 4 pm so they can attend the Powhiri (formal Maori welcoming ceremony) for the visiting ships by the local community. This will include a Waka (Maori canoe) display in a re-enactment of some of the traditions of Russell’s colourful maritime history. Freewind's day sailing trips leave at 10 am from Paihia or Russell and return at 4 pm. A 2-hour island stop and delicious lunch are included in the $90 trip price. For reservations: www.sailbayofislands.com We look forward to seeing you on board, Ron and the Freewind crew
Oct 23: Indeed it was a great welcome; ships' crews said they were "overwhelmed" by the warm traditional welcome in Russell. The weather in the Bay was fantastic and the ships looked lovely anchored in the islands, see photos here.		Freewind at the Tall Ships Regatta, Jan 2013

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 Quote of the Day

 

I must go down to the sea again, to the lonely sea and the sky,

and all I ask is a tall ship and a star to steer her by.

--John Mansfield--

A sailing trip with a difference!

www.sailbayofislands.com

Q: What is “the difference” about Freewind Charters?

A: Just about everything!

The boat, the captain, and the way each guest is welcomed on board.

	Highlights from the 2012-13 season
Kayaking with the dolphins	Anchored at Whangamumu Harbour	The “hole in the rock”

The boat – “unique” is the best word to describe Freewind, Ron’s design and creation, meticulously and lovingly home built (see Building Freewind), an ocean-going vessel with all the home comforts. After 15 years as our family’s cruising boat, she was converted to accommodate 8 guests on overnight charters. Fast and sturdy, you’ll be surprised at her roomy cosy interior and delight in the graceful way she sails the seas.

The skipper – although most captains are exceptional, each in their own way, anyone that has met Captain Ron will agree the he is one-of-a-kind. You’ll never tire of listening to his yarns, recalling his South Seas adventures and roamings along the New Zealand coast. Watching his seamanship is a unique experience: a sailor that sails his boat as an extension of himself and knows his cruising grounds like the back of his hand.

Our guests – from the moment you step on board Freewind we want you to get into “Freewind mode”: get away from the ties of shore and let the wind take you to one of the world’s best cruising spots: the Bay of Islands. We always have small groups on board, so each one of our guests gets full attention. From the minute we get your enquiry and make your reservation, through planning your itinerary and the activities on board or ashore, to preparing your meals and showing you the best of the Bay, you’ll encounter genuine Freewind hospitality. We really want you to experience what sailing is all about, and what better place to do this than in the beautiful Bay of Islands.

So if you’re looking for a true sailing experience and a “trip with a difference” then look no further - join Freewind on one of her day or overnight Bay of Islands cruises.

 

For reservations, www.sailbayofislands.com, or call 0800 002244

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Quote of the Day

Of all the things that man has made, none is so full of interest and charm,

none possesses so distinct a life and character of its own, as a ship.

-Henry Van Dyke

Welcome, 2013

www.sailbayofislands.com

2012 is gone, welcome 2013!

Looking back on 2012, she’s been a good year…

The year started on a busy note, as usual, with our Bay of Islands charters, the sails were up, dolphins were frolicking and the tourist kept us busy and happy until the end of April.

In May, Ron was off to Fiji, arriving in Savusavu and slipping into “Fiji Frame of Mind” without any effort. We had a crew reunion in Fiji in August, and by September, Freewind and Ron were back in Russell, waiting for the weather to warm up and catching up with boat maintenance.

As soon as the days became longer with the sun warmed up the land, the tourists arrived back in the Bay of Islands and we were reminded of how lucky we were to be able to enjoy God’s Own little bit of paradise every day of the year. The great thing about sailing in the Bay is that every trip is different: the wind dictates how we sail and where we drop anchor; the sun and the clouds paint the sky and the islands a different shade every day. We get excited every time we see the friendly dolphins, even though we have seen them hundreds of times, the encounter never fails to produce that special feeling of elation… 

But the best part, for us, is meeting all our wonderful guests and getting to know them, even if it’s only for the day and we know we probably won’t ever see them again. We’ve had people from every continent on earth  (even two young ladies who had wintered over in Antarctica and were on their way back to the US), from Alaska to South Africa, from Denmark to Thailand, and everywhere in between. And, of course, it’s always a pleasure to get to know our Kiwi guests who came from all over the country, from our very own Paihia, down to Invercargill in the far south, to experience the Bay of Islands.

And as we look forward to the coming year, we would like to wish Eleanor, who was our first mate on many of Freewind’s trips this season, best of luck as she embarks on a new career and her first year at university, and the same to Melanie, our relief first mate this season, on her last year at high school. To all the good people who supported us and joined us on our sailing trips – thank you for making our job so enjoyable, and we wish you and your loved ones and the rest of the world peace, health, and happiness throughout the coming year.

And to all the sailors of the world – fair winds and following seas, may the wind always help you get to safe shores.

HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL!

Photo: Henrike Stockhausen                                      

Melanie (first mate) and Captain Ron celebrating New Year’s Eve 2012 on Freewind

 

As always, we chose to get away from the crowds ashore on New Year’s Eve and slipped away to what we thought would be a quiet anchorage. However, as midnight approached we realized that the other boats anchored around us were not going to let the new year in without a loud welcome… so we joined in with the celebrations and welcomed the new year in style – a  great start to 2013.

 

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Quote of the day

The days pass happily with me wherever my ship sails.
- Joshua Slocum

Tall Ships Race – Jan 5, 2013

 www.sailbayofislands.com

 



The Bay of Islands Tall Ship and Classic boat Regatta will be held on Saturday, January 5th, 2013.

This annual event, sponsored by the Russell Boating Club, is one of the highlights of summer sailing in the Bay. 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.
	The Tucker Thompson at the Tall Ships race

On Saturday, January 5th, 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 your spot on our day sailing trip for January 5th. Bookings on our website, www.sailbayofislands.com . or call us on 0800 002244
The Soren Larsen at the Tall Ships race

At the end of the trip, there will be an opportunity to get off in Russell and join the celebration at the Russell Boating Club that is hosting the race and will be putting on a traditional earth-oven-cooked Hangi dinner for all.
See the Tall Ships Regatta and the Russell Boating Club featured on TV1’s Coasters with Al Brown here.

We leave at 10 am and return at 4 pm. Great sailing and lunch included.

Cost is $90 per person and a $10 deposit per person is required to confirm your booking.

See you there,
Ron and the Freewind crew

Our Fiji Trip

www.sailbayofislands.com

Freewind’s crew, Eleanor, Melanie, and me – Dalia, joined Ron on Freewind for two weeks’ holiday in Fiji during the recent school break. We enjoyed the warm tropical weather and the good sailing and swimming and relaxed with friends on the waterfront. It was good to be back in ‘Fiji time’ in the land of the many smiles.

The sailing was pretty relaxed, and we even had dolphins to keep us company

From the ocean to the plate – fresh Mahimahi for dinner

Sailing into Musket Cove, where the swimming and snorkelling were great

The sunsets were spectacular…

It was good to meet up with old friends in Savusavu and once again enjoy the amazing views from our veranda

On Saturday, close to 20 Optimists and Lasers from the Savusavu Junior Sailing Club raced around the buoys in the bay, Eleanor and Melanie coming second in the Laser races.

Thanks for a great holiday, Freewind!

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Quote of the Day

There is nothing - absolutely nothing - half so much worth doing as simply messing about in boats.

- Water Rat,  from The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame

Off to Fiji, once again!

www.sailbayofislands.com

Freewind’s current position report: (Monday, May 21, 19:30 NZ time)
28º41’ South; 174º42’ East.   Course: 323º      Speed: 4.5 knots Wind: 6 knots from the southwest. Seas calm.  "Lovely sunset, one lone Albatross keeping me company. 618 nautical miles to waypoint at the Southern point of Fiji.  Regards to all – Ron"

 

With the temperatures in New Zealand on the cool side, and the warm tropics beckoning, Freewind, with Ron as solo crew, left the Bay of Islands last Friday setting her course due north, to Fiji.

The last two weeks were devoted to pre-cruise maintenance and keeping an eye on the long-range weather forecast. The mainsail boom was reinforced and painted and the seams on the sails checked and stitched where needed.

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Ron:  One of my favourite sailing quotes is:

The art of the sailor is to leave nothing to chance.     -- Annie Van De Wiele

and I always have it in mind when preparing for an ocean passage.

The mainsail boom is reinforced before the ocean trip		A nice paint job before she goes back on the mast

Freewind, being a ‘working boat’ is always maintained in top condition, so before leaving for the long 8-10 day trip across the ocean there is normally no major work. I always go up the mast to check that all’s well up there and secure an extra forestay to reinforce the rigging. Swap ‘coastal gear’ for ‘offshore gear’: life-raft, dinghy, and storm sails, and fill up the water and fuel tanks. The navigation and shortwave radio gear also gets checked, and last but not least, the cupboards and lockers are stocked  with provisions.

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Flip-Flop-Fly all ‘done up’ and ready for her big trip north		Loading the Laser on Freewind’s deck

This year, Freewind is also carrying a Laser sailing boat for the Junior Sailing Club of Savusavu. Ron’s long association with the club goes back to the years when his own daughters learned to sail there and he has been helping with coaching, building and maintaining the fleet of Optimist sailing dinghies, and in the last few years – the Lasers. When we first got her, "Flip-Flop-Fly" was looking a bit neglected after being shore-bound for a long time, but with Ron’s TLC and boat-building skills she’s looking all lovely and spunky again. She will be the latest addition to the Savusavu Junior sailing Club’s Laser fleet and we hope she will have a comfortable trip on Freewind’s deck and provide lots of fun to the kids, and, of course, win lots of races.

As of today, Freewind and Ron have covered over 300 miles on their way north to Fiji. The weather has been been good and the forecast is also looking quite promising.

We wish them a pleasant journey and safe landfall.

Follow Freewind’s position reports on www.skipr.net and click Freewind.

Charter season 2011-12 coming to an end

www.sailbayofislands.com

Hi everyone,

The 2011-12 charter season in New Zealand has came to an end, with some amazing late summer weather – those clear cloudless days we yearned for during January.
Freewind will be heading off to the South Pacific for a few months and will be back in the Bay of Islands in September.
It was a pleasure to be able to show all our guests the Bay of Islands at its best. As you can see from recent photos sent by our guests, we had picture-perfect days, the fishing was bountiful, and the friendly dolphins were there to say hello.
Those that made the effort to climb up the trail to the top of the hill at Army Bay (Motorua Island) and at Roberton Island were rewarded with magnificent views of the Bay in all its glory.

Freewind (centre) anchored in Army Bay, Motorua Island      photo: Rob Orme		Another amazing photo, looking over Motorua towards Cape Brett                   photo: Rob Orme

Just wanted to drop you a note of thanks for our trip with you. We had a truly magical trip which we will all remember for a long time. Ron, you were an excellent host and the food was lovely. The trip had everything we could have wanted – great sailing, beautiful scenery, wildlife and fishing… We were truly blessed with the weather which followed us for the next 2 weeks across NZ!            -- Caroline and Rob

	Sunsets were magnificent and the early mornings were tranquil and serene, perfect for a casual kayak or some time out, before sitting down to enjoy Ron’s famous hearty breakfast. photos: Kris Niles
Sunset at Paradise Bay, Urupukapuka Island		Time out

photo: Caroline Bennett		photo: Cori Niles

And speaking of food – there was plenty of freshly caught fish and mussels to share. Ron had to admit his culinary skills were challenged once or twice by his guests who cooked some delicious seafood dishes, in keeping up with the captain’s first-class creations from the galley and the barbeque.

“No amount of imagination could stretch this one to legal size” Kris         photo: Cori Niles		This one, on the other hand, ended up      on the plate                   photo: Kris Niles

As the days are getting shorter and the temperatures dropping here in New Zealand, it is time to think of heading north to the warmer waters of the South Pacific, and Ron is doing exactly that; repairing sails and checking gear, provisioning for the passage and getting into “cruising mode”. Hoping to leave around mid-May, weather permitting. Watch this space for updates.

And finally, thank you to all our guests for the wonderful feedback you have been sending us, like this one:

Thanks again for the awesome 2 days in the Bay of Islands. Cori and I had a wonderful time - it really was the perfect way to kick off our travels.                                                   ---  Kris and Cori

Kris has devoted a page on their travel blog to their Freewind trip, with great photos and lovely prose, well worth reading:

http://www.krisandcori.com/post/21966572806/sailing-with-captain-ron

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QUOTE OF THE DAY

Ships are the nearest things to dreams that hands have ever made,

for somewhere deep in their oaken hearts the soul of a song is laid.

-Robert N. Rose