Easter weekend sail

I was determined to get out this weekend, as we had to take the boat out of Half moon bay compound for the winter anyway, and 4 days was a good weather window. We trailered the boat up to Whangaporoa and launched from Gulf harbour. Well the forecast was looking bad, Saturday was very stormy and squally, with 30-40 knots. We had to delay by one day, but we got out over easter in conditions that had most boaties staying home. We had squalls of 25 - 35 knots, and 15-20 knots in between, for some great sailing. 

Worst ramp design ever..

New ramp, and new challenges! Terrible design of ramp with big concrete posts along the ramp jetty.. just right for damaging your boat. Turns out this ramp is pretty shallow (even on half tide), so getting the boat in far enough was a challenge compared to Half moon bay, as my trailer has bunks, so it requires floating off. My boat sits a little high on its bunks on the alumnium trailer, compared to a steel trailer, and although the draft is only 45cm, to get it floated off, you need more like 50cm of water. Bit of the car in the water, and several attempts got it off, using my not patented technique of reverse fast and jam on the brakes to slip and shift the boat off. 3rd time lucky, but the dock rope that Eileen was supposed to be holding on to got caught on the trailer, and on pulling the trailer out of the water, the boat got dragged back onto the ramp, ripping off the anchor cleat. Much shouting and blaming followed, but eventually we got out of the launch area (which is a square area surrounded by sharp volcanic rocks on 3 sides) , which is fairly unhelpful if your boat drifts :-( .

We had an eventful sail out, reefing while motoring out, with a strong 20 knots downwind reach initially, then a big reach up to Kawau island. We prepared for bad weather, with one reef, and the storm jib up (yes all 3.4m of it!)  Half way across this stretch of water, we got our first squall, with a bit of rain, and plenty of wind.  We were accompanied by two keelers, one slow one, which didn't seem to go upwind very well or fast, and one with full main getting ahead of us. When the squall hit, everyone was battling, with both keelers going sideways more than forwards during the squall, heeling wildly but Goldie was managable, due to our choice of reefing and with a bit of main luffing on the front edge. We were honking upwind though the squall !
The wind dropped once we got in the lee of one of the islands, then tacked once we got close to Kawau.  Sun came out, and we motored into safe harbour, at School house bay, finding a close anchor next to the dock. Anchoring proved to be more of a challenge than normal due to having no cleat to tie off the anchor rode, but we managed. Tired and ready for dinner at 6pm..  Eileen kicked into gear and made us dinner.. she's a star! One of the boats we sailed up with cruised by and commented on the fun sail up, he was watching us and our yellow boat all the way up..! Had a quiet night in School house bay, and some fishing in the morning, which was looking like shaping up to another windy one.

We relaxed on the boat, with the intention of going ashore and exploring. After lunch we got the dinghy ready, and rowed ashore. We wandered aroound and missed most of the rain, and squally fron that came through, while we watched from our high viewpoint on the island. Another night on the boat, and woke in the morning to a flat calm anchorage in the morning.   We made tracks early, with the forecast still looking ominous for the remainder of the weekend.

Schoolhouse bay in the morning

We were first out of the bay in the morning, with sun, and 15 knots from the west, making our sail a reach back across to the mainland. Encountered another squall, but was minor compared to the other day. I've uploaded a video of a small part of our sail back, I think you can see the squall in the distance..


The wind built through the morning, and eventually was strong enough once we rounded the point to head into Gulf harbour, we decided to shelter and drop the sails, and motor the last bit. 25 knots on the nose, and half an hour later, we were negotiating the ramp, with the wind swinging SW, which is a terrible direction for the ramp, with no shelter, and blowing you straight onto rocks or into the many concrete pillars along the jetty. Only one chance to get it right...With much luck and perfect timing of killing the motor and racing to the bow, and vaulting onto the jetty, I caught the boat and stopped its momentum. I felt like all our previous 'easy' launchings and landings at Half moon bay had prepared us just for this moment. With much relief we were back.