10th-13th October 2008: Bay of Islands

Chartered a yacht for a long weekend's sailing in the Bay of Islands. Freewheeling was a Davidson 28 of circa 1980. Sturdy and easy to sail, with vintage decor and yellow patterned glass windows on the lockers. Fairwind Charters were helpful and efficient and we will use them again.

Had a fantastic weekend with perfect easygoing wind of 10-20 knots. The Bay of Islands could have been designed for sailing (Slartibartfast, was it you?) crammed with pretty bays - always one available to shelter you from any angle of wind.

High spot of the weekend was finding a pod of dolphins, we think 6-10, who swam and played around our yacht for several minutes. We were also offered some uber-fresh snapper by a fishing yachtie in one cove, but preferred chilling out with some wine to attempting to gut fish.

Great chilled-out weekend, and good for Sophie's sailing skills to be one of two people rather than the usual one of 6 or so. Photos here.

Itinerary:

Friday: collected boat 5pm, motored from Opua wharf to an anchorage in Pomare Bay.

Saturday: sailed to Motuarohia Island and climbed the hill. Sailed around Piercy Island and back to Oke Bay for the night.

Sunday: through Albert Channel and drifted round Urupukapuka Island. Played with dolphins in Paradise Bay for a while, then sailed round some islands and anchored in Opunga Cove.

Monday: North around Tikitiki Island. Anchored for lunch west of Te Pahi Isles. Through Kent Passage and back to Opua about 3:30pm.