East Cape NZ

East Cape NZ

By scjvanhagen on March 9, 2011

38:46:44S 178:24:31E Wednesday 09-03-2011 Just South of the infamous East Cape I passed at midnight Poverty Bay with Young Nick’s Head at the South entrance. One can only wonder why this name was given. Was it to remember a hostile meeting with the local fearsome Maoris or was it the similarity of Young Nick’s and [...]

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Stewart Island

Stewart Island

By duet on February 24, 2011

47:14:07S167:37:26E Thursday, 24 February 2011 Stewart Island and in particular Port Pegasus is one of New Zealand’s best-kept secrets. Where else in the world can you find such unspoilt wilderness and isolation? Here is Duet moored in Disappointment cove strangely named, as it has the best all-round shelter. No wonder the locals call it Peacehaven. [...]

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Duet arrival

Duet arrival

By duet on February 19, 2011

46:58:16S 168:10:13E Saturday 19th February The first three days of the passage from Hobart to Bluff New Zealand had fantastic winds and Duet loved every minute of it. As a high-pressure system moved over us the wind dropped and we motored for 2 days before the wind filled in again. We kept the pressure up [...]

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Live From Duet

By duet on February 16, 2011

45:53.61S 162:53:51E Another day of anti-cyclonic gloom. Not even a glimpse of the sun and not a breath of wind. a large high pressure system is cantered above us so we are windless. After the sun set the sky cleared and now we have a nearly full moon to lighten up the night. How I [...]

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Duet on Passage

By duet on February 14, 2011

45:22:31S 157:15:89E Tuesday 15th February. Yesterday was St Valentine’s day. No, there were no red roses or cards dropped off by a wandering Albatross. Actually there were very few birds at all. Those big soaring birds need wind to give them lift and we have had light winds for the last 24hrs. Dull aluminium grey all [...]

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Albatross, Mollymawks, Shearwaters and Prions

By duet on February 13, 2011

44:32.48S 153:49.00E Monday. Yesterday we had plenty of wind. With two reefs and the staysail we were hitting top speeds of 11 knots at times. Squalls came and went but the sun came out. Albatross, Mollymawks, Shearwaters and Prions kept us entertained. They are difficult to photograph but we are having a competition to see [...]

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Goodbye Tasmania

By duet on February 12, 2011

44:00.13S, 149:54.04E We could have spent a glorious sunny day at the wooden boat festival in Hobart, instead we had checked out with customs and were motoring down the channel and out into a confused and lumpy swell. After 6 weeks of cruising these protected waters it was a rude awakening. Everything that is loose [...]

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Farewell Tasmania

By duet on February 11, 2011

43:07.56S 147:15.07E Duet says farewell to Hobart. On our last day we visited David Walsh’s private Museum, Mona. (Museum of Old and New Art). It is an astonishing experience that engages all the senses. It is the architecture and how the exhibits are displayed that has the biggest impact on most of the people. I [...]

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