I’ve got some exciting news to share! On Monday this week I purchased a company called Island Cruising NZ. It is a business that has been around since the 1980’s and was formed to help encourage New Zealand sailors to head up to Tonga. Since then it has grown to run rallies all over the…
I was only joking way back in 2017 when I suggested that a foiling monohull would be a good idea… New Zealand had just won the 35th Americas Cup regatta in the AC45 Catamarans. The speeds those foiling yachts could achieve were almost incomprehensible. While out sailing in our June winter series racing at Naval…
The dark grey hull of the HMNZS Canterbury loomed menacingly in the distance as we emerged from the Lyttelton tunnel. It was a stunning blue sky day with little wind and the temperature was rising. I glanced across at the heavy soft blue velvet bag sitting on Michelle’s lap and swallowed the lump in my…
There’s a saying with sailors that “plans are best made in the sand at low tide” – and there is no doubt that COVID-19 has caused much disruption to the plans of cruisers in New Zealand and the Pacific (and everyone else around the world too of course!). Regular blog readers will recall that I’ve…
When it comes to epic sailing survival stories, few can compare to the story of Shackleton’s Boat Journey. If you haven’t already read the book, then I highly recommend you do so. (You can buy a copy here) written by Frank Worsley, Shackleton’s boat captain. In summary way back in 1914 – 1916, Antarctic Explorer…
You may remember that I have recently been rattling some cages to try and get some solutions for the sailors who are currently stuck in both New Zealand, the Pacific, and people overseas who are separated from their boat homes. Sailors in New Zealand We started off appealing to the Minister of Immigration for some…
As borders around the world closed down with the COVID-19 crisis, sailors around the world have been in a difficult situation. International travellers were encouraged to go home – to hunker down and wait it out, and of course that is what most people did. But for many sailors their yachts are their only home.…
There is no doubt that the COVID situation has caused immense disruption in everyone’s lives all over the globe. Here in New Zealand we are very lucky to be an isolated island nation with a relatively small population. Our only COVID cases currently are recent kiwi’s returning home and they are all isolated in quarantine…
Thick ice coated the marina pontoons, threatening to throw any unsuspecting well-wishers swiftly over the side and in to the glassy calm marina water. We huddled around Pixie, shuffling our feet to stop our toes from freezing while Bill busied himself stowing lines & fenders, starting the engine and wiping away the tears threatening to…
I am going to blame this most recent adventure on the pandemic. Good one COVID-19, you’ve managed to cause a few extra grey hairs… Had things been normal, I am pretty sure it wouldn’t have panned out like this. In fact I know for sure that it wouldn’t have. It all started with a solo…
Astrolabe Sailing 