If one of your friends knocked on your door right now and said “Lets go on an adventure – you’ve got 1 minute to get ready” could you do it? No one likes waiting around for people faffing about when you are trying to get out the door for an adventure, nor do they like…
The image of a man dressed in a colonial costume standing on a bleak hilltop overlooking a windswept harbour and mountains covered in snow behind caught my eye. The landscape reminded me of Banks Peninsula, but I was to learn later that this picture was taken on the opposite side of the globe. Vertigo Sea…
Originally posted on Little Ship Club Canterbury:
Picture this – you are alone, sailing solo across the Tasman, bringing your new-to-you 10 metre steel yacht back from Australia to New Zealand. Approximately 70 miles off Lord Howe Island you encounter some rough weather, and it goes on and on for hours and the sea state…
Skippers – both recreational and commercial, have always been responsible for the safety of their vessels and the people on board in the eyes of the law, but what exactly does this mean in practice? The first thing to note is that in New Zealand there is no requirement to have any kind of license…
Rule #2 of sailing according to my friend Vaughan, is: “Shit will happen” Generally it happens when you are sailing along minding your own business, having a great time, thinking about how great things are and then whammo – all of a sudden someone nearly slices off their finger, the kite gets stuck at the…
Just what does the Ocean mean to you? For me the Ocean is my playground. It is somewhere that I love to go and enjoy my spare time and it is somewhere I want to live. It is a method of transportation – when I sail my boat across the waters to other destinations. I…
According to my friend Vaughan, there are three golden rules of sailing. These rules have nothing to do with COLREGS… nor will you find them in the international racing rules of sailing, however if you really want to be a sailor, then it is good to learn and apply these rules at all times…
“And don’t look like a muppet…!” These were the encouraging words that Craig had given us that kept ringing in our ears as we were floating about in a big rib attempting to wrestle with a massive “Mr Blobby” buoy for the Young 88 South Island Champs. Not sure that I had ever seen Miss Piggy in…
It’s 4.00am and I am covered in diesel. Soaked in stinky slippery diesel. All over my hands, boots, wet weather gear. Its all over the boat too. Hopefully I actually got some of it in the tank? Andrew does not look impressed. I can’t blame him. I had just woken him up to come and…
Ahh summer holidays in New Zealand, relaxing in the sun, cruising around the beautiful bays of the Marlborough Sounds, rafting up with friends. It’s been a great holiday. Until you read a forecast like this… We beat a hasty retreat to the marina where a friend has kindly lent us his berth to use…
Astrolabe Sailing 