We got going before breakfast and had a lovely sail across the northern side of Waiheke Island, the wind steadily picked up all day. By the time we were out in the big Hauraki Gulf bay the wind was averaging about 25 knots and we were having a great sail. The tall ship, Spirit of New Zealand was out in the wind with all it’s sails up. It is a steel-hulled, three-masted barque, purpose-built in 1986 for youth development. It is 42.5 m in total length and carries a maximum of 40 trainees and 14 crew. We enjoyed crossing each others paths as we did some big tacks to get to the anchorage at Manly beach. We were impressed with all those sails out in such strong winds which were getting up to 28 knots, I guess it was good practice for the trainees. We got quite close and had fun waving to all the crew, who were all lined up on deck waving to us. I think they had just had a team chat, maybe about who has right of way ……..Rowan assured me we did!
We finally anchored in fairly choppy waters in the evening.
Strange sculpture on Waiheke island
The Spirit of NZ tacking in the Hauraki Gulf with us out on choppy waters
Getting Close
Leaving them behind
Evening rainbow over our anchorage
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