junksailor

A few weeks hauled out.

October/November 2023 After my trauma of running aground, I had a day at anchor, waiting for the wind to die down. I managed a temporary repair to the tiller bar, using clamps, but didn’t want to risk damaging it further by sailing, so left the following morning before first light, motoring in a flat calmContinue reading “A few weeks hauled out.”

Not a good start to the season!

September 2023 In a few days time, we will reach the autumn equinox: summer is nearly over. I find it a depressing thought: I dislike the long nights of winter, the necessity to wear warm clothes and to light the fire; but on the other hand, I love it when the days start getting longerContinue reading “Not a good start to the season!”

The Barrier and back to the Bay

March/April 2023 Now that I was at the Barrier, I didn’t need to plan so carefully and the next day was lovely and relaxing. I got up about 8.00 and after breakfast, I went to see Robert to invite him for dinner tomorrow. I stayed for a couple of hours and had lunch. We plannedContinue reading “The Barrier and back to the Bay”

We had a wonderful day on the water, yesterday

January 2024 It was the Russell Boating Club’s Tall Ships Regatta, yesterday, 6th January, and we took part with my friend, Marcus, aboard. The Regatta is a photographer’s dream, so there are often boats whizzing about containing passengers with expensive cameras. However, I was surprised when FanShi made it to National Radio news! You might enjoy theContinue reading “We had a wonderful day on the water, yesterday”

Onwards to the Barrier

February/March 2023 I spent Tuesday, 21st February, at anchor in Sullivan’s Bay. A breeze came and went, but it never steadied sufficiently for me to think of leaving. I pottered about, did a bit of editing for the Junk Rig Association magazine and made a delicious meal of cabbage leaves, stuffed with kumara (sweet potatoContinue reading “Onwards to the Barrier”

Master under God?

I was sitting in my cockpit the other day, on the mooring that I rent in Matauwhi Bay, when a small charter boat came in. There are about a dozen boats available for hire, from a lovely outfit called Great Escape, based here in the Bay of Islands. Although they run a sailng school, aContinue reading “Master under God?”

My ‘summer cruise’ finally starts!

February 2023 I spent Thursday the 16th pottering about and planning what to do next. When Roger came home from work, he kindly took me shopping and as well as provisions for FanShi, I bought ingredients to cook dal and rice for us, in Roger’s spacious kitchen. We discussed my broken batten and Roger wasContinue reading “My ‘summer cruise’ finally starts!”

Some inspiration

While I was enduring Cyclone Gabrielle, my brain wasn’t at its best. When I’m stressed or worried, I can take my mind off things by reading, but generally the only thing that will occupy me is fiction: light fiction at that. I actually have the highest admiration for those (usually women) who write what isContinue reading “Some inspiration”

Cyclone Gabrielle

February 2023 Saturday 11th February, dawned calm, in the river below Stillwater, with occasional sunshine. It was living up to its name. I’d slept well, no longer worrying about whether or not I should leave Matiatia. Even if it ended up fine there – and I was pretty sure that my little boat would neverContinue reading “Cyclone Gabrielle”

Cyclone on the way!

February 2023 I have to apologise for the lack of photos in this post. There are very few people in my life to take photos for, and I no longer write commercially; somehow I seem to have got out of the habit of taking photographs. Moreover, in this case, I was concentrating firstly on gettingContinue reading “Cyclone on the way!”