Maitai Bay is a super special anchorage with pristine twin bays. You can find Maitai tucked on the Karikari Peninsula in Northland, far north New Zealand.
We have wanted to visit this tiny anchorage for a few years. However, you need good weather to make it this far North. In addition, you have to have fairly settled conditions to stay in the bay.
Sporty Passage
We left Whangaroa heading North 25nm to Maitai Bay. We did not expect the big winds (gusts up to 38kts) and choppy seas. It was a bash into the waves for 4.5 hours!
Not a pleasant day at all.
However, as we neared the anchorage we were greeted by a huge flock of little black birds.
The two beaches are absurdly clean and peppered with sea shells and pebbles.
The beautiful towering mountains shelter the beaches from the strong winds typically associated with the Northland.
Beach Walk
We decided we needed to “touch land” as soon as we set the anchor.
It was low tide so we had a very large, beautiful beach to walk on.
There were sections covered in pebbles and rocks and other sections covered with shells.
There is great snorkeling just beyond these rocks.
However, the water was way too cold for us to even consider swimming here.
It is unfortunate that we were not able to spend more time in Maitai Bay.
There are several beaches to explore and a few other hikes.
The first night done and dusted, bounced as Lionel Richie would say “all night long”. Bits of sleep were had, always takes a bit to get into the swing of making a passage.
You know what makes it all better! BACON! Perfect reward for night one down, also pork products are one of the many things not allowed to be on the ship when we arrive. Bacon McMuffins a great way to start the day, sounds like a Macca’s slogan. ( that is what McDonalds is called in this part of the world, still spelled right just pronounced differently )
All in all a good day, still struggled with current in the morning, shook a reef out of the sail eventually found favorable currents and seas were turning the corner and decided we were going interesting places and start to follow along. Instead of thinking the waves could get us to stay in New Zealand they listened to our story and promise of the perfect baguette,
Lots of naps and staying inside where it’s a bit warmer, with the winds and seas out of the south it’s a bit chilly. Only venturing out a few times per hour to look for pirates or any other possible collision targets. None spotted.
Boat was totally crusted in salt from the previous bashing. Seriously needed a car wash. Read foreshadowing..
Spent the day watching AIS traffic and which boats were leaving and which were staying. With at least 3 professional weather routers and at least 100 boats all trying to get to the tropics, can you guess the common topic and gossip? This time of year, weather opinions trump American politics. Everyone has a “thought” and with being 6 weeks past the end of cyclone season and non normal weather patterns there is too much information. Hard not to get caught up in the heard. Add to the difficulty that leaving NZ is at least a 5 day passage and the weather forecasts are good for about 3 days, the gossip and possibilities about days 4, 5, 6 and beyond adds a the stress of making a passage. The go, no-go choice is always a challenge when it’s not champagne sailing.
Checked into gulf harbor radio with Patricia and Dave at 5:15pm on the SSB. They offer tracking and weather information to the cruising community, and most of all someone else to chat with on long passages.
Spicy Cajun pasta and focaccia bread for dinner after the ham radio net. Christine is getting ready to go to sleep, and asks “should we take in another reef for the night” to which I reply “it’s fine” it’s been a wonderful day. She just got to bed, and the sounds of wind are starting. Where did that squall come from? 35 knots of driving rain, I get soaked reducing the head sail and running even further downwind. Needless to say we took the reef for the night. And boat got was it deserved.
While we did have the radar alarms on, they were set for looking ahead of the boat, but since we were now going the same direction as the weather the alarms need to look behind too. Fixed now, after the surprise of course.
Cheers all well on board on night #2
Our first 24 hrs, nearly 200 miles through water, 176 miles over ground but only 156 count toward our destination. That’s sailing math. We have 645 miles to go
Time to head back to the tropics, well past time actually but Mother Nature had her own schedule.
Brrrrr
Saying good bye is never easy, but in sailing it’s till we meet again. Still doesn’t make it any easier after spending nearly more than a year and a half getting to know good people and making great friends in New Zealand. 🇳🇿. Will definitely miss them as this is possibly our last trip to these waters by sailboat.
We left New Zealand on Saturday June 6th with nearly 900 miles to go to New Caledonia. Was a bit bouncy with current and waves trying to keep us from leaving. We knew it was an uphill battle till we got clear of the island. After waiting for a month for a plausible weather window, getting excited and ready, only to realize the window just became a window with shutters this frosted window showed up. Not a crystal clear window, but a workable window.
The winds look good, the seas are bigger than we’d like but they are mostly going the same direction as us, except for the start.
At the last minute another system was showing up in the forecast a week out right between New Caledonia 🇳🇨 and Fiji 🇫🇯 . Ugh! Originally we were to wait so the start wasn’t into the current and waves, but leaving a day earlier added padding to the other end so scramble and push up the and that’s how we ended up out here.
Afternoon start, not much time to get sea legs before darkness set in.
