In the Hauraki Gulf

No wonder they call Auckland the City of Sails - what a wonderful place to sail. The harbour itself is fascinating and really busy with yachts, ferries and container ships all sharing the water, and just on the doorstep is the Hauraki Gulf, with beautiful islands. You could spend weeks exploring all the anchorages.

With Christmas and the NZ summer holidays here, the huge marinas of Auckland are emptying fast as the 'Jafas' (Just Another Friendly Aucklander - may have got the F word wrong), as they are known by other Kiwis, head out to the islands. So our timing with the Gammans aboard was perfect last week - it was definitely the lull before the storm in terms of boat movements so we had anchorages, that will now have hundreds of boats in them, almost to ourselves,.

The wind was pretty brisk so we had some lovely sailing and the wine tasting at Man o' War winery on Waiheke Island was a highlight.

 

Steve, Amy, Dianne and Barbara start the arduous task of tasting 10 wines at Man o' War

The result of Barbara's beachcombing

Still standing after the winery visit! Maunie anchored behind.

Bright sunshine but a cool breeze so Amy sports the latest in sailing headgear

Watching the Waiheke coastline slide by

Oneroa Bay panorama, Waiheke

Newly added art installation - Bell on Wheels?

Beating back towards Auckland with up to 33 knots over the deck

Lion New Zealand - iconic Kiwi Whitbread Round the World race

Another Kiwi sailing icon - Steinlager II 

Steve enjoying the conditions

Beating into the sun, with Auckland on the horizon

The Gamman team left Maunie on Sunday morning for the beginning of a two and a half week motor tour of North and South Islands. It was lovely to have them aboard.