CRUISING ABOARD MORITZ - PART 2

CRUISING ABOARD MORITZ PART 2

Envoy is in Lefkas Marina for the northern hemisphere winter while we're home for the New Zealand summer – but not for much longer as in early April we start our journey back end of next week.

First we'll be spending 10 days in the Orkney Islands off Scotland's north-west coast, where I'm sure there will be plenty of boating-related material to write about. Then we head to Athens for the six hour bus trip to Lefkas Marina and Envoy.

Continuing on from our last Blog posting we're aboard stunning Maritimo 48 foot motor yacht, Moritz,  owned by our friends Morris and Gail.

On day two we wake up well-refreshed and while eating breakfast quietly cruise across to Waiheke Island to anchor in Matiatia Bay. 

Matiatia Bay wharf from Moritz at anchor

Here we go ashore to walk around the headland overlooking Matiatia while culturally enriching ourselves by viewing the Sculpture on the Gulf Exhibition supported by about 50 sponsors including respected international names like Jaguar, Sothebys and Mazda.

The 30 or so sculptures are spread along a hilly coastal track about two miles long and range from “is that art? Gosh a five year old could do that” to incredibly clever. Sedately viewing them amongst stunning landscapes is a great way to enjoy our morning walk.

This "sculpture" has us scratching our heads

But we liked this one

And the views along the walk are great

Looking down on Matiatia Bay

Later we cruise along Waiheke's northern shore and across a flat-calm Firth of Thames to Elephant Cove (so-named as the imposing rocks on its northern entrance look like an elephant's head) on Motukahaua Island.

Inside Elephant Cove

There's not much anchoring room in the small cove with two boats already there, but Morris finds a great spot still leaving room for two more boats that come in later.

Fishing is a huge part of the New Zealand boating scene and next morning we try several spots down the coast, but without success. For some reason Auckland's summer sea temperature at 19 degrees is about two degrees cooler than usual and the snapper don't like it, but we see a nearby school of kahawai and manage to catch several in just a few minutes with trolling lures.

Morris then takes us to his “secret spot X” where a rock awash at low tide has a surprisingly abundant supply of green-lipped mussels, so that night we're anchored on the eastern side of Waimate Island just north of Coromandel Harbour having a great feed of fresh sashimi and mussels.

Gail in Moritz's galley

The village of Coromandel is quirky and arty, embracing what you might call “alternative culture” and just before next day's high tide we anchor off the shallow creek heading to the town. We don't really need any supplies but it's a tradition to head up the creek in your dinghy while high tide allows and sample pies or doughnuts from the bakery and a beer from the pub, though on this occasion we opt for coffees.

Morris guides us up the very tidal Coromandel Creek

 

New Zealand regulations sensibly require all boats to carry correctly-sized life jackets for all people, while on those boats under six metres they must be worn unless the skipper determines it is safe not to do so. For example crossing a bar is dangerous and they should be worn but perhaps the're not necessary (except for non swimmers) if you're simply going a few metres from one boat to another. However Coromandel comes under a different jurisdiction requiring jackets to be worn at all times and we're pleased to have complied when the harbourmaster's boat passes nearby.

Coromandel village is at the creek's head

After a night anchored in serene Te Kouma harbour we're heading back across the Firth of Thames to Hooks Bay on the eastern side of Waiheke to meet mutual friends for brunch aboard their boat.

Next day we pull the fishing rods out again without landing a single fish, then anchor off Rotorua Island which used to be an alcohol rehabilitation centre run by the Salvation Army off-limits to the public. Recently the centre moved and the island has been opened up to the public, also making available some stunning formerly inaccessible beaches. Ashore there's an interesting museum documenting the valuable work done by the “Sallies” with addicts over several decades.

Rotoroa's stunning beaches like this one are now accessible

Our last night is spent nearby anchored off Waiheke's Man O'War Bay where we visit the Man O'War Vineyard – an excellent place to enjoy a pre-dinner glass of wine or three.

Laurie, Di and Morris enjoy a wine at the vineyard

Thanks very much to our hosts Morris and Gail and the good ship Moritz.