Cook Strait Weather, NZ

[seafox]

We were supposed to cross the Cook Strait on Friday for a short holiday in the sounds. Since then we have had two storms. The outlook 6 days is storms, gales......It has been like this for weeks. When is it going to end?

[Alan Wheeler]

Yeah I hear it is a real blow out there right now. It must be breezy if they closed the airport. What are you getting over there at the mo. Are boats in the Harbour OK??
It is only a light breeze here Darryl, but we have had two days of solid rain. Stopped earlier today, but is very cold. It is supposed to swing back to the Norwest gails.
Hey we had 40knts in the Marina last Thursday and 70knts just out a bit. I am glad we stayed at home for the long weekend now.
Folks reading, there is like only 20miles between me and Darryl, but the weather can be like chalk and cheese, with the Straight in the middle being absolutley trecherouse.

[seafox]

It was blowing 57 knots at the brothers at 1pm. Been heaps of rain and wind here. Big swells smashing onto Petone shore. The harbour looks like chocolate with all the rain we have had. Streams in Lower Hutt are flooding. The boats at Seaview Marina were getting hammered, especially the ones on the pole moorings. Some are stern to the Southerly and it is a wonder how they were not swamped. I saw a boat on the hard with a shredded furler.
The airport has been closed quite a bit lately. Ferries were cancelled again today. We went for a sail in 10knots in the small gap we had yesterday. Hard to believe today.

[Alan Wheeler]

I was supposed to be taking a fishing party out to Titirangi this coming weekend, but the extended forcast is for 45-50knts again, so I think we will have to cancel. Nothing worse than getting a wet fish onboard and then having the wind wip it into your face. :-)

[Alan Wheeler]

Hey Darryl, what ya reckon, The Cpt of the Kaitiri is going to be in big trouble?. The 3hr sailing become a 9hr one battling 9m swells. He had to go all the way down to Clifford bay before turning to Wellington. That's a long way. A passenger took a "phone video" and it showed a wave coming over the bow and slamming into the forward windows. Those windows are a long way up.

[seafox]

just heard it on the radio. He should never have left picton with 9m swells and 60 knots. Officials are saying he made the right decision to anchor up though.

[seafox]

hurricane-force gusts of up to 150kmh were recorded at Mt Kaukau, while more than 77mm of rain fell in 16 hours in Lower Hutt. Winds gusting to 100kmh forced airlines to cancel 24 flights in and out of Wellington yesterday, stranding more than 5000 passengers.

[southernman]

We just got into Opua Bay of Islands and we got a little of the weather - last night we had 47 knots on the way back from Fiji - Tri Sail and Stay Sail - the wife has sworn she will never go offshore sailing again. The boat is battle weary but a good nights sleep and things look a little brigher this morning.

[seafox]

When are you bringing the boat back to Wellington Southernman?
Been a shocking weather pattern for over a month now.

[Alan Wheeler]

It's a good thing the we haven't had any really Bad weather yet??;-) :-)

[southernman]

Not sure I will be bringing it back to Wellington. Thinking of selling her in Auckland - we are upsizing. Where abouts are you in Wellington? I loved your comments about Seaview Marina - we had our yacht there for a year and the highest wind we recorded was 67 knots in the marina! I hear their is a huge slip over in Eastbourne where we used to live.

see ya from sunny Opua Bay of Islands

[seafox]

We are in the Hutt Valley but keep the boat at Mana. Yep, a few slips lately. Wheels is in Havelock.

[seafox]

Just got back from 6 great days in the Sounds. 5 days of warm sunny weather at last. Sailed back across the Strait last night in a 25 knot Southerly gusting 30knots. Nice fast pleasant trip and took about 3 hours from Cape Komaru across the Cook Strait to Mana Island. Had to wait an hour at the Mana side to cross the bar. Rained most of the way but a great fast sail.

[mudnut]

I was looking at a boat for sail in NZ and one of it's big points was it had several Cook strait crossings under its belt.Makes ya wonder!!Mudnut.

[Alan Wheeler]

I just got in from being out there as well. I droped a party of 13 of at Titirangi bay. The high light was have a Pod of Orca around us out there. I will post a Photo after I get some sleep.
Last night however, the weather all turned to custard again and I got very little sleep. We had 50kt gusts pushing us around on the mooring all night and the rain was torrential. Still fun though.