Hey you North Islanders

[Alan Wheeler]

You all OK up there??. From the news tonight, I am a bit worried you are all going to be either washed out to sea or blown out to sea. Hope all's well and wish you the best for tonight. It's not letting up till tomorrow.
And for those not in NZ, there is a major storm over the top of the North Island at the mo. Severe flooding with some places recording 250mm of rain today so far and much more predicted tonight. Winds of 130Km(65knts)

[cooper]

....and we dont want it back..........

[NoTies]

Channel Island average 76 knots gusting 89. Plenty of fresh air about tonight. I haven't seen hurricane force winds for a while. Only blowing about 50 knots in the harbour though so all good.

[Boracay]

Yeh. Don't forget us West Islanders.

[southernman]

Drove Auckland to Whangerei today. SH1 Tree falls onto 4WD in front of us and breaks windscreen and crushes bonnet and front of 4WD driver ok. Stuck in hotel here in Whangerei. Blowing like 40 no make that 60 bastards!!

No TV lights are flicking on and off no AC and freezing. Just going for a walk down to Whangerei Marina to check things out.

Worst weather i've seen in ages.

[NoTies]

Blowing dogs off chains

[2divers]

Been there done that for the past 45 days now! We are just starting to dry out! Stay safe and don't drive through water over the road... someplaces here had as much as 10 inches in less than 8 hours. The little town of Marble Falls had 19 inches (482 mm) in 9 hours. Needless to say they were under water for about a week.

The meterologists here call the phenomenon "rain bombs" where an intense thunderstorm just sits over a location for hours and dumps!

2divers

[craigsmith]

Originally Posted by NoTies

Channel Island average 76 knots gusting 89. Plenty of fresh air about tonight. I haven't seen hurricane force winds for a while. Only blowing about 50 knots in the harbour though so all good.

Boats at Westpark breaking loose, spent half the evening tying 'em up again. High tide sees the fetch across the harbor make it over the supposed break-water into the marina.

Good anchor testing weather.

[Alan Wheeler]

Yeah I can just imagine. You would be out at the Channel Island in 89kts testing your anchor and Pete would be doing circuits of the Island enjoying the breeze. ;-) :-)

[seafox]

Hi Pete and Craig,
I was anchored at Kauwau a few years ago in Cyclone Fergus. We were very sheltered there and I remember the bay around getting over 75knots. It was from the East and we were in two house bay.

Where would be the best place (if you were not in a Marina) to ride the weather of the last few days out? Would Kauwau Mansion House be the best bet in the SE winds?

[craigsmith]

Mansion House okay in SE.

Just east of Mansion House is South East Bay (Peter thinks) would be excellent as it's deep close in, and you can get under high hills and pine trees.

The best options in extreme winds are roadsted anchorages in the lee under high cliffs or heavy tree-lined land. Bow anchor out and stern line ashore (close in) - not bays with valleys.

North Harbour on Kawau should also be okay in SE.

[Alan Wheeler]

not bays with valleys.

Very good point. Never in the valley or under a saddle. Sometimes the area that seems the least attractive for shelter will offer you the best shelter. A small cove that is at the bottom of a valley or saddle can be a nightmare.
Pete and I both being from the Sounds, are very experianced at where to and not to anchor in hilly terrain.

[craigsmith]

First casualty we know personally... 39' friend's boat dragged its mooring off Keri Keri marina, bounced against some battle-axe of a steel thing for hours and did in its own topsides... moved on and did in a Beneteau's for good measure.

All insured but six months work to get back to square one. Depressing.

[seafox]

Must be pretty horrible to see that!

[Alan Wheeler]

We had a rescue in the sounds last night. I am not sure of the statis as of the mo. But it was reported that the fishing vessel was left adrift in Port gore last night as the rescue boat could not tow it.
We had a Ketch break her mooring in Waikawa bay today and went aground. It doesn't look like it is damaged, but unsure at the mo.