A Dutch 'kiwi' from New Zealand

[expatria]

Greetings all. I'm sorry to say that to date my main 'long' cruise has been fifty years ago on my Dad's boat (van de Stadt 36ft) from Breskens in S.W. Holland to St Sebastian. The Golf of Biscay was like a mill pond! Mid October I'm planning to collect my Xp38 from Haderslev in S.E. Denmark and sail her through the 'Kieler Canal' to Delfzijl in N.E. Holland. From there she will go on Yacht Transport vessel to N.Z.

[fxykty]

Welcome to CF! Sounds like your yacht will arrive just in time for summer cruising - well planned. The Hauraki Gulf as you must surely well know is an absolute gem and with cruising you’ll discover a multitude of bays and interesting spots that you’ve raced past without stopping. Your 38 will easily make trips to Great Barrier and the Mercurys and beyond. Have you got a berth for your yacht and are you a member of a club with a cruising section? Cruising is definitely a different pace from racing and will have you enjoying sailing in a very different way. Cheers.

[GordMay]

Greetings and welcome aboard the CF, expatria.

CONGRATULATIONS!

[expatria]

thank you for your kind words. my current marina at Westhaven is for a 10m boat, but I will have to go on the list soon for a 12m berth. And yes I'm a member at the RNZYS, who also have a cruising division. I'm certainly keen to try them out. some 20 years ago, when we shared a 40ft Don Senior with friends we visited the Bay of Islands, Great Barrier, Mercuries and the Coromandel and it's paradise indeed. An English visitor, who chartered a yacht here recently, wrote that it was a bit backward here, as "there were no facilities", but I would like to think that's what great about sailing here. Just drop your anchor in a bay and leave the rest of the world far behind you!!

[fxykty]

Tonight we’re sitting all alone at Hobbs Bay on Tiri Tiri Maitangi, with the lights of NZ’s largest city visible in the distance, listening to kiwis calling for mates. The near full moon is visible through the clouds and water is lapping against our hull. Paradise barely covers it. Tomorrow we’re going snorkeling and with luck will catch something for the bbq.

[Don C L]

Welcome aboard Expatria! Good luck!