Sailing the Hauraki Gulf | E063
April 5, 2026 · 10 min · 253 views · New Zealand
Sailor grips tiller as boat heels hard in squall
What this video covers
Nicki and Mike sailed their yacht from Whangaroa south to the Hauraki Gulf after unstable weather prevented a planned passage to the South Island.▶ 0:32 They bypassed the Bay of Islands, navigating past the Hole in the Wall and Cape Brett, where currents reached three knots.▶ 1:07 After anchoring at the former whaling station of Whangamumu, they proceeded to Marsden Cove Marina in Whangarei Harbour, noting shallow depths and strong tidal currents.▶ 3:17 The crew motored up the river to the Whangarei Town Basin, coordinating passage through a lifting bascule bridge via VHF radio.▶ 3:52 Subsequent legs included a 30-mile beam reach to Omaha Bay in 15–35 knot west-southwest winds, a light-air passage to Te Kuomo on the Coromandel Peninsula, and a 44-nautical-mile crossing to Port Fitzroy on Great Barrier Island.▶ 7:55 They navigated the 50-meter-wide Manawar Channel into Port Fitzroy, noting the importance of tidal timing.▶ 8:22 The trip concluded with a return to Whangarei to prepare for a return to Australia.▶ 9:36
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