Running up the east coast of New Zealand
Sunday 06.03.2007

The Schooner Maggie B cast off from the Gisborne Marina exactly at noon today. We are headed north for the Bay of Plenty, running up the East Coast at 9-10 knots in a nice big Southerly. A Nor’westerly gale is due Tuesday, so we hope to be safely around East Point and across the Bay by then. Depending on our speed and the speed of advance of the gale, we should be in either Tauranga in the Bay of Plenty or Whitianga on the Coromandel Peninsula. From Whitianga it is just a half day to Auckland. (for interested parties, the “Wh” in Whitianga is pronounced “F” as in “Fitianga.”)

We hope to go by White Island (Whakaari) in the middle of the Bay of Plenty, which is New Zealand’s most active volcano, last erupting just a few years ago and actively steaming now.

At the End of the World?

Right now we are just 70 NM from the International Date Line, which makes some of our electronic charts act as if it is the end of the world (see Pirates III). Almost tempting to cross over and back to spend the shortest day ever.

All is well.

Location 39° 22S 177° 49E
Thursday 12:00, 05.31.2007

At noon on May 31st, the Schooner Maggie B was at 39° 22S 177° 49E, just along the East Coast of the North Island, Near Portland Light. We are motorsailing in about 10 knots of wind, making our best time for Gisborne, where we should arrive today at about sunset. We are safely ahead of the gale. Castle Point, where one turns north after leaving Wellington, had 41 knots of wind at noon today. Whew!

Roaring 40s

Today at noon is the first time we have been north of the Roaring 40s in a long time - March 10th, to be exact. Seeking the sun as winter settles in in the South!

As we left Wellington yesterday, we passed the Chilean Sail Training Ship Esmerelda. A lovely four masted square rigger — just magnificent, though somewhat in need of a paint job. She was there for a port visit and surely will have lots of fun. She does carry some baggage, though, as she was used for terrible purposes under Pinochet. For many, a trip on the Esmerelda was one way.

Gisborne & Whale Rider

Gisborne is the place where the marvelous movie “Whale Rider” was filmed. This is a good excuse to go our to your video store and rent it and get a great feeling of this area.

We passed Young Nick Head, named after Captain Cook’s Cabin Boy, who was the first to spot New Zealand. In Gisborne there are lots of Cook memorials. The best of all has to be up the hill at Titirangi at Cook Plaza, where, due to some historical screw-up, the statue isn’t in British naval Uniform, nor is there any facial resemblance to Cook. The plaque reads: “Who was he? We have no idea.”

There is an Irish bar the we will no doubt seek out, Irish Rover. It supposedly has a sign, “No hats, no undesirable tattoos.” I’m not sure that all the crew will be able to get in.

Lunch today was fettuccini with roasted garlic and New Zealand Green Lip mussels, chased down by a Nautilus Sauvignon Blanc. World Class!

All is well.