Welcome

This is the start of our adventures with our Farr 38 yacht, Arbitare, that we have had for just on three years. She was purchased from a couple in Auckland who had decided to build a new boat, which for us was great as we discovered the classics can be pretty hard to find, especially with owners who had looked after her. Moored in Auckland she was used for sailing in slightly different weather to what we experience in Wellington harbour where she is now moored. After purchasing Arbitare it was now time to decide how we were to get her to Wellington, road or sea. It was decided to sail her down, which would give us a chance to really get to know her and of course see how she performed deep sea. She was already the chosen type of boat for her strength, safety, style, comfort, speed and versatility. At this time we were only going to cruise with her so her wardrobe, although old, was still in good enough shape for us to play with her whilst getting to know her, after all a few times over the past three years she has proven to us how reliable, strong and safe she is having been in some of the horrible seas that the East Coast and Cook Strait can throw at you. She has handled enormous and disturbed seas as well as we had thought she would, although at times extremely uncomfortable she surfed and sailed her way through them.
The crew on the trip down which was done in two legs due to the weather and fronts coming up from the south, was Murray, brother Phil, Dad Phil Hartley(senior- not bad for 83 at the time), Barry, Herb and Dan Herbison. As you can see by the pics at the end of the first leg at Napier all were pretty worn out.

Wednesday, November 3, 2010

Calm Autumn weather on Wellington Harbour

Lots of Masts at the Marina looking to the Bluebridge

Chaffers Marina

The cake tin

Ward Island

 Our first birth was a back in- what a nitemare for the driver

Bluebridge

Wellington mill pond
After the motor down from Napier as this leg there was next to no wind, we sure new when we came around Palliser, Wellington was not far away. Up went the sails and we screamed in as the Wellington gales welcomed us. Now it was on to the family ( Jill and Jacob) learning to sail. The first autumn was glorious weather on the harbour. With Freddy(Dad) at our side we went on adventures around the harbour so Jill and Jacob could get their sea legs, this was going to be a little different from being on a launch or ferry. We checked out all the bays where we could moor with the hanky over the face, where the wind funnels were etc. One afternoon we decided the straits were looking ok so we hopped over to Hitaua Bay in Tory channel for the night. Our first crossing for Jill under sail and thru the disgusting rips of the straits.Next day no wind, so we motored back until Karori Rock where the breeze came in and we were skipping along the wind tunnels this time Jill working the main sheet, but still trying to deal with the healing pitch and the wind tunnels of the bays.
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Saturday, October 23, 2010

The Second leg

A few last discussions on the next leg

The last of the drying, it was 6 weeks before the weather was ok for the second leg.
Off Cape Kidnappers heading south to Wellington

Phil enjoying the nicer weather

Phil senior relaxing in the cockpit

Herb trying his luck with the rod

Well it took about six weeks until there was a big enough break in the weather for the second leg down to Wellington. Arbitare had nicely dried out over the past weeks, so after another loading up the guys set sail for Wellington. This part of the trip was light or no wind so the motor was started to help speed things up. Herb decided to have a go at fishing of the stern and everyone enjoyed the good conditions.
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Sea trials, then the first leg down to Napier




Sea trials on Auckland Harbor  Phil Hartley senior


Loaded up and on our way to Auckland for the trip down

Auckland Harbor bridge from the marina

Barry after the first leg

Dan Herbison and Phil Hartley Senior

Murray (the captain)

Phil
These last photos are after the first leg where huge seas were encountered of the East Cape.

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