Heading for the Queen Charlotte sounds via the French pass
It was the French pass 040 55.282 S 173 50.051 E that was bearing on our minds, as it was our first time to sail through it. We had heard so much about the pass from the local sailors in Seaview Marina, especially how bad it can get if entering at the wrong time.
I researched about the pass myself, respecting the local predictions. The piloting book that we had been given by our friends only a few berths away, lacked some important details. It would give formalities for different piloting situations using the names of important coves if needed in failing conditions but there was no navigational co-ordinance for foreign cruisers. I must admit the book was dated.
Luckily for the internet I was able to prepare in advance using the geographic 6 hour flood and ebbing tide charts which clearly displayed the best time to enter. For a spring tidal condition we needed to be at the pass 4 hours after high water springs in Nelson and slack water will last for 20 minutes. In reality we needed to enter the pass at 1530. We were half an hour early when we motored through the pass with no incidences, it was perfect timing and as we exited the narrow channel, there were vessels on the other side preparing to enter which reassured us.
There was very little wind on our passage to Queen Charlotte Sounds but the forecast for the late afternoon seemed promising with the northerlies rising to 20 knots but later rising to 40 knots plus. We still managed to sail between Kakaho Island and Sentinal Rock, around Walkera Rock/Cape Jackson. Then a powerful down wind sail to Resolution Bay, arriving at the entrance just on dusk. By the time we had reached the anchorage where our sailing friends had anchored it was dark but sheltered or so we thought!
It was around 0200 when the wind veered to the west, exposing the tightly packed anchorage. Boats who had anchored well ahead of us were now dragging passed and becoming dangerously close to other vessels. Our yacht Carpe Diem had pulled up on the slack chain and we were now only 40 feet from the small cliff face and holding in the 40 knot gusts. We flashed our torches on the windows of the dragging vessels to wake them up to tend to their boats. It was starting to get too close for comfort and we decided to re-anchor but this wasn't an easy task as the wind dominated most of our manoeuvrability. We managed to re-anchor in 20 metres of water, with 100 metres of chain over but there was an anchor watch on for the rest of the morning. The other 4 or 5 boats left seeking a safer anchorage in the moonless night.
In our week long stay in Queen Charlotte Sounds we were able to visit Resolution Bay 014 60.788 S 174 13.450 E, Waikawa Marina, Picton Marina, Governors Bay 041 16.052 S 173 58.226 E, Flipper Bay 041 15.198 S 173 57.890 E and Ngaruru Bay 041 13.614 S 174 12.947 E in the Tory Channel.
I researched about the pass myself, respecting the local predictions. The piloting book that we had been given by our friends only a few berths away, lacked some important details. It would give formalities for different piloting situations using the names of important coves if needed in failing conditions but there was no navigational co-ordinance for foreign cruisers. I must admit the book was dated.
Luckily for the internet I was able to prepare in advance using the geographic 6 hour flood and ebbing tide charts which clearly displayed the best time to enter. For a spring tidal condition we needed to be at the pass 4 hours after high water springs in Nelson and slack water will last for 20 minutes. In reality we needed to enter the pass at 1530. We were half an hour early when we motored through the pass with no incidences, it was perfect timing and as we exited the narrow channel, there were vessels on the other side preparing to enter which reassured us.
There was very little wind on our passage to Queen Charlotte Sounds but the forecast for the late afternoon seemed promising with the northerlies rising to 20 knots but later rising to 40 knots plus. We still managed to sail between Kakaho Island and Sentinal Rock, around Walkera Rock/Cape Jackson. Then a powerful down wind sail to Resolution Bay, arriving at the entrance just on dusk. By the time we had reached the anchorage where our sailing friends had anchored it was dark but sheltered or so we thought!
It was around 0200 when the wind veered to the west, exposing the tightly packed anchorage. Boats who had anchored well ahead of us were now dragging passed and becoming dangerously close to other vessels. Our yacht Carpe Diem had pulled up on the slack chain and we were now only 40 feet from the small cliff face and holding in the 40 knot gusts. We flashed our torches on the windows of the dragging vessels to wake them up to tend to their boats. It was starting to get too close for comfort and we decided to re-anchor but this wasn't an easy task as the wind dominated most of our manoeuvrability. We managed to re-anchor in 20 metres of water, with 100 metres of chain over but there was an anchor watch on for the rest of the morning. The other 4 or 5 boats left seeking a safer anchorage in the moonless night.
In our week long stay in Queen Charlotte Sounds we were able to visit Resolution Bay 014 60.788 S 174 13.450 E, Waikawa Marina, Picton Marina, Governors Bay 041 16.052 S 173 58.226 E, Flipper Bay 041 15.198 S 173 57.890 E and Ngaruru Bay 041 13.614 S 174 12.947 E in the Tory Channel.
For the first time in eight years we were able to raft up and enjoy the close proximity of friends on board Story Teller, Alishan and Wild Cherry. The kids enjoyed it even more!
Sailing Back to Wellington
With the weather almost favourable to sail back to Wellington, we left the safety of Ngaruru anchorage with solo sailing vessel Wild Cherry. The only obstacle was the fog bank at the entrance of the Tory Channel and the Cook Straits knowing it is well used by the cross channel ferries and the beat back to Seaview Marina.
