Date: December 19, 2019
Passengers: 21
Skipper: Jonny
Weather: 1.5m swell overcast, very choppy, 1m
Crew: Sam, Nicole, Celia
Wind: W going NW going SW, all at 20 (10) overnight
Overnight Anchorage: Assassination Cove
Snorkel Spot: Palm Beach
Island Visit: Waewaetorea Island
Wildlife: Penguins
SKIPPER'S LOG
At 5:10pm from Paihia, 21 passengers headed to Assassination Cove for our overnight anchorage. The island is an incredible area, full of lush green islands with sandy beaches. Sailing around the islands you will see gorgeous views and maybe even pods of dolphins swimming alongside the boat. The area is rich in Māori history and natural beauty.
Activities during the cruise: kayaking, snorkelling, dusk fishing, target shooting, island walk, paddleboarding. We examined coral reefs in the shallow waters. The colourful reef formations while exploring the inlets and sandpits made the day memorable. We also spotted a couple of penguins frolicking in the sea.
A lively lunch included freshly squeezed local orange juice from the farmers market, made into Mimosas. A family group — gran, mum, and two daughters — were an absolute pleasure to have onboard.
The next day we headed to Waewaetorea Island. Cloudy with chop, but that didn't stop anyone making the most of it. Crystal-clear water for swimming and snorkelling; the seaward side of the island is an incredible freediving spot. We kayaked or paddleboarded to shore, then completed an island walk and beach cleanup — 1.7kg of rubbish collected.