Nomad Ocean Project

Nomad Ocean Project
Planned Route Nomad Ocean

Legend

Sailing Kahu

Westhaven Marina Westhaven Drive, New Zealand ‐ Mar 7, 2018

Final stop (for now)! Thank you for sharing this trip with us. Until next time.
Waiheke Island ‐ Mar 6, 2018

Overnight stopover in Waiheke before heading to our final destination, Westhaven Marina in Auckland to clean & dry Kahu, do an inventory and get ready to stay on land for a while.
Russell ‐ Mar 4, 2018

It took us over 1 week to sail from Mana to the Bay of Islands and do the first leg of our sail back home. In Russel, we anchored on a mooring and checked in the Commodors Logde: We definitely need a nice, dry bed for a change.
Mana Marina ‐ Feb 17, 2018

Cyclone Gita is coming: As it was forecasted to hit the North Island of New Zealand early next week, it was not enough time for us to get around Cape Reinga to the next sheltered harbour of Opua. That´s why we decided to head approx. 150 nm back to Mana Marina. We are grateful that we can anchor there in a friends´ berthage for free.
Port Taranaki ‐ Feb 10, 2018

After 2 days and nights in Awaroa, we spontaneously decided to take the weather window and head up the west coast of the North Island. As T.A.s new project starts beginning of March, it is time to go on our long way back to Auckland. Our first 120 nm should take us to New Plymouth where we hoped to get fuel and water. Well, good idea - but unfortunately, we got hit by 35 knot gusts just off Cape Egmont and while reefing down, we blew our engine. As it was about to get dark and we could not use t [...]
he engine any longer, we called CoastGuard. They towed us 20 nm into Port Taranaki and put us on a mooring. After a really unpleasant, rocky night, we checked the engine and managed to get in touch with Lee from the marine supplies. Bad news: There´s hardly any infrastructure in Port Taranaki. No fuel, no water, no showers. But there is also good news: The engine part that needs to be replaced can be ordered easily and will be here latest by Wednesday (that´s probably too late for the weather window, but we´ll see). But best news is the support of the locals: With the help of CoastGuard, we could put Kahu in a berth in the small marina just behind the breakwaters. Tomorrow, we can take Lees truck to get fuel and do laundry in town. We even got invited to dinner by a local who saw our emergency-post on Instagram. We are lucky indeed.

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Taranaki area with "SOS"-stopover in New Plymouth
Awaroa Bay ‐ Feb 7, 2018

Awaroa Beach was our last stop in Abel Tasman - and we were glad we chose this particular Bay. It is not only beautiful, but has a special history of being the first beach in New Zealand being bought via crowd funding: https://www.stuff.co.nz/travel/themes/beaches/76896297/a-short-history-of-new-zealands-mission-to-buy-a-beach

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The Anchorage ‐ Feb 6, 2018
Port Motueka ‐ Feb 5, 2018

No coffee or a repair run to Motueka? Of course we chose the latter and went overnight into Port Motueka, one of the driest working harbours we´ve ever seen.
The Anchorage ‐ Jan 30, 2018

Pretty busy bay with a boat-hostel, a campsite and huts and lots of boat wash from water taxis and ferries.
Adele Island ‐ Jan 26, 2018

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Okiwi Bay ‐ Jan 24, 2018
Port Hardy ‐ Jan 23, 2018
Whareata Bay ‐ Jan 22, 2018

Plan change: We did not stay in Pelorus as planned, but moved on to D´urville island that day. Interesting and quite appropriate, that our first anchorage was in Whareata Bay, the bay, Captain Cook got water from before heading off overseas again.
Annie Bay ‐ Jan 21, 2018

After sailing through quite a rough, confused Sea with winds sometimes pushing us up to 6 knots, sometimes no wind at all, we arrived at Annie Bay in Pelorus around 7.30 pm. (Made: 25 nm)
Resolution Bay ‐ Jan 20, 2018

We wanted to hike Long Island on our last day in the QCS, but it was too windy and we could not find a track. So we went to Resolution Bay to wait for better winds to sail off to Pelorus the next day. The holding in the bay was less than average, and there were many other boats and yachts. We stayed overnight.
Blumine Island ‐ Jan 18, 2018

Back to Blumine Island for a night.
Ngakuta Bay ‐ Jan 16, 2018

The most Eastern bay so far where we are able to catch the famous blue cod and red gurnard. The land itself is very lush and hardly accessible, but we manage to hike through the bush and find some apple, apricot and plum trees someone planted once probably planning to set up an orchard there.
Wharekupenga Bay ‐ Jan 15, 2018

Finally in the outer Sounds and around IBDAs (indigenous biodiversity areas), the difference is visible: In the next days, we definitely see more fish and marine life than in the inner sounds.
Wharehunga Bay ‐ Jan 14, 2018

Welcomed by Hector´s dolphins <3 and kayaked with them. Our attempt to dive with them the next morning was interrupted by the E-ko tour chasing the dolphins for about half an hour out of the bay and around the bay. Even though we understand the obligations of tour companies to their clients to provide encounters with Hector´s dolphins, its the HOW that matters. Yelling at them, chasing them around ... are definitely not the way to do.
Pickersgill Island ‐ Jan 13, 2018

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Blumine Island ‐ Jan 12, 2018

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Kaipakirikiri Bay ‐ Jan 8, 2018

This became our favourite bay: A little bit quieter than its bigger brother Kumototo Bay, we just love to hang out here. Moreover, we have amazing neighbours: A mother seal with her baby <3

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Inner Queen Charlotte Sounds
Kumutoto Bay ‐ Jan 6, 2018

After the unpleasant experience of being in the hectic marina of Waikawa, anchorages like this with natural New Zealand bush in the background are just fantastic. Despite the rain, we jumped on our dinghy and explored the rainforest on foot too.
Waikawa ‐ Jan 5, 2018

As our night on a public ramp in the Marina of Waikawa was everything but pleasant, we left the next morning and started cruising Queen Charlotte Sounds.

Marina fail
Ship Cove ‐ Jan 4, 2018

After being out on the ocean for more than 60 hours, we laid anchor in the first Bay - Ship Cove - on the morning of the 4th of January. We had some entertainment on our trip - not only due to the sailing conditions (still big swell, no wind, ...), but because our alternator did not work and our batteries, both the starter as well as the house battery, could not hold any charge anymore. Fortunately, we just changed the belt of the engine and the alternator works again. Yeah!

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Sailing from Tauranga, Bay of Plenty to Queen Charlotte Sounds
Napier ‐ Dec 26, 2017

Probably staying here till 1st of January, waiting for the southerly storm and swell to pass. Happy New Year everyone!
Flat Rock ‐ Dec 25, 2017

Before heading to the city, we went to this little Bay where T.A. used to surf before.
Tolaga Bay ‐ Dec 24, 2017

First, we wanted to spend Christmas here but due to weather conditions and forecast, we decided to sail overnight straight to Napier.
Waipiro Bay ‐ Dec 22, 2017
Hicks Bay ‐ Dec 19, 2017

Due to the weather forecast with westerlies and heavy swell, we have to tuck away in Hicks Bay for the next couple of days.
Tikirau ‐ Dec 18, 2017

Saw a pod of 4 orcas and followed them, then motorsailed all the way through to Tihirau.
Te Kaha ‐ Dec 17, 2017

From White Island headed towards Te kaha Bay (around 27 nm) Wind: North-Easterlies, ca. 15 – 17 knots, gusts in the beginning, swell We sailed there with an average 4,5 knots, main reefed down 10.0 – 15./15.30
White Island ‐ Dec 16, 2017

At 7.00 a.m., we started to sail the leg of 38 nm towards the active volcano known as White Island. Pictures on instagram >> https://www.instagram.com/nomadoceanproject/
Motiti Island ‐ Dec 15, 2017

T.A. is connected with 19 generations of Whakapapa with the island of Motiti. For the last years, he has been a technical advisor for the Motiti Rohe Moana Trust and developed a new approach for marine restoration (more about it here https://nomadocean.org/2017/12/tipping-point-non-word-of-the-year/). Quite appropriate that our circumnavigation starts here.

Setting sails … and what the Environment Court has to do with it

Good things come to those who wait, they say. For the last three months, I have done quite a bit of waiting… waiting for this day to come: The day of our departure to sail around New Zealand.
Tauranga Bridge Marina ‐ Oct 1, 2017

Getting ready for the circumnavigation. Setting sails on the 15th of December!

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Mokohinau Islands, New Zealand ‐ May 1, 2017

“Wich part did impress you most?” people keep on asking the two of us after our cruise from the Bay of Plenty to the Bay of Islands in New Zealand. The answer comes as quickly as simultaneously: The Mokohinau (Pokohinu) Islands – a paradise for those who love solitude, the sights of sh curiously checking out your boat, the sound of birds in a starry night, hikes on long forgotten tracks, dives underneath arches and kayaks in clear water. More ... https://nomadocean.org/2017/11/a-paradise- [...]
called-mokohinau/

A paradise called Mokohinau

“Wich part did impress you most?” people keep on asking the two of us after our cruise from the Bay of Plenty to the Bay of Islands in New Zealand. The answer comes as quickly as simultaneously: The M...