Sailing and Charter Boats in New Zealand

Sailing

Take a look at a map of NZ. First thing you note is that it's two long, skinny islands. That means there's a lot of water, a lot of coastline.

As a not-too-surprising consequence of this aquatic outlook, New Zealanders are keen yachtsmen (witness their performance in big-time international yatching) and sailing is more of a passion than a pastime.

If you want to escape the lunacy of this world by sailing off into the sunrise for a day or two (or a week or two, or a year or two) then this is paradise.

There are three particularly attractive sailing areas, the Bay of Islands centred on Paihia in Northland, the Hauraki Gulf at Auckland's doorstep, and Marlborough Sounds on the northernmost end of the South Island.

Together they offer a tremendous range of sailing experiences. You could spend a day aboard a brilliantly done replica of a 19th Century tops'l schooner, or charter a yacht of your own for as long as you please. You could drift around the Bay of Islands on a 47-foot cruising cutter or waft along the shores of Auckland Harbour in a 60ft catamaran. For fans of the tv series The Onedin Line, you can sail on the very ship itself - the which now operates out of Auckland. For information on day cruises refer to the locality concerned.

If an extended cruise on the briny appeals, the modern-day seafarer can choose between bare-boat charters for those with sufficient yachting experience or some form of crewed charter where you take along an onboard expert from the charter company.

Bareboat Charters

Bareboating is strictly for those with some experience of messing about in boats. The charter operators will want to know something of your experience before letting your loose.

It offers the greatest possible freedom to mooch along as the mood takes you, stopping to fish, dive or laze in the sun.

The boat will be fully equipped, but you buy your own provisions, though you can usually have those included by the operator if you wish.

The boats are specially designed and built for this task - thus plenty of safety margins are built in. The sails are heavier than usual, the interior layout is designed for easy living. Before leaving you'll be fully briefed on supply points, anchorages, danger points and cruising limits.

You can choose the size of boat that suits your own experience and the experience of your companions.

Crewed Charters

As the name suggests, the charter company supplies the crew. You might need no more than an experienced skipper if you do your own general-hand work on a smaller boat, or you can swan off in a fully-crewed luxury yacht where the heaviest outlay of effort is lifting a glass of gin-and-tonic.

Bay Of Islands

From the very first day a European clapped eyes on the Bay of Islands it's potential was espied. Capt. James Cook wrote that it was "blessed with every kind of refreshment" - a verdict you'll agree with two centuries later.

There are scores of islands dotting the bay, as well as 500 miles of deeply indented coastline north and south, all begging to be explored.

The fishing is superb. Throw a line over the side and wait for a suicidal fish. Spill over the side and go diving for scallops, mussels, lobsters (known locally as crayfish). If you can't round up the basics for the best bouillabaise you've ever tasted then you just aren't trying.

Take a three ay sailing trip around the Bay aboard Manawanui with Ecocruz, 0800432-627.

Auckland

At the very door of Auckland lies the Hauraki Gulf, like the Bay of Islands, dotted with islands. Some are dormant volcanoes. Some are big enough to be farmed commercially, others are little more than wave-washed stumps.

Even in the height of the season you can escape to a bay all of your own - if you know where to look. Most of the islands are in public ownership so you can go ashore for picnics or barbecues . . . or just to wander and sit in the sun.

Little wonder that Auckland has one of the largest - if not the largest - pleasure fleets in the world.

The cruising area available is huge - it extends out to the Great Barrier Island and goes south to include the Coromandel coast and Mercury Islands.

Charterbase operate throughout NZ but are based in Auckland. They can arrange bareboat or skippered charters, sailing, fishing or just plain crash-out relaxing.

Marlborough

At the north end of the South Island is a mountainous region called Marlborough. Where those mountains dive into the sea you have the Marlborough Sounds - hundreds of miles of cruising and none of it in open water. The climate too is more than favourable - this area is always among the front runners for the most sunshine hours in NZ.

Picton is the headquarters of activities in the area, but boat charters can also be arranged out of Nelson which give access to Tasman Bay as well as the Sounds.

Want more information? An excellent reference site is Picot's New Zealand Charter Guide.

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