Focus on the new year - Pico

Winter creeps on in the UK but here in New Zealand we start the summer and so thoughts turn to the great outdoors and what could be, rather than what should have been.

So with a renewed vigour I am going to be pushing for the Pico option this year. This is based around limited funds (whole project to be completed for less than  NZ$2000 - $1000 Boat and $1000 refit and kit buying) and simply scaling back to weekend and evening cruising in a Dinghy, something Mirror-esk would be great.

This means that putting the Dinghy to one side I need to look at simpler ways of sailing and what I would be doing for an overnight as well as accommodating our 6 year old, should he want to venture out with his old dad!

NZ Maritime Restricted Operators Certificate (MROC) VHF License

So, I may as well keep current and so I was looking at ways of complying with the NZ 'rules of the road' and I happened to find eNautical. They offer the Maritime Restricted Operators Certificate (MROC) on-line (no exam, this is purchase separately for those that need it) for a remarkable NZ$59! For this you receive all your material and course-ware.

As the site says 
    "Study anywhere in the world online in the comfort of your own home"

So if this is of interest perhaps an offering on the other side of the world can help!? 

New Zealand pocket yachts- NOT UK pocket yachts

So, very occasionally, my afternoons may give me a few minutes to have a trawl over TradeMe (New Zealand’s equivalent to eBay) looking for possible boats and/or projects.
What's very obvious, other than the odd Hunter 18, the small yachts I have seen are not common in the UK and so I have spent a little time digging around in the small yacht market that is here in Australia and New Zealand.

This afternoon I have come across what appears to be a great little Trailer Sailor at only NZ$1800! Which sadly is $1650 more than I have spare at the moment ;o)

17 ft Pelin Caribou - ready to sail!

New Zealand, city of sails. Hauraki Gulf.

We are fast coming up to a year here in New Zealand and sadly, still no sign of a boat. More to the point, still no spare cash to buy a boat! So this has left me looking for very large projects (complete rebuilds) or give aways, which are very few and far between.

While I trudge onwards with my slow search, I take solice in crossing the harbour bridge every morning and being able I admire other people yachts in the city centres marina. Online scouting for New Zealand cruising books proved to be difficult. But now here the odd gem (books are insanely expensive here) does turn up in the clearance store. Cue William Owen's Hauraki Gulf guide for $15 

The Hauraki Gulf is, broadly speaking, the expanse water that stretches between the East coast of the North Island up to Cape Rodney and the mirrored west coast of the Coromandel up to the top of the Great Barrier.
Calling home the North Shore, and working in the city, this would be my cruising ground and ny the looks of things I don't think I would need to look outside of here for a good few years to fulfil my simple sailing needs.

The book gives a great guide to the region for both fishing and cruising, as well as some great insites from the authors 50 years experience in the area.

Complete with anchorage suggestions and simple outlines of the areas, this book will be a firm favourite on the bus to work as well as, hopefully, in my future "micro sailers" library.

Anyone wanting to get a copy here's the ISBN. 978-1-86953-750-0

Apologies for spellings and brevity as this post has been sent from my mobile