Captain Cooks North Island, New Zealand Circumnavigation / 1245 Nm / 25 Feb- 11 Mar 2023
You can fly directly into Blenheim on or before the 25th of February 2023. When you arrive we’ll familiarise you with the yacht, systems and safety equipment and you will join us for a crew dinner ashore. Our crew will officially assemble from the 26th onwards at the Picton Marina and we will aim to depart (subject to weather) on the 26th of February 2023 and leave the Picton Marina, sail out of the Marlborough Sounds and head NW for Wellington, where we may stop before turning NE for Napier on the North Islands SE coast. You are welcome to stay onboard from the date you arrive but if you plan to arrive prior to the 25th of February, you may need to arrange accommodation ashore.
The goal is to circumnavigate the North Island, stopping at a handful of scenic locations en-route, while managing around the weather to ensure a comfortable and safe expedition. This may include waiting for bad weather to pass while safely anchored or moored in a sheltered bay, behind an island, in a harbour or anchorage.
The North Island coastline includes some of the most stunning maritime scenery in New Zealand. The voyage starts with departing Picton and sailing out through the Tory Channel, across the Cook Strait to Wellington, before turning east to pass Cape Palliser and sail up the east coast to explore a handful of anchorage opportunities en-route to Cape Reinga that may include, Napier, Gisborne, Tauranga, Coromandel, Kawau Island, Great Mercury Island, Great Barrier Island, Tutukaka, Bay of Islands and Whangaroa Harbour.
On the more rugged west coast, the only safe anchorage is New Plymouth. The final leg will be sailing from New Plymouth to Picton via the Tory Channel at the eastern entrance to the Marlborough Sounds.
We will aim to sail back into Picton Marina on the 10th of March 2023. You can stay on board when we arrive in Picton depart out of Blenheim airport to connecting flights from Christchurch, Wellington or Auckland airports from the 11th March onwards.
