An Early Start & A Boisterous Sail - SV WAKAWAKA 2024

We were anchored in Taurikura Bay, Whangarei Harbour on our Leopard 45 Catamaran with a northerly wind for the night. Unbeknown to us the marine forecast was changed at 2230 to a wind warning for a SW change early morning. I awoke at 0500 when the SW front came through with the bay no longer being sheltered. Waited until there was good light at 0615 before up anchoring and headed to anchor on the west side of NorthPort. Late afternoon we thought the wind had eased, sails up and headed back up harbour with the last of the incoming tide. Typical gusty SW wind 15-27 knots apparrent. Max speed on a close reach was 9.6 knots - we have fixed props which will have limited our speed. Aotearoa Chief the Cement Ship was spotted leaving Portland wharf so sails stowed rather than tacking across the shipping channel when we turned the corner along Onerahi. Cross wind meant that we docked on the other side of our marina berth, moving WAKAWAKA back to our preferred side when the wind eased at dusk.