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One Family’s Boating Journey

Jeanneau

One Family’s Boating Journey; That sinking feeling

What a shocking end to our summer! We never saw this plot twister coming!

20 April 2024

Jeanneau

One Family’s Boating Journey: Life lessons

As our two boys, Rafe and Chris, have discovered when you’re living onboard, life will throw you curveballs.

28 March 2024

One Family’s Boating Journey

Jeanneau

One Family’s Boating Journey; Racing to Whangamata

As we kissed our keel ever so slightly on the sandbar the pit of my stomach sank. Had our luck run out at the last possible moment? How did we get to ...

20 February 2024

One Family’s Boating Journey

Jeanneau

One Family’s Boating Journey: A bridge too far

The Woodham family’s quest to master safe anchoring continues – starting this time with Islington Bay and its notoriously poor holding.

2 February 2024

December 2023

One Family’s Boating Journey: Weather delays and water woes

A couple of weeks before the September 2023 school holidays, Kirsten planned our anticipated two-week sail. We’ve never sailed north of Kawau Island, ...

13 December 2023

One Family’s Boating Journey

One Family’s Boating Journey: In the bag

In last month’s article you found me returning to Auckland one day after abandoning a trip out to Sauvage for an afternoon picnic I had planned for my...

16 November 2023

October 2023

One Family’s Boating Journey; The first sail of spring: FAIL!

Finally, after a long winter with very little sailing, spring is here and it’s time to return to the water!

20 October 2023

August 2023

One Family’s Boating Journey; A picnic too far

As the wave broke over my mother, I knew we had to turn back and that I’d probably never hear the end of our latest adventure. Here’s how we got to th...

8 September 2023

June 2023

One Family’s Boating Journey – Leaking windows and weather windows

As I drove Sauvage into the marina, the pitch-black of night engulfed us and I felt my heart hammering. Would I be able to berth us safely in the dark...

30 June 2023

May 2023

One Family’s Boating Journey: Tiritiri Matangi and a new tender – maybe

We were so excited – after cyclones and high winds we finally found ourselves with the opportunity for a day excursion on the water.

25 May 2023

April 2023

ONE FAMILY’S BOATING JOURNEY: Ready for offshore adventure

There is something magical and freeing about adventuring beyond New Zealand’s shores, and I feel the mid-year Pacific Rally could draw me closer to th...

13 May 2023

March 2023

One Family’s Boating Journey: Simplifying our lives

Fifty metres across the water from where I sit in the sun on Sauvage’s deck lie the red cliffs of Oneura Bay. Yet again, I am struck by the beauty and...

19 April 2023

February 2023

One Boating’s Family Journey: Christmas Day on a deserted island

As desperate as we were to sail extensively over the 2022-23 summer holidays, the staffing needs of our business has meant juggling dates and taking o...

28 February 2023

January 2023

ONE FAMILY’S BOATING JOURNEY: Happy anniversary!

Happy one-year anniversary to this column! This is our 12th edition in Boating New Zealand, writing of our family’s adventures on sailing vessel Sauva...

1 February 2023

December 2022

One Family’s Boating Journey: First principles

This column marks the second sail of our 2022 spring-summer season, which we undertook in September. It was not without its challenges!

25 January 2023

November 2022

One Family’s Boating Journey – First sail of spring

I am retrospectively writing this article as we depart Gulf Harbour Marina for our second sail of the season. Fair sailing conditions are expected, bu...

25 November 2022

October 2022

One Family’s Boating Journey: Learning the ropes with Penny

Well surprisingly – or not – our first sail of the year, meaning the spring/summer season, is yet to happen. I have managed to get myself involved wit...

21 October 2022

One Family’s Boating Journey

One Family’s Boating Journey: New fridge, new anchor

After our first overnight trip away on S.V. Sauvage in 2020, we knew we had to replace the original fridge and freezer.

19 September 2022

August 2022

ONE FAMILY’S BOATING JOURNEY – How much power?

On land it is easy to forget about power and often we (particularly our teenagers) aren’t concerned about leaving lights on in unoccupied rooms, or le...

20 August 2022

July 2022

ONE FAMILY’S BOATING JOURNEY – Jobs Weekends

It’s the first weekend in June, and I’m sitting on SV Sauvage writing this article at Gulf Harbour Marina. We had planned a return sail from the marin...

29 July 2022

Boat World

ONE FAMILY’S BOATING JOURNEY – Kitset water solution

I’m writing this article during the 2022 April school holidays while anchored at Great Barrier Island, our newly favourite sailing homeaway-from-home....

28 June 2022

May 2022

ONE FAMILY’S BOATING JOURNEY – Peninsula discoveries

In last month’s article, Chris shared his trials with the head on board SV Sauvage. The story now continues with the family’s Christmas cruise to the ...

27 May 2022

April 2022

ONE FAMILY’S BOATING JOURNEY – Faulty heads and Wi-Fi solutions

Sailing the great expanse of water that surrounds New Zealand offers a sense of liberation and independence that is hard to dismiss. There’s a pull in...

26 April 2022

Boat Business

ONE FAMILY’S BOATING JOURNEY – Ignorance is bliss

Ignorance can be a blessing or a curse – or both if you’re learning to sail.

26 March 2022

February 2022

ONE FAMILY’S BIG JOURNEY – The right yacht

Where do you start a column about your first year owning and experiencing a sailing yacht? Do you start with your failed attempts to start your yacht’...

26 February 2022

Weekly Newsletter

Stay up to date with the latest developments shaping New Zealand's Boating world.

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NZ Events Worth Adding to Your Calendar

Have an event you'd like to list on Boating New Zealand. Contact us with the details.

FISHING

Hook Me Up Fishing Competition - Matakana vs Hillside, 7 Mar 2025 in Whakatane

The Kubota Billfish Classic, 12 - 15 Mar 2025 in Mercury Bay, Whitianga

ITM Fishing Competition, 13 - 16 Mar 2025 in Whangaroa

NZ Lure Masters (Catch, Measure and Release competition), 3 & 4 Oct 2025, New Zealand wide

REGATTAS

Toyota Youth International Match Racing Cup, 26 Feb - 4 Mar 2025 in Auckland

PIC Harbour Classic, 28 Feb - 1 Mar 2025 in Auckland

Sydney to Auckland Ocean Race 2025, starting 11 Oct 2025 TBC from Sydney Harbour

PIC Insurance Brokers Coastal Classic, 24 Oct 2025 TBC from Auckland to Russell

Rolex Sydney to Hobart, 26 Dec 2025 starts in Sydney, Australia

HYDRO THUNDER

Lucas Oil Hydro Thunder Race - Lake Rotoiti, 8 - 9 Mar 2025 at Nelson Lakes

Lucas Oil Hydro Thunder Race - Lake Twizel, 29 - 30 Mar 2025 at Twizel

JET BOAT RACING

2024/25 NZ Jetsprint Championship R4, 23 Feb 2025 at Wanganui

2025 NZ Marathon Coast-to-Coast, 16 to 25 Mar 2025 starting at Greymouth ad finishing at Christchurch

WATERSPORTS

IWWF University Nationals (waterskiing), 26 February to 2 March Orakei Basin, Auckland

MEET UPS

Bay of Plenty Trailer Yacht Cruising Rally, Easter 2025 at Lake Rotoiti, BOP

SHOWS

Moana Auckland - New Zealand's Ocean Festival, 27 Jan to 9 Mar 2025 in Auckland

Auckland Boat Show, 6 - 9 Mar 2025 to be held at the Viaduct Events Centre and Jellicoe Harbour, Auckland

The Hutchwilco New Zealand Boat Show, 15-18 May 2025 to be held at the Viaduct Events Centre and Jellicoe Harbour, Auckland

NZ Boat, Fish and Dive Show, 30 & 31 Aug 2025 to be held at Mystery Creek Events Centre, Waipa

NEWS TIPS?
Send your photos, videos, stories, and tip-offs to ahoy@boatingnz.co.nz or call us on 022-023-7507.

One Family’s Boating Journey

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Weekly Newsletter

Social Media

One Family’s Boating Journey: Life lessons

One Family’s Boating Journey; Racing to Whangamata

One Family’s Boating Journey: A bridge too far

One Family’s Boating Journey: Weather delays and water woes

One Family’s Boating Journey: In the bag

One Family’s Boating Journey; The first sail of spring: FAIL!

One Family’s Boating Journey; A picnic too far

One Family’s Boating Journey – Leaking windows and weather windows

One Family’s Boating Journey: Tiritiri Matangi and a new tender – maybe

ONE FAMILY’S BOATING JOURNEY: Ready for offshore adventure

One Family’s Boating Journey: Simplifying our lives

One Boating’s Family Journey: Christmas Day on a deserted island

ONE FAMILY’S BOATING JOURNEY: Happy anniversary!

One Family’s Boating Journey: First principles

One Family’s Boating Journey – First sail of spring

One Family’s Boating Journey: Learning the ropes with Penny

One Family’s Boating Journey: New fridge, new anchor

ONE FAMILY’S BOATING JOURNEY – How much power?

ONE FAMILY’S BOATING JOURNEY – Jobs Weekends

ONE FAMILY’S BOATING JOURNEY – Kitset water solution

ONE FAMILY’S BOATING JOURNEY – Peninsula discoveries

ONE FAMILY’S BOATING JOURNEY – Faulty heads and Wi-Fi solutions

ONE FAMILY’S BOATING JOURNEY – Ignorance is bliss

ONE FAMILY’S BIG JOURNEY – The right yacht