Cruising New Zealand's Bay of Islands on an Alberg 30; From Opua to Moturua Island

Episode 317 : Season 10 : New Zealand - Aotearoa
Hello Friends,
On this episode I FINALLY find myself hauling up and heading out to get to go cruising in the Bay of Islands and beyond. My first stop was Moturua where I do my very best to see the illusive Kiwi and engine the beautiful views and trails as I look for this treasured bird.
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Fair Winds,
James
Website: svtriteia.com
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#solosailing #bayofislands #newzealand #aotearoa #birdwatching

[@softlanding138]

I love that creaking rocking sound . The voice of Tritaia

[@JCGible]

Thank you, James. I appreciate you filming this beautiful place. I wish I could see it in person.

[@TechGorilla1987]

Damn you for having me so invested in your story that I jump on the video immediately. The way you handled the starter issue was commendable. I would have been furious.

[@SailorJames]

I have had to learn how to count to 100, because sometimes counting to 10 before blowing up just ain’t enough

[@aarons.watches]

1st time here. I’m happy for no background music on your nature walk and identifying the flora and birds etc. Now the daunting task of going back to EP1 and get caught up 😅

[@therealjd1503]

I absolutely love following this channel. I’m so happy to see your back on your vessel 🤘

[@garethbrewer3159]

Hey James, glad to see your back out on the boat again. Those bunkers were from WW2 you will find them all over the north island especially in the Hauraki gulf.

[@rickstewart1253]

James thank you for being a real sailor and continuing to entertain us with your amazing videos and wonderful personality! And vast knowledge! I’ve been living aboard my boat all summer in the great Pacific Northwest and look forward to your videos each week

[@anitamiracle5370]

Oh and I just purchased a 1972 Cape Dory weekender, #345…small but mighty!!

[@sergeant_salty]

Been watching your videos a lot this month to help me sleep or just relax when i need something peaceful to watch. Figured it would be good to say thank you👍🏻 sucks the Kiwis didn't come out for the video! Beautiful land out there tho. Looking forward to the next update!

[@dannyfisher9223]

Hey James just wanted too say Thankyou for another awesome episode from the best sailing youtube channel Eva! Safe travels mate and enjoy!!

[@Mr_G_in_Alba]

Beautiful scenery....... Reminds me a lot of the Scandinavian "skjærgården"

[@maryjnorwood3962]

Beautiful! Thanks for taking us along. 😎❤️

[@jimes69]

Welcome here, enjoy your stay.

[@MizzAugust7]

Great ... as usual . I wonder if those traps are for big rat looking things, they have in Louisiana. ~ Love watching you Hunting the Wild Kiwis! I have Only seen them on the Shoe Polish Can ! SO cute- "Someday I'll see one" ! Like Armadillos, maybe you can see one w/ a flashlight. I used to wait where I knew they would be going, on a trail. I actually touched one once-difficult. Thank you for the Gorgeous scenery & your face too!

[@rohdesoda1152]

It’s very refreshing following your journey, James. I derive a lot of motivation for my own refit project from your commitment and overall good vibes ❤️

[@user-nw8vh8bi8x]

I'm happy you have your motor running, I have been following your videos 😊 you really are a special guy ,James be safe stay save,I have so much too say I have a boat and waiting along time too get it running,I confident your good know keep working on what you need too do good job

[@user-nw8vh8bi8x]

Fair winds

[@user-ql7ok3yq7q]

❤ Love how you appreciate how stunning NZ is and try so hard to pronunce everything properly - nice! Those kiwi birds are elusive 😂

[@user-ql7ok3yq7q]

Also, can a keen NZ bird expert listen to see if any of the calls during the video were kiwi birds?

[@SailorJames]

There aren’t any Kiwi calls on this video, you can hear them constantly while at anchor. You can also search for them here on KZbin and hear them, it’s a strange call

[@SailorJames]

NZ is amazing

[@erikjalefors9377]

hehe Its very very addictive watching your videos ! thanks James !

[@johnpedersen7752]

My own country James .Thanks for the viewing.

[@ericj4769]

Beautiful man!

[@shanebones8766]

Hi James. Was at Opua today. Lovely day and the water was great.

[@TheBlackstag1]

Absolutely wasome you made it to nz mate well done i watched you sail from usa to hawaii

[@anguillaanguila7255]

amazing - im happy for you

[@21stcenturyfoxy]

Great episode, looks amazing there. Shame about the Kiwi though. Pleased that the engine is working well again. Keep the updates coming

[@blackbirdxx4613]

Can just imagine the fish in those back washes

[@Jobby1975]

Happy for you man. So good to see you on the water again.

[@Proletariat-1914]

Your keeping my dream alive bro. Thank you

[@rossgaudion-stclare8354]

Great production quality, informative and all round hugely enjoyable thank you James

[@mitchellandmarythomas2372]

Thanks for the amazing tour of the island. I hope you come out with a NZ sailing guide someday.

[@SailorJames]

There are a few really amazing NZ cruising guides that are far better than anything I could produce 📚

[@icysurfer1]

It us Stunning, I agree. Made me nostalgic for a Way Northern CA sunset

[@knockharder3554]

Thank you sailor James

[@michaeldusso6882]

Glad to see you back out on the road, eeeerrr I mean the sea !!! Happy sailing

[@1240enzo]

Indeed James, the Bay of Islands is stunning, though I am yet to actually get there. Believe me, if you come across the Tasman sea, and sail through the Furneaux group in Bass st, (Deal Island, Flinders Island and all the surrounding islands) let alone down the East coast of Tasmania, the Tasman Peninsula, and down the D Entrecasteaux channel, let alone Port Davey you would be equally amazed by the scenery.

[@Alfie127]

Glad to see you sailing again. Cheers!

[@gcrauwels941]

Beautiful islands.

[@odinshunter9297]

Keep it coming🎉

[@julianbatcheler9970]

Glad the engine is finally all done. That starter was mad. I have never seen one go like that… but I’m used to mainly old German ones. Looking forward to more exploring with you and Tritea.

[@Gyp527]

Awesome!❤️🌊⛵

[@chriskelly6559]

Thanx dude, your vids are always a pleasure to watch. Take care, good vibes your way, Crackerjack.

[@DanO530.8]

Very nice place surrounded by beauty….

[@DavidD6969]

Beautiful place 👍 I like that hat ..and the motor sounds good 👍

[@petersoakell6950]

Brilliant. Glad your motor is running.)

[@SailorJames]

Runs great !!!

[@anitamiracle5370]

Loving the adventures!!! Oh and by the way…super kewl hat!! I have friends outside Hobart Tas. Sailors and belong to a super nice sailing club in Blackmans Bay. Let me know and I could put you in touch with them!

[@mikebrinsley9302]

I’ve lived in New Zealand for 72 years and never seen a kiwi in the wild……..so good luck with your hunt…..Thankyou for showing off our beautiful country …..

[@mikebrinsley9302]

You won’t see them in open grass country …….you need to be in the bush at night……….

[@SailorJames]

I have seen 4 since this was filmed, all on Limestone Island in Whangārei

[@mikenewzealand4525]

@@SailorJames wow that's great I'm so happy for you......I guess if you are really keen you will succeed......good on you....

[@Southernman980]

So cool how you have taken the time to get to know NZ and all it has to offer.

[@SailorJames]

New Zealand is one of the most amazing places I have ever visited

[@GSaries1]

Prime snapper territory 🙂

[@southernpaths2986]

Triteia rides again!!

[@Merlinious]

❤

[@kevlarandchrome]

Sucks that you didn't get to see a kiwi, but boy, what a place to go looking for them. Definitely looks like it was worth the trip.

[@piripikerr8896]

Tolaga bay brother. East coast north island.

[@ShadowWolf3030]

Cool,,

[@castlev1986]

looks like they need to mow the path & the seating parts

[@clivestainlesssteelwomble7665]

Nice to see you out there James hope you get to see Cool change or some wharrams among the cruisers. Time to chill but keep clear of some of the volcanoes ..you know why. Otherwise it is cruising dream land.

[@SailorJames]

I spent Christmas with the new owners of Cool Change onboard SV Womble as we were all anchored at Russell

[@clivestainlesssteelwomble7665]

@@SailorJames Wow...i bet that was interesting ... I need to go back? ive had a couple of health problems so missed out on a lot of people. Thanks James... theres a guy up in the NWest who has built his own large cargo cat that has a sculling action propulsion and he built his pwn wharram type biplane wingsail rig. Hes a real heath robinson style meets robinson cruso type .. the sight of him moving his giant masts on his pick up alone was 🤯😳😂😂😂 His site is called wisecrack adventures or sailing.. 😎👍🏼🧙‍♂️🇬🇧 Hope you get to see Midford sound in good weather ..

[@benkanobe7500]

Happy you are finally set free again! I have a sailing question for you: On a 22-foot Sailing Vesile (a sloop with a hanked 120 Jib), do I run a continuous jib sheet from the cockpit to clew down the opposite side and back to the cockpit? Or do I have two separate and equal-length jib sheets (one starboard and one port)?

[@erickoves711]

if kiwi are about you will hear them before you see them. They like to come down to the beach and turn over seaweed for grubs, look for their distintive footprints on the beach.

[@SailorJames]

That’s a good tip about the beach 👍🏻

[@Wv8675]

Wooden ships on the water very free and easy easy you know the way its supposed to be... CSNY

[@JCGible]

🙂👍

[@harlandespeset8598]

heya James thanks for all the awesome adventures! I wanted to ask about that starboard panel, is it still producing electrons, or no?

[@SailorJames]

Yes, the busted panel was producing 50+ watts in full sun

[@offgridas]

I live in Whitianga in the bush and I've never seen a single kiwi in the wild before. I hear them squawking though.

[@SailorJames]

Since this was filmed I have seen 4 in the wild, all on Limestone Island in Whangārei. I went out looking probably 8 different times late at night before I saw any

[@offgridas]

@@SailorJames haha I've lived here 34 years, never see a kiwi, you're here 5 minutes, seen 4. Gold. To be fair I've never actually looked for one. They would bring taxidermied ones to school when I was a kid, and had a dead one when I got my dog kiwi aversion trained.

[@wallabybob3020]

“Wonderful”, “Beautiful”, “Stunning”, “Awesome”. Yep, that pretty much sums up New Zealand. You think you’ve just seen the best view in the world, then you turn a corner and find another one.

[@user-Adam72]

Pretty sure you'd need to be in place and silent/motionless to spot a kiwi - they are very secretive.

[@SailorJames]

No, you can see them just like this 👍🏻

[@bangbangbowman284]

Great video as always!!! James, I know these videos are delayed from current time for obvious reasons but I'm just wondering when this was recorded. How far back are your videos typically?

[@SailorJames]

March I think

[@woodpecker6452]

I was surprised by the lack of diversity in New Zealand’s bird population we mainly saw Minah birds which are non indigenous

[@SailorJames]

I have seen almost every bird they have here, you must have not been in a place with many birds

[@rustysmith398]

My guess is that the kiwi would be in close proximity to a natural water source, if there was one. Bummer…

[@kiwi6444]

Still got your messed up solar panel.

[@martydavies7198]

This area your in was a most favorable part of the world for the famous American sport fishing angler Zane Grey and American author adventurer and sport fisherman Ernest Hemingway.

[@clivestainlesssteelwomble7665]

The land of birds.... no native mammals be happy though you didnt meet the original Moa giants or the Eagle that fed on them when the Moaris first settled the land. Check the shore strand line... They come out to hunt at dawn and dusk the ground needs to be soft enough for them to probe with their long beak ...for worms but they will pick out sand fleas/crustations from the strand line.👍🏼😎🇬🇧🧙‍♂️⛵ The worry is bird flue outbreaks past few years.

[@bitsurfr46]

Like you I have a 30 foot boat. Had crew to help me pickup the anchor, but he seems to be unavailable so I found a Lofrans manual windlass on Ebay to replace him. It came all the way from Croatia to Florida. Do you always pick up the anchor by hand or do you sometimes use the handle?🎉

[@SailorJames]

90% of the time I haul up by hand unless I am anchored in water deeper than 50ft or the winds are blowing over 15knots

[@bitsurfr46]

@@SailorJames What is the weight and type of your anchor?

[@johnkelly167]

What was the predator? I love birds too. Hope you score a bird watching camera to show us closer views.

[@SailorJames]

The trap was for Stoats, they eat the eggs of native birds killing off the population

[@TheMonkenstien]

Thanks mate like your content particularly liked the comment about predator free island except the humans haha and even some island are completely predator free no humans allowed haha. I have Duncanson 35 that I have been working on here in Melbourne Australia, I hope one day to be doing what you’re doing. Have you been to Australia yet? Keep up the travels and content thanks again.

[@falakkristijan]

wonderful, like playing minecraft in real life

[@Outofcontrol2024]

James, how did you come up with your boats name?

[@SailorJames]

Triteia was Triton’s daughter and Poseidon’s Granddaughter

[@walterfahrer1246]

Neuseeland Bay of Islands Kerikeri ist mein Zuhause

[@kiwi6444]

Caught a Snapper yet?🤣

[@tomasznobilec6853]

why dont you visit the southern islands of new zeland, with all the big mountains !!

[@romant7204]

What moments in your lifestyle do you enjoy the most?

[@SailorJames]

Having access to all the beautiful magic this world has to offer

[@z.pberic3061]

Kiwis are nocturnal 😉

[@SailorJames]

The easiest time to see them is at sunset and sunrise, I have tons of kiwi friends who advised me and I have seen 4 since this was filmed

[@oldjack3023]

All the kiwi's are in oz😂

[@richardferris6976]

If u could pick one place to live other than the us. Where would you pick

[@SailorJames]

I already picked. I chose to live everywhere.

[@dale6349]

Where is tom hanks

[@kiwi6444]

You need to pick a spot, sit silent, let the Kiwi come to you.

[@chaunceywilliams8405]

PSA, No Kiwi's were harmed in the making of this video.

[@californiakayaker]

I knew at one time of a channel , family of sailors, complaining about being stuck in New Zealand for Covid. You should have seen the roaring response, people begging to take their place ! I know that your main problem is that your stuck in Opua and want to sail the coast. That's understandable. I know your far away from there now, who knows where, maybe even Indo by now ? Your so lucky, well, not lucky, you made it happen, so that isn't luck, right ?

[@SailorJames]

I wasn’t stuck in Opua, I sailed all over the bay of islands engineless, I just couldn’t head south until I got my engine back

[@californiakayaker]

Oh, ok, by the way, the Kiwi is related (You've probably read) to the Elephant Bird . Last thought to possibly have been seen in Madagascar. Last time Kiwi and Elephant Bird together was 54 million years ago. Elephant Bird is VERY large.

[@Aotearoa_Kiwi]

Don't be too disappointed that you didn't see a Kiwi in the wild. They send most of their time in thick bush, and don't like open areas. Most New Zealanders have only ever seen a Kiwi in a zoo or bird sanctuary.

[@SailorJames]

Since that time I have seen 4 in the wild, but only after lots of tries

[@Aotearoa_Kiwi]

@@SailorJames ... Well done James. Persistence pays dividends! It's a great feeling when you see one.

[@Athomewithkay]

❤