I’ve got some exciting news to share! On Monday this week I purchased a company called Island Cruising NZ. It is a business that has been around since the 1980’s and was formed to help encour...
I was only joking way back in 2017 when I suggested that a foiling monohull would be a good idea… New Zealand had just won the 35th Americas Cup regatta in the AC45 Catamarans. The speeds those...
https://astrolabesailing.com/2021/03/18/the-amazing-americas-cup/
The dark grey hull of the HMNZS Canterbury loomed menacingly in the distance as we emerged from the Lyttelton tunnel. It was a stunning blue sky day with little wind and the temperature was risin...
https://astrolabesailing.com/2021/02/23/scattering-grahames-ashes-at-sea/
There’s a saying with sailors that “plans are best made in the sand at low tide” – and there is no doubt that COVID-19 has caused much disruption to the plans of cruisers in New Zealand a...
https://astrolabesailing.com/2021/01/17/separated-from-your-boat/
When it comes to epic sailing survival stories, few can compare to the story of Shackleton’s Boat Journey. If you haven’t already read the book, then I highly recommend you do so. (You can bu...
https://astrolabesailing.com/2020/10/19/theres-a-legend-in-my-shed/
You may remember that I have recently been rattling some cages to try and get some solutions for the sailors who are currently stuck in both New Zealand, the Pacific, and people overseas who are ...
https://astrolabesailing.com/2020/09/01/covid-stranded-sailors-update/
As borders around the world closed down with the COVID-19 crisis, sailors around the world have been in a difficult situation. International travellers were encouraged to go home – to hunker do...
https://astrolabesailing.com/2020/08/04/the-saga-of-the-stranded-sailors/
There is no doubt that the COVID situation has caused immense disruption in everyone’s lives all over the globe. Here in New Zealand we are very lucky to be an isolated island nation with a rel...
https://astrolabesailing.com/2020/07/03/covid-issues-for-sailors/
Thick ice coated the marina pontoons, threatening to throw any unsuspecting well-wishers swiftly over the side and in to the glassy calm marina water. We huddled around Pixie, shuffling our feet ...
I am going to blame this most recent adventure on the pandemic. Good one COVID-19, you’ve managed to cause a few extra grey hairs… Had things been normal, I am pretty sure it wouldn’t have ...
https://astrolabesailing.com/2020/05/14/how-covid-19-yeast-diesel-bug-can-ruin-your-day/