I just randomly clicked on your vid because I have an interest in sailing and what a pleasant surprise it was to find you were headed for my old home town that I left 50 years ago and haven't been back to since. I hope in your next vid to see more of the area. Thank you for the great work.
I found a great quote recently which is "We all have dreams. Unless you make a move and take the risk, it will always just be a dream". It's great to see you both living yours. Nice camera work and commentary Dee.👍❤
Hi Guys, welcome to New Zealand. Your video came up on my feed and was very pleasantly surprised when I watched it. Very down to earth and relevant to us. We did the crossing to Brissy from Auckland around thirteen years ago and found it to be very similar to your crossing, a bit of everything. We are Dan and Kat on sv Camelot, up in the Bay of Islands. Hopefully we will set off for Fiji in May/June. Enjoy top of the South, so much to see and do. Beautiful coming into winter too with the Southern Alps. Enjoy!
I went from Australia to N. Zed back in '72 on a Ship of the Line. Was not smooth nor easy. Took white water over the bow and occasional green. Long rolling waves with the engines humming along and then the screws would leave the water and this high pitched whine was really loud throughout the ship and then a flop sound when they got back in and the hum started back. Was a bit of a start when it first happened and really didn't get used to it at all. ................... Have fun in Kiwi Country ................. enjoy
What a great video, you had a nice variety of weather along the way. We hope get to New Zealand in our Super Maramu ‘Kolibri’ in the future. Greetings from Holland.
Great video guys. Life sure looks like a daily adventure. Being very much a fan of being on dry land, I’m not sure I’d have fancied being with you both during that last storm!!!! Biggest surprise of the video was Rob with books. Didn’t know you could read mate……. 🐥 Have fun and play nicely with the Kiwis…… J xx
Hey mate! Rob here. Pretty sure I recall coming back from Moreton Island in the boat with you in a bit of a blow all those years ago during your last visit to OZ! Re: Reading Books. Amazing how much time I have since getting off the work hamster wheel & the kids all grown up! Life is good.
Awesome to meet you two. Thanks so much for the digital files and the suggestion to visit Greville Harbour before transiting French Pass. It was beautiful in there.
I've done 7 crossings of the Tasman in various boats over many years. I believe it's the most dangerous and unpredictable piece of water. I'm glad you both are settling back enjoying it. It's motivated me to trawl through some old High 8 videos. Looks like you had an interesting trip. Pretty gutsy to take such a small vessel there. Great effort. Please post more of your trip. Thank you for sharing.
Thanks Jeremy. Like most stretches of water it needs to be treated with respect. We waited for at least a couple of extra weeks waiting for a suitable weather pattern & really did enjoy the crossing. We have a well found and well maintained boat that we trust, which provides great piece of mind.
Well done as a local i always keep a weary eye on the hills in the south , If there's a rain fall of cloud coming over the top drop sail , It can be a fine day but those sneaky southerlies come with a hiss & a roar ,Great Vid & Wellcome to NZ , See you in Picton if you head this way .
Yes Bill, we would not have put the boat in that position if not for the requirement to clear in at Nelson. It was clear a mile away that we were about to get smashed.
Hi there Rob & De. Great video. Hope you have a great time in NZ. Cheers from Bogart (we met in Hobart just before your passage). Look forward to seeing more of your adventures.
Hey Tony. Definitely remember meeting you. We really enjoyed the crossing and everyone here has just been so friendly and welcoming. Blown away by the hospitality of the locals.
Hi Dee and Rob. Great video, thank you, looks like you had a bit of everything. I think we might have seen you on the hardstand in Kettering at the same time as us on Upstart. Hope you keep letting us see your progress and also hope to see you somewhere east of Tasmania some time. Chris and Jenni.
Hey Chris & Jenni. No, not us in Kettering. I think there were 2 other Amels hauling out there around that time. We did spend some time checking out that area though.
Hey Nigel, NZ Customs and Biosecurity were just great. Firstly, on the Saturday before we left Hobart they phoned us and offered clear-in at Nelson instead of Picton. Nelson had just opened for this service and was way more convenient for us. Second, when we encountered the bad weather in Tasman Bay on arrival, they took less than 2 minutes to approve diversion to the alternate safe port. Lastly, when we did arrive in Nelson to clear in, they took less than an hour and could not have been more friendly and efficient. We totally respect they have a job to do, particularly around the Biosecurity, but honestly, they were a pleasure to deal with.
We find the helm station on the Amel perfect for a live-aboard cruising boat. Being in out of the weather, in a centre cockpit, makes all the difference to staying fresh and comfortable.
Easy way to traverse along the length of boat to secure rope from rear bollards to foredecking..clet etc and then clip on to that.. use this method on the Sydney Hobart and back to NZ a couple of time when having to do ssil peels at night in Bass straight found it less clumbersome. 😊 And those Amels are fine sea boats..
Hey Andrew, We have jacklines as you describe as well as another set down the centre line forward of the dodger. The problem with the ones along the deck is that they will not stop you going over the side in the first place. My personal opinion is that you are in serious danger of drowning if you are hooked on, are over the side, and the boat is sailing at anything over 4 knots. It is very unlikely that a person would be able to pull themselves back aboard unassisted in those circumstances. Problematic when we predominantly only sail 2 up and a challenging problem to solve.
Hi guys. Tony, your friendly barman from Tasman Bay Cruising Club. Great to see the video of your trip in to Nelson. It was just as you described. Looking forward to seeing your adventures around the area. Hope we catch up again
Hey Tony. We are so glad we wandered in to your club. Met some great people and got some good tips about sailing in this area. Really enjoyed the night there.
Your video gave me a wonderful memory of Tasman Bay at its grumpiest, a nasty bit of work: an hour later, she is as sweet as Julie Andrews. I recall years ago getting a rollicking ride inbound from Akaroa and deciding Port Nelson was too hard in the wild dark... The mystery of the boulder wall and city traffic lights was tough on tired eyes. So we slipped into Croisilles Harbour and hid in Oyster Bay for a few nights. Your boat has the luxury of a decent cockpit - a simple dodger with no roof tests the comfort of wet weather gear...
I remember sailing out of Sydney Heads last year thinking what bad weather for a journey to the Whitsundays and I looked astern of me and there was Jaygo up for the challenge as well. But that N.Z crossing looked harsh!
@ParamattaRowboats Wow. We remember you guys and that day. Sailing up from Sydney Harbour to Coasters Retreat in Pittwater! That was a fun sail and remember thinking that we “had a bit on” that day. You have a beautiful boat by the way. The crossing of the Tasman certainly had a bit of everything but ironically nothing like we had a couple of nights ago sailing up the east coast of NZ’s North Island. Had sustained wind over 40 knots. Saw 47 knots at one point. May well have reached 50 but we were kind of busy and weren’t watching the wind speed reading constantly. Will post a video of that sail soon as we did get a little bit of footage.
Hello again Rob and Dee. Loved the video. Typical to get smacked just when you thought you were there! We sailed with you guys GKI to Port Clinton last year. Enjoy NZ. Regards, Neil and Sam off The Doghouse (we just bought a Beneteau Cyclades 50.4 called Nariki)
Hey Neil. Yep, that run to Port Clinton from Keppel with you guys was a pretty wild ride. We both had a bit on that day. We remember Sam being quite pleased to get there in one piece. Congratulations on your new boat. I suppose you had to get a larger boat to carry that dinghy of yours! 😂. The Doghouse is a good boat but Nariki should be way more comfortable.
@RamiAlHamad Rob here Rami. The Bimini is just great. The frame was there when we bought the boat but Dee sewed the entire thing herself with a Sailrite machine. It is very practical in any weather.
Wow, I paddled and sailed past your boat for at least 2 years while moored in Baby bay - I always wondered who owned it and where it went after leaving RB. Similar boat to SV Delos. You look like you are living an adventurous life. Enjoy.
Hey Michael and Elaine. We had a great time crossing the ditch. Jaygo handled it comfortably. Never at any time did we feel unsafe. How about you turn to starboard and come on over! Anyhow, really enjoy your trip north this year. Your boat is a beauty.
About 5 years ago, I did this trip on a Halleberg Rassy 40, though from Nelson back to New Castle. The passage took us 11 days. We had a couple of days of rough conditions and 40kt winds but asides that it was a good trip, oh and yes I too read a lot of books.
Hey Stuart. Since making this video we have met these friends of yours in NZ, Fiji & then Australia. They are beautiful people and are an amazing family. We now feel privileged to call them our friends as well. Small world?
I'm going to sell my house in 3 years and buy an Amel. I'm looling at a Sharki. I'm particularly impressed how it handled the earth turning up 90° around the 8:00 mark.
Great plan Shane. They are very well designed and built boats. We have been in some very bad weather and never felt like the boat would fail before we did. Confidence in your boat is very empowering and let’s you focus on your own strengths and weaknesses. (Including the overriding respect for the power of the sea).
Very comfortable and very safe design. Still need sensible risk management and like all boats, stay on top of the maintenance. We totally trust this boat.
Hey Dany, Can definitely sail this boat single-handed. It is very well set up straight out of the Amel factory for short handed sailing. BTW, Jaygo is an Amel Super Maramu (53’), not an Amel 60, although all Amels are designed with a similar ethos to suit those sailing 2-up.
I just started a RU-vid channel for sailing the Caribbean in Florida at the moment I'm not looking for them kind of conditions but I know it's inevitable stay safe out
Atleast some people can show the true reality of open ocean sailing. Not something you see on most channels. Looked like a reasonable crossing for the tasman
Thanks Ben. Our videos are primarily so our family and friends can see what we really are up to, so we want to keep it real. Mostly we do short videos on Instagram for them, but longer stuff needs to go on RU-vid I suppose. I think that many of the mainstream RU-vid channels are trying to get subscribers and meet demands of viewers regarding content, which is all ok as many of them are awesome. We just have different motivation, which is why we take no notice of those comments that give their "advice" on music, narrative, boring, seamanship, style, etc etc. We liked your comment that observed that it is the true reality of open ocean sailing, as that is what was intended.
Took less than an hour to check in after we arrived in Nelson. NZ Customs and Biosecurity were efficient, friendly and sensible. They took less than 2 minutes to approve the diversion to the alternate port when we encountered the weather front in Tasman Bay.
Hey Morgan. No mate. Not just you. Took the dates from the calendar without checking and totally stuffed it up! Sorry for the confusion. The crossing took 8 days.
I believe Amel gradually turned blind over the years and his yachts are designed in such a way as to allow single handed sailing - everything easy to get hold of. Mike Stocks - Spain
Hey Mike True that Henri Amel progressively lost his sight. Also true that his designs facilitate single handed sailing. Not sure the two points are connected though. I believe that his designs were focused on safety and ease of use for a couple and based on his and his team's extensive personal experiences at sea.
Isn't it amazing...you guys have battled the elements...time irrelevant as you go with nature. Horrible storm on arrival but hey the bureaucrats have to satisfied pronto! Here in Mallorca the bureaucrats have ruined sailing for the average Joe. Such a shame. But, well done to you guys!
We aren’t really bothered by that. These videos really started for us, our family, and our friends as a bit of a record of our travels. It is a bonus if others get enjoyment or information from them.
Hey N Tal. I checked your channel for editing tips but don't see any videos from you? Sorry to have wrecked your vibe. This stuff is just a bit of fun. We are not professional videographers, just a couple of people out sailing and seeing the world.