Waitangi

Waitangi – The Place

At the South West corner of the Bay of Islands

there it is

Waitangi

the treaty ground

There was tension in the air

It was the eve of Waitangi day

The Trans Pacific Partnership agreement (TPP) had just been signed in New Zealand

The protests that had taken place in Auckland were moving to Waitangi

The Treaty Ground.

For Waitangi Day

A major issue for the Maori is that the provisions of the TPP may over ride major aspects of the Treaty of Waitangi.

 

Waitangi Day – 6 February 2016

For the visiting sailor it was the calm anchorages of the Bay of Islands that called

Paradise Bay (Oneura Bay) behind Urupukapuka Island was calm and the water welcoming on this Waitangi Day

Then on to Okahu Passage to climb to the top Waewaetorea Island

And views across the Bay of Islands

And back to Paradise Bay by sunset

Waitangi – The Boat

The Waitangi is one of the most beautiful classic boats I have seen and have been lucky enough to sail on

Waitangi has a rich history which included being restored by a group of sailors in Williamstown – my home port in Victoria, Australia.  As it turned out I was only a couple of degrees of separation from one of the syndicate that restored Waitangi and so had the joy of sailing on her.

She was a true restoration with no winches and only human strength to raise and trim the sails.  I remember hauling on the ropes – three of four of us to set the top sail.

And now here she lies in the New Zealand Maritime Museum just under the great big red boat Steinlager 2 which won the round the world race.

These are my three aspects of significance about Waitangi emerging from a recent trip to New Zealand.