I had visited everyone, made boat improvements, and eventually a good weather window arrived. Time to tackle the West Coast of the North Island, from the top of the South Island to the top of the North Island. I've now done this leg 3 times in 2 different boats, and I made quite a fast passage! Starting from the south and heading north, I've always tried for a weather window of steady westerly winds and 2/3 times got a good one. If I was heading south, I think a passing high pressure system would provide northerlies and or easterlies and that would be better for heading south. Although I have talked to two people who took this route heading south and were becalmed for days, but they made it eventually, after putting in to New Plymouth. I once almost did that, but it's a fairly easy passage to just go straight because apart from very top there isn't anything big to go around, it's mostly a straight haul, and westerly winds are common that makes it an easy passage to plan for.
