Sailing in Akaroa’s Wildlife-Filled Volcanic Crater

Taking the helm

To get away from the wharf and slowly away from all the other boats docked in the area, an engine is used to power the boat and slowly move away. Then, once the open harbour is before us, Captain Ray is handing over the helm to Cabin Boy Robin, so the he can hoist the sails! To the inexperienced onlooker, like Matey Laura, there’s a lot of ropes being tightened/loosened in this complicated process, whereas Robin is simply enjoying being at the helm while we’re just getting started with the simplest maneuver of the yacht.

Sailing in an ancient volcano

The engine is turned off and it’s all about how we utilise nature now. Without the noise and the fumes you would usually get from a boating experience, there is something quite peaceful about sailing, especially when you have such stunning scenery to compliment that. Ray explains how the harbour we are currently sailing is actually the crater of an ancient volcano. The dark rugged cliff edges topped with green grass put there by European settlers is indented with various caves. The caves we are heading to right now are called “Penguin Cave”, where we do spot a little blue penguin calmly bobbing on top of the water, not caring at all that we are sailing right past it.

Tacking, jibing and being master sailors

Before we get too close to Penguin Cave, we are now turning the yacht (jibe) to head toward the other side of the harbour. This is a two-man job of Cabin Boy Robin turning the helm, Captain Ray moving the sails, and Laura staying down to watch the show and make sure the boom doesn’t hit her head.

Not a bad day or place for sailing, don’t you think?

Elephant rock and Cathedral Cave

Our turning point to head back into the harbour comes when we reach the most magnificent formations of Akaroa Harbour, Elephant Rock. However, it’s not a place we want to get too close to with the large swell that brings waves crashing through the archway representing a gap between the elephant’s trunk and legs. Around the other side, Cathedral Cave is exposed, a towering cave that we can only assume is named after its grand size.

Akaroa’s wild side

Not only is Akaroa Harbour famous for it’s stunning volcanic-formed coastline, but it kind of has some amazing wildlife. Already, we have seen a hangout of shags flying closely over the water and diving at the opportunity of fish, above them circled a ternery of terns (see, we’re learning all the collective nouns today) waiting to snag the fish from the shags, and of course, we can’t forget our little blue penguin friends! Now, Ray shouts: “Dolphins!” from the helm. We rush to the bow to get a closer look!