Opua (Bay of Islands) - General Info
Where is Opua?
Opua is known as the “Gateway to New Zealand” and is located 17 miles from Cape Brett Lighthouse in the Bay of Islands on the east coast of the North Island. This beautiful area is very popular with cruising boats and is the primary arrival port for boats that have crossed the Pacific.
Officials are reported to be efficient, polite and helpful and there is a designated floating Quarantine wharf which makes clearance here very straightforward.
Entrance Notes or Cautions for Opua:
Port Opua is well marked and an easy approach any time of day or night. In addition to Opua, there are three other main townships in the Bay; Paihia 10 minutes, Russell 15 minutes and Kerikeri 25 minutes.
Cruiser Highlights for Opua:
Position:
35° 18.71’S, 174° 07.34’E (Opua marina)
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Reported by Werner Gysi – November 2022
Princess Del Mar arrived at the Bay of Island Marina in Opua Nov1/2022. Done so 8 years before when the word biosecurity did not exist.
This time I was asked to haul out either in Opua or Marsden Cove Marina and have the hull cleaned. I inquired and found the cost to do so reasonable at $350 for in/out, power wash and one day on hard compared to Opua at $500 plus $25 environmental fee. Marsden Cove Marina would have also been able to accomodate me on Nov 8. already rather Nov. 21. in Opua. Three days later I received an email from Biosecurity that Marsden Cove Marina does not at the time have the licence to do so, so I had to stick around and use the marina in Opua. I did not think that to be very professional but suggest that sailors arriving in NZ and are not sure about their hull cleanliness should skip Opua and sail the extra 50 or so nm to Marsden Cove Marina. If indeed they have to haul out they at least get a better deal. By the way the re-inspection by Biosecurity after power wash was a modest charge of about $50 to receive the necessary paperwork to keep sailing in NZ.
I assume that after all Biosecurity noticed that my hull was clean enough. In any case, I was told that the inspector was lenient.
To get the latest pricing contact
info@marsdencovemarina.co.nz
info@boimarina.co.nz
Werner Gysi
Princess Del Mar
Hull cleaning in Opua area. Very satisfied with the work of Karen & Andrew Young; they cleaned our hull in 1 hour, reamed out the through hulls and were prepared to unblock a black water tank. (Proved unnecessary) Their phone number +6427 485 7989.
As a New Zealander who has cruised extensively in the Bay of Islands I find the comment of Christian Nigg very disappointing and I can assure all readers that the general standard of tradesmen workmanship in Opua is of a very high standard.
Can I suggest that all sailing visitors to New Zealand visit the NZ Coast Guard website and if you are spending any length of time here then join Coastguard. It only costs NZ$115 per year and is an excellent value.
John Martin
Lesson learnt!
Our unpleasant experience with Sailmaker Charles Viviani (“CV”), Wavesails NZ Ltd, Opua, Bay of Islands New Zealand
Facts:
3 December 2013: Written confirmation and acceptance by Charles Viviani, Wavesails NZ Ltd, of our order for 3 new sails, a cockpit enclosure cover, a mainsail boom cover and trampoline repairs for SV Samuri (a 44’ catamaran)
• Agreed sum for his services & finished product: NZ$19,000.00
• Services & products to be completed by the end of January 2014
• Deposit: NZ$9,500.00
Mid-January 2014: We received the repaired trampoline from CV but it was of such poor quality it caused safety concerns
We agreed to a time extension until the beginning of April 2014 to complete the other agreed services and supply the agreed products
11 April 2014: CV cancelled the contract for manufacturing of the cockpit enclosure and one sail due to other work commitments. This was two weeks after the agreed extended delivery date
CV postponed 7 times a day of delivery for 2 sails during the period of 11 – 30 April 2014
30 April 2014: Received only two sails and one boom cover
Sails were not delivered to the boat, nor installed or checked as was agreed to
An independent review of the sails confirmed:
• Material was used in the wrong way. Both sails were designed as a radial sail instead of a cross cut sail design. The maximum stretch capacity is therefore reduced to only about 20%.
• None of the panels has been sealed to keep the fabric from fraying.
• The new genua sail results in an 80 cm short luff length on the hoist. This reduces the sail area by 8%.
• The mainsail was produced so it is 10 cm too high on the luff and 15 cm too short on the foot of the sail.
• The cut of the main sail is questionable. It shows horizontal and diagonal creasing.
• No sign writing of the name and sail number was done and no woollies attached which all was agreed to by CV.
• 3 new battens for the main sail are half the thickness they should be and are therefore too weak.
• The top batten of the mainsail was at an angle that would not support the roach profile and there was a 30 cm unsupported sail area in the top leech and had to be re-cuted.
• The overhead leach line was never going to work as it was fitted and had to be modified.
• The batten pockets needed resewing at the leach end.
• All reef and corner webbing were sub-standard as well as the patching sizes and weight.
In summary:
1. 2 sails for NZ$11,000.00 will have a lifespan of about one year instead of the expected 8 – 10 years
2. Other work to the value of NZ$7,300.00 was cancelled on short notice by CV without providing any alternatives
Happy sailing!
Christian Nigg, SV Samuri, Swiss Flag