Nick checked in with Pelagos on March 30 with the following pictures and email. Your webmaster spent a memorable few days on a bareboat charter in these waters about 10 years ago. More on this later. Nelson is in the northern part of the South island on Tasman Bay.

Thought you might like to meet Pelagos (K1052), an S&S 24 from Nelson, New Zealand.  Bought her from my brother in 2006 who owned and raced her for a couple of years.  What a well behaved little boat!  We’ve sailed around 400 nautical miles in the last 2 years and had a lot of fun.

 
She has a Bukh 10 inboard which is reliable, but is getting old so needs regular tinkering.  I was given an old Aries self steering unit recently which I’ve tidied up and now enjoy when sailing single handed.  It’s probably a bit big for a 24 footer but does a nice job.
The mast is due for replacement.  Apart from the corrosion, it doesn’t get much fore and aft support from the single lower shrouds, and has been stressed by an inner forestay (and storm jib?) at some stage.  Previous owners installed running backstays which I took off initially, but have put back on for peace of mind until I replace the mast.

The interior is a bit basic, with two bunks and no galley in the main cabin.  I’ll probably make a stowable galley at some stage.  I’ll maybe send some photos of the inside once its looking a bit more respectable.

Regards Nick King

PS. I enjoy your website!

Note the offset prop and drive shaft

Admiral Kim, I presume?

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The following pictures are from your webmaster's 1997 bareboat charter and hiking trip in this beautiful area.

Nelson is right in the middle of the map at the bottom of Tasman Bay. Abel Tasman Park is at the western end of the Bay. We spent 3 days hiking in this park, mostly along the shoreline - days packs only, no tents, nice remote lodges with fireplaces, guide prepared gourmet dinners, luggage waiting in your private room. A very civilized, highly recommended method of hiking.

One of the spectacular hidden low tide beaches of Abel Tasman Park. I think this one was called Watering Cove.

Queen Charlotte Sound to the east of Tasman Bay. Picton is at bottom right.This is where we started our cruise. Captain Cook's monument is on the north shore - exactly where I don't remember - but we have a picture taken from our boat! I may have to go back and find out just where that monument is....

The following two pictures were actually from a folding postcard that showed this beautiful area. I have vivid memorIes of passing these many inlets as we were sailing out the Sound - particularly the ones leading to the mountain areas to the north as you see it on the card. The wind would come blasting down out of these inlets resulting in Admiral's orders to reef - now! To get into the anchorages up these inlets would be a beat under reefed sails. Half way up the inlet the wind dies down and you poke around to find a peaceful, deserted anchorage - with fresh mussels waiting to be picked off the rocky shore.

Behind the hills to the left (south) is Blenheim, one of New Zealand's prime vineyard regions.

Continuing down and out of the Sound brings you to Cook Strait. Across the strait is Wellington on the southern tip of the North Island. We took a small plane trip from Wellington to Picton and got to see all this from the air on a beautiful sunny day.

The Admiral

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Webmaster Note: When Kim and Nick send us some of their pictures of Pelagos cruising these waters I'll retire these.