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Posted By:
Hal Brown
Date Posted:
Feb 21, 2014
Description:
The national bird of New Zealand is flightless. That doesn’t mean visiting avian contraptions can’t spread their wings. The higher-than-ground level view is particularly delightful. You know when the ground has more waves than the sea, you’re some place special.
Date Taken:
Feb 21, 2014
Place Taken:
Whangaparaoa Bay North of Waiwera, NZ
Owner:
Dan Nickens
File Name:
Waves_of_Rocks_and_Water.jpg - Photo HTML
Full size - <img src="/show.php?splash=SZDYH0000h">
Medium - <img src="/show.php?splash=SZDYH0000m">
Thumbnail - <img src="/show.php?splash=SZDYH0000s">
Category:
446, Yacht Tending NZ
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Click on photo to view the original size. |
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Read what others had to say:
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Dan Nickens - Feb 21,2014
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When continental plates are crunching around an endlessly fascinating coastline is probable.
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Cracked Up Coast
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Dan Nickens - Feb 21,2014
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Such a convoluted coast has so many options for tucking into a quiet SeaRey parking spot!
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Coves a Plenty
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Dan Nickens - Feb 21,2014
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Dan Nickens - Feb 21,2014
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It doesn’t take much dirt to grow trees.
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Sandy Spot
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Frank A. Carr - Feb 22,2014
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Or are these trees the final remnant of what used to be a hill?
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Dan Nickens - Feb 22,2014
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One could easily imagine there used to be a hill there, Frank, worn flat until a beach built up. Anywhere there is just a bit of dry land, it won't be long until something grows. Once something grows, it can stabilize the sand and begin building land again. Or, if sea level keeps rising, the inevitable may be delayed.
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Dan Nickens - Feb 21,2014
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Dan Nickens - Feb 21,2014
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Just beyond the giant sand trap a new (private) golf course is taking shape. It’s soon to be home to a new New Zealand SeaRey. This one won’t be attached to an aircraft carrier.
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Fore Ground
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Dan Nickens - Feb 21,2014
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Nine of the holes were ready for playtime. My job was to scout out SeaRey parking spots. Unfortunately the beach is off limits according to local regulators.
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Almost Ready to Play
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Frank A. Carr - Feb 22,2014
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Great photos Dan. Two questions. Is this North or South Island, and in NZ does <br />one own the beach?
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Dan Nickens - Feb 22,2014
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It's the north island, Frank. I'm not sure about the ownership, but I'd guess not. The owner of the SuRi and the beachfront golf course said I couldn't land there.
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Dan Nickens - Feb 22,2014
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So looking at these pictures now, it seems so easy. In the rush of their taking, however, it was easier to recall the struggles to get into the air at all. To provide some background, here is what it took to catch these pictures.<br /><br />No one knew for sure the yacht’s schedule. No one ever does. It could have been the day before Christmas. It could have been mid-December. It could last until after the New Year. It could last until the end of January. No one could predict the days because the variables were unseen and untold. The result was a last minute round trip ticket costing more than $8000 (and that was before adding the many changes fees to come).<br /><br />What to pack? Will the yacht travel to Fiordlands and the ice fields? Or will SuRi travel north to the balmy midsummer beaches?<br /><br />A lot of effort went into obtaining permits and documents required for operating in New Zealand’s southernmost national park. Fiordland is spectacular, but it comes with a raft of park, environmental and airspace restrictions. Getting authorizations and charts for marine, seaplane, and helicopter operations was a full time occupation for the yacht’s agents and crew. Compiling the operational limits and applying them to usable charts was my pre-trip task.<br /><br />It was all for naught. Weather forecasts for the south turned ugly. The guests’ schedule changed and evolved. Forget-a-about the ice, pack for sunshine and beaches! Excellent. There were none of the complexities of ice covered mountains and deep marine valleys on the north island. Flying would be simple! (Right. Reality to intrude later.)<br /><br />With that determined, now all that remained was a departure date. When it came, I had a complete week to get my local affairs in order for an indeterminate absence.<br /><br />The flight over to the other side of the world started on a Sunday afternoon. It was an easy five hours direct to LAX, followed by a cab to a local hotel, and bed by midnight. A Monday morning departure took me to Hawaii, then on to Auckland. I was in bed at an airport hotel by 11:00 p.m. Tuesday night. (The flight didn’t take that long but there was a date and time change.)<br /><br />There was no time to tarry Wednesday morning. After meeting the helicopter pilot at the airport, we drove across town to the city harbor. The SuRi was a flurry of activity and the crew was past ready to get the SeaRey and helicopter gone.<br /><br />So, unfold the wings and fly away! If only it were so simple.<br /><br />First, the local harbour master’s office had to be contacted. “We’d like 48 hours notice,” I was told. “Would you settle for 48 minutes?” New Zealand is full of friendly bureaucrats. The Harbour Master agreed I could leave if (1) I got approval from the local seaplane base operator; (2) I made a radio call to the harbour control to verify no shipping was in the channel; (3) radio the marina to advise local traffic; and, (4) announce imminent departure on the ship-to-ship channel.<br /><br />I agreed to everything. I didn’t have a marine band radio in the airplane, but there were plenty on the SuRi. If they were in such a hurry to kick me off, they could make the calls!<br /><br />The seaplane base owner, a tour operator, was really nice. He wanted to meet to advise me of all their operational restrictions. I pleaded no time, but promised to sit down later. He reluctantly said that it might be okay if I avoided any shipping and operated outside of the breakwater. “No worries,” I told him.<br /><br />The selected airport I was moving to required prior permission from the airport manager before leaving the airplane overnight. I got that on condition I check in after arrival to pay landing and parking fees. And, I was admonished to fly a proper British pattern with none of the North American sloppiness or shortcuts. “No worries.”<br /><br />After checking all the aircraft systems, I had the SeaRey lowered into the harbour. I arranged for a tender from SuRi to follow me in case of problems. Since there seemed to be none, I started up and taxied into the heart of the rough water in the main channel.<br /><br />As soon as I applied full power I was severely smacked by waves that looked much more malevolent than when idling along. Simultaneously, my ears were assaulted by a shrill siren warning from the EFIS alarm. A quick scan showed that it was only the angle-of-attack alarm gone mad. No worries.<br /><br />There was no time for worry as all my attention was focused on keeping the airplane horizontal on the tsunami waves that suddenly rose up in front. There was time for worry, though, because it was taking much longer than normal to get off the waves.<br /><br />Scanning the engine instruments showed no obvious cause for such sluggishness. The engine felt rough, but it could easily be the battering I was getting from the waves.<br /><br />Should I abort the takeoff? There was no time to answer because the airplane was tossed into the air by a particularly tall rogue wave.<br /><br />The airplane staggered in ground effect. Should I abort now? Looking at the upcoming waves, the answer was a definite no. I decided to try and fly somewhere else with a lot less roughness.<br /><br />My flight route was limited by the looming harbour bridge. I was pretty sure the harbour master wouldn’t be happy to see me depart under its high span. And, if I snuck under it, I would end up in military airspace on its far side. I initiated a shallow turn away.<br /><br />The airplane was still trying to climb roughly. The downwind water scene showed only higher and rougher waves. No worries. I was still climbing.<br /><br />I had departed in a mandatory broadcast zone. There was, however, no possibility of hearing anything over the screaming AOA alarm. I suppose I could have broadcast in the blind, but all anyone would hear would be the screaming. I kept quiet and turned the volume down. I focused on looking for the city helicopter traffic instead of talking. See and avoid. No worries.<br /><br />At least I was climbing and I was over water. That was good because something was definitely amiss in the engine area. It was painfully obvious when I reduced power to cruise.<br /><br />Should I go back to SuRi? That would mean violating the harbour master’s directives. And, by now the crew wouldn’t be watching for me. And it would be another boxing round with the wicked waves in the harbour. The engine was still working, and I was over water, so no worries.<br /><br />Eventually, though, I had depart the coast and fly inland to the airport. By that time I had exited the altitude restricted zone and I could climb to a more comfortable altitude. Underneath was the rolling green carpet that covered smoothly folded hills. I had to enter the overhead pattern at the North Shore airport at 2000’ anyway.<br /><br />Did I mention the wind was blowing? It was blowing a gale in a perfectly cross wind at the airport.<br /><br />Once safely on the ground with parking and landing fees paid, I found the problem with the angle of attack sensor. The pitot tube had been knocked out of position during launching. And the rough engine was simply cured with some fresh fuel.<br /><br />No worries then. Just another tricky day, with the bonus of being in a strange and far away land.<br />
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Russ Garner - Feb 23,2014
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These little planes are so much fun ha Dan. Great photo's by the way. I like the yacht tied to the shipwreck the best but your sandy spot is also great find for your lens.
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Dennis Scearce - Feb 23,2014
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What a way to wring out a Searey. Sure speaks for it's endurance. I hope they are paying you well.
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Eric Batterman - Feb 23,2014
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I thought Dan was paying them!
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Dan Nickens - Feb 23,2014
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Heck if I know. I can tell you about the SeaRey, but if you want to know about money you have to ask Ann! The last paycheck I ever saw was dated November 1979, our wedding date.
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Frank A. Carr - Feb 23,2014
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In looking at your pictures Dan, the 'rest of the story' definitely isn't conveyed! <br />Glad you made it back!
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John Robert Dunlop - Feb 23,2014
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Loved it, Dan! (As I'm sure you didn't at the time.) We are such masochists!
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Wayne Nagy - Feb 23,2014
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Great behind the scenes information, Dan. It makes the beautiful pictures that much more <br />powerful! <br /><br />If you are able to share, what is the going rate for the guests on the SuRi??
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Dan Nickens - Feb 23,2014
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Mostly nothing, Wayne. The guests are friends, family and business associates. Very rarely it gets chartered. I'm not sure what the current rate is, but before its last growth spurt you could rent SuRi for $250,000 per week (not including seaplane or helicopter).<!-- >'"><br><font color=red size=6>' or > missing in user HTML. Please fix the HTML.</font> -->
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Russ Garner - Feb 24,2014
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Wayne, Dan like to keep us all glued to his adventures, now if he could only sing. I did fined this about Dans yacht.
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Dans yacht
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Dave Martin - Feb 24,2014
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WOW!!! Thanks for the link
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Dan Nickens - Feb 24,2014
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SuRi has evolved in a way her oil rig tenders could never have imagined. And she continues to do so, as evidenced by last year's extension. Who knows what she will be next year when the sub comes onboard? I suppose SuRi's changes offer hope for anyone who wants growth their life.<br /><br />Of course growth comes with a price. I see from the charter's web site the going charter rate for a week is now $375,000.
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Boat Rental
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Russ Garner - Feb 24,2014
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All you need is a winning power ball ticket.
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Marty Corr - Feb 26,2014
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I regularly get run around off shore oil fields in boats like the Suri ( in before it evolved condition).<br />Talking to the captains of these vessels ball park figure just to run the engines at cruise speed is around <br />$800 an hour!<br />I did get airborne from the boats every time.... Climbing into a basket to get transferred to the platform by <br />crane.
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