Summer 2023

Summer is a precious and often fleeting time. The summer of 2023 was no exception with lots of plans to enjoy the outdoors and nature. Despite fickle and very dynamic weather, Robin and I had a satisfying season primarily getting more experience and confidence with the transition from sailing to power boat cruising in New Zealand’s Marlborough Sounds.

Because home and boat are a six-hour drive apart, we often spend several weeks or more living on the boat and cruising our base port in Queen Charlotte Sound and beyond. Focused time helps with photography as good shooting conditions are the exception not the rule. Photographically the area including Marlborough Sounds, D’Urville Island and Tasman Bay is elusive. Unarguably attractive, it is fairly rare that the land, sea, sky and light combine for an interesting photo. We often say “it looks pretty but it’s not a picture”.

We feel privileged to have seen and recorded the scenes in the gallery below. In retrospect, it seems the Sounds were more cooperative than expected during the summer of 2023.