Guess where we are?

Some 'friends' sent us some photos that they took of us during our year around NZ. Guess where they were taken?
A. Southern Ocean: Furious fifties
B. Southern Ocean: Roaring forties
C. Pusegeur Point
D. Foveaux Strait
E. Off North Head, Waitemata Harbour

Video of our Subantarctic Trip

A bit of playing last night and we now have the video of our trip in three 10 minute video's. Hope you enjoy.

Southern Voyage Part 1

Southern Voyage Part 2

Southern Voyage Part 3 is on the post below.

The video above is part 3 of our trip to the Subantarctic. I will rework the first parts to fit on the website.

Labour Weekend

Labour weekend and we managed to get out on the boat for the first time since arriving back in Auckland. We left work early and after a good evening's sail we were anchored in Owhanake Bay with a cold beer in hand just after six. The next day we arrived at a friend's place during a 6th birthday party -not the best timing! A meal later in the evening was a much better idea. We also made use of the nice day to dive on the bottom of the boat. The forecast for Monday was SW 30 which is fairly standard after an Auckland weekend ensuring a beat up the harbour. However, what we acctually got was a N/NE of about 15 and we had a great sail round the back of Rangitoto and got home just before the rain. We tried out our new main, which replaces the old one which you could poke your finger through.

Auckland

Well its been back to work in Auckland for us. First Jim who had been given a year off from his job and then me (I got my old job back). I did a bit of sailing on the Spirit before getting employed and hopefully will do a couple more voyages (despite the job!). Jim put in a new diesel heater (just in time for summer) and we've been out to Piha kayaking.

Some more photos

Wind farm on the Wellington coast


Sunset on the passage from Wellington to Gisborne (NB mothers please note the life jacket!)


On the piles at Smokehouse Bay in Great Barrier Island


Outside bath at Smokehouse, you can see the yacht masts in the background


Lower Kauri dam, GBI (no Jim isn't holding a beer it just looks that way- honest!)

View of Kaiarara Bay, if you get out the magnifying glass you can see 'Elenya' anchored in the bay

View of Port Fitzroy and Little Barrier Island from the top of Hirakimata (Mt Hobson)

Endangered pateke (brown teal) pay a visit

Sunset anchored in the Broken Islands (just after Jim was heard to say well we won't see the Spirit again now!)

Hot springs the second time we went, the first time we tried the river was in flood, this time the water was at least hot enough for Jim to get in!

Back to Reality

Well, we are back in Auckland and already it is starting to feel like we never left, apart from the fact we keep walking down the wrong pier! (we are now on a different berth). We had a great last few days around Waiheke with brilliant blue skies even if the southerly did have a bite to it. We’ve enjoyed some good sailing, clear water and dolphins, some relaxing and a bit more relaxing! Unfortunately, all good things come to an end and Jim goes back to work next week and I will have to start looking for a job. I haven’t quite worked out how to combine chemistry with square rig sailing but I’m working on it (and open to suggestions and/or job offers)!


Crossing our outbound path on the last day as we pass North Head on our way back to the Marina

Cold! This is still warm.

It's kind of weird to be sat in the Hauraki Gulf,the years shortest day quite close, with the news of severe cold weather and snow over NZ. It's still alot warmer now than our 'summer' and we have all the anchorages to ourselves (just as we did down south). The day is quite superb with blue skies, a warm sun, and a lovely 15 to 20 knot beam wind. A great sail across to Waiheke was had a bit of maintenance this afternoon.