The waiting game

It's been a week and a half since the accident and we're back in Auckland waiting for Seathan's broken ribs to heal. One week later and there is a lot of improvement. We went for a big walk yesterday all the way from Orakei marina to the Auckland museum. However, it will be a couple …

Never wear socks on a boat…

We left Auckland yesterday under brilliant sunshine and anchored in Oneroa bay, Waiheke for the night. We planned to lift anchor early this morning to sail to Opua. But things often don't go as planned when you are on a boat. Last night Seathan slipped down the steps into the galley and broke three ribs. …

Or not…

One more look at the weather forecast and models this morning and it has all changed again. The high is coming through so fast now that we risk being caught up in some very strong winds halfway to Fiji. We don't want to take such a risk and decided to wait for the next weather …

Ready. Steady. Go!

Finally there is a weather window and we are soooo ready to go. New Zealand has been great but it is getting really cold now. Our new dinghy arrived today as did a new code zero sail. The boat is stocked up and the crew well rested. The customs officers are scheduled to come and …

New Zealand to Fiji, Skip’s take.

Six months in New Zealand and we are chafing at the bit to head north, we are in a holding pattern, floating at sea level waiting for Huey to relent, just a smidge, the birds have left on the front of the last high, we just weren't ready. The departure is dictated by the lows …

Splash!

💦We're back in the water and it feels good ! There are a few more jobs to do before we are ready to go. We started provisioning and organising the boat... and the kids are already looking forward to turquoise water 🌴

Out of the water

Yesterday was a big day for Rehua: annual haul out. She will be getting new antifouling  as well as a general checkup of rudders, bearings, thru hull fittings, rigging, etc. Tyrii and Seathan sailed the 15 nautical miles from Orakei to Gulf Harbour marina while Aeneas and I drove the car up. Everything went smooth …

Eleven!

Happy Birthday Tyrii! I can't believe how time flies ... We had a great party yesterday afternoon and were lucky enough to have use of the marina office facilities as we had 15 kids and 14 adults over for a bbq and some birthday cake 🎂     

NZ road trip (part 6)

Home sweet home! It's good to be back on Rehua after having been away for more than a month. On our way up we stopped in Dawson Falls to admire Mt Taranaki (aka Mt Egmont) and in Coromandel. The weather stayed favourable and the roads were pretty clear as we avoided the Easter traffic before …

NZ road trip (part 5)

To quote Tyrii: "The South Island is epic." We conclude our anti-clockwise tour and are left with beautiful memories (and a lot of photos) of some of the most amazing nature we have ever seen. During the last leg of the circuit we have a dip in the hot pools at Hanmer Springs, admire the …