We arrived back in Auckland on Tuesday 8th Jan. With close on 2,600nm total on the log. Murray and Brigitte left us in the Bay of Islands as they had things to do here at home and Alex and I were still waiting to hear from Customs. We eventually heard on the Saturday so after a lovely breakfast in Russell with Tony and Liesel Ciprian we headed on out for Deep Water Cove to spend the night at anchor. This gave us a good start for the next day where we sailed down to Tutukaka. 38nm. I caught my first fish trawling – a skipjack tuna. I could not believe it having trawled nearly the whole way across the Tasman!! Made a great dinner that night. We wrapped the steaks in bacon and did them on the BBQ. Next day we had a great sail down to Kawau Island, 59nm. The next morning we waited for Murray and Brigitte to arrive on the ferry from Auckland then we all set sail. The winds were a little light and we had a mixed bag of weather leaving Kawau in the sunshine and arriving in Auckland in the pouring rain. We are now tied up in the Viaduct Basin along with all the huge super yachts. We leave there on Sunday morning and will be out in the Hauraki Gulf till Friday when we have a berth at Westhaven Marina till the end of March. Our plans to go South have be delayed till then as we have a mass of jobs to do here on the farm and also with the boat. We have also been asked by the Seawind company to show our boat in two upcoming boat shows here in Auckland. One in Feb and the other in March.
We have just arrived back from the boat having gone down to take supplies, clean washing and to have dinner on board. Yes she really has become our little home.
OK will sign out for now. Will write when we are back on the move again.
Love to you all
Ann and Alec
