It's a glorious day in Auckland - the culmination of all that is sailing -
Junior high dinghy races feet away from mega yachts from the boat show.

NZ just won their 3rd round robin race in the Louis Vuitton Trophy - the bars are full and joyous .

We are prepping the boat for a mid April haul-out - new bottom paint and safety checks before heading off to Fiji in mid may - so 2010 is a quick jump to Fiji and then back to New Zealand ... the best cruising plans are never set in stone - but used as an argument for customs and immigration ;-)

JOURNEY

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This is the second time in 6 months that we have a tsunami warning - this time the origin is Chile a place close to my heart as I lived there for 6 years - my father is there and my sister married a chilean - Suzanne and I met there ...

The massive wave which hit the islands off the chilean mainland at 40+ feet became but a mere ripple 5000 nm later - less than 3 feet in the channel off Auckland and nothing inside the marina thusfar - lucky again.

Let's focus and see how we can help Chile rebuild all those bridges and roads and homes ...

JOURNEY

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Almost 50nm to the north east of Auckland is the wonderful Great Barrier Island - a "boaties" destination in the summer months of New Zealand - and within this season the culmination is the annual Mussel Fest - perhaps the grandest of festivities !

So here we are anchored just off Port Fitzroy amongst several hundred yachts - surrounded by nature - birdsong - waterfalls - getting ready for a weekend of culinary delights, samplings of fresh & locally harvested green lipped mussels prepared in a variety of ways - to be washed down with local brews.

Summer in the sun - New Zealand original - the way it has been for many many years - unspoiled - direct -and very real.

JOURNEY

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