We had a great sail to Whangaruru anchored in Oakura Bay great place, next day we sailed to Whangamumu Bay and had a very rough night, met up with Annette and Darren and with them sailed to Opua anchored in the harbour went ashore for a very nice lunch of sea food chowder, and in the evening went to the yacht club for a meal, feel very spoilt yay no cooking. Then on to Russell, just love Russell all the history, old buildings and we had lunch in a Thai Restaurant soo good.We celebrated the New Year here watching fireworks on board Orka a night to remember very beautiful...After that we spent days cruising around in places like Paradise Bay ,so well named we even went for a walk. Wishing you all a very happy New Year.

We have been in the boatyard since July 9th, doing more work on Seili, have to remove some rust and re do the anti foul, a horrid job, the weather is up and down but warm. We go back in the water tomorrow, and will anchor in the river and do a few more jobs.

We left Great Barrier Island yesterday (sunday 14th April) sailed to Kawau Island with our friends on Orka, beautiful sunny day but no wind, so two captains a bit grumbly !!but we did put the sails up John said might as well air them..We had a quick drink at the yacht club very nice, next time might have to try one of ther cocktails. Today monday it is very wet so just relaxing. Looking forward to going to Mansion House former home of Sir John Grey first Governer General of NZ.

We are back in Smokehouse Bay, great weather, caught two big snapper, smoked one, tasted superb.

So happy at last the solar panels have been fitted, and they are charging our battery's, John has just got to tidy the wires and thats a job off the list phew, it did take a while though. We have done a big shop so we are going to leave here wednesday morning (fingers crossed). First stop will be Great Barrier Island again, just because we love it there, and try again to catch fish, I have breadcrumbs, lemons etc.

We left Tauranga Marina on the 5th January, and arrived at Slipper Island in the afternoon, on the way we had dolphins swimming along beside us. We put the anchor down, and enjoyed our lunch sitting in the cockpit in the warm sunshine. Sunday we spent lazing, On monday we had to leave in a hurry the weather turned nasty, so we went back to Tauranga not a very nice trip. We left Tauranga on the 22 January and stayed at Slipper Island. John not happy with our sails, so we are going to Great Barrier Island and then on to Whangarei. Love Gt Barrier, Smokehouse Bay not many boats here as the weather is not great quiet windy, but it's nice watching the different boats comeing and going. Our friends on Orka arrived end of January and he had caught a lot of snapper, so we had a great bbq on the beach.So now we are in Whangarei Town Basin Marina, with lot's of jobs to do.