Hi everyone,

Its been a remarkable voyage here and now its pure bliss. However three days to get to Cape Reinga and then round North Cape with a roller coaster reach down the Northland Coast across Exhibition Bay in 25 knot SW while we raced along all night 6- 7.5 knots constant, a thrill.
Now its beautiful and quiet/ peaceful and such a lovely historic region to be in and explore.

Currently in Opua Marina the Beverley and I set sail around exploring various bays and anchorages from Christmas Day.

Lindsay

Greetings,

David and I are near completing all preparations for departing Nelson on Tuesday 15 December.

Weather predictions look good once this SW system blows through.

Lindsay

Getting ready for spring and summer racing in Tasman Bay. Can't wait to sail up to the Bay of Islands and the later, spend time cruising in the Hauraki Gulf. It's a great life !

We sailed from Nelson on Boxing Day and set a course for Seperation Point, the well known weather boundry between Tasman and Golden Bays.
Well ,not far from Awaroa Heads it started to blow from the NW 25+ and we electected to turn back and sought shelter in Torrent Bay/Anchorage for the night. By 21.00 it was a strong northly at 30-35 knots and building, whilst at a safe anchorage. At 02.45 hrs it was gusting 45 knots + and we dragged about 75 meters and then held.
The rain was coiming in horizontal in 5 minute intervals between squalls but we held. Rebecca said it was the scarriest night..and I stayed in the cockpit on watch.

Wind abated by 08.30 28 December and then we moved to a better anchorage to dry out !.

Had a lovely evening then moterd out at 08.20 next morning and set along the Abel Taman National Park coastline clearing Seperation Point in relaxing conditions . We eventually anchorerd just to the Souh of the southern end of the two Tata Islands, interesting limetone outcrops in the lovely golden sand of Tata Beach It was there we connected with the famliy group camped just behind the beach
Saw the New Year in a memeorable style, stars, fires on the beach ,
warm temperatures, bliss.
I climbed and explored one of the islands next day,( hence the photo) .

Well I have the figures for Wind Dancers II voyage from Fiji.

Departed marina and clearance at 11. 45 hrs Friday 3 September and arrived Nelson 0400 hrs Wednesday 15 September, 2010.

Distance : 1657 nautical miles

Time : 12 days , 7 hours, 15 minutes.

Average speed: 6.11 knots

We think that is a good effort.

My thanks go to the crew, team work was excellent and we all got on well. Overcome a number of problems with some of the systems on board, e.g.blocked toilet pipes, air in the fuel system ! No gear or sail failures which was so important when we were in in Force Four plus winds for all of the jorney.