Some interesting Stats and Facts :-

PERIOD Away - Four months and three days
Departed 8th Feb
Returned 11th June

ENGINE hours run - 540 hours
This includes motoring around Fiords, running engine to keep batteries and the freezer up.

FUEL Used.
700 litres diesel
Consumption was average 1.3 litres per hour.

DISTANCE travelled - 2800 nautical miles ( 5180 kilometres )

Average SPEED
Sailing 6.5 knots
Motoring 5.6 knots

BEST place - Luncheon Cove, Dusky Sound. Going slowly in narrow channel withing metres of little islands to a completely protected cove. This is where I caught the big Blue Cod from the dinghy.

WORST place - Anchorage Cove, George Sound.
Cascade cove, Dusky Sound. Wild winds blew me into the trees all night.

LONGEST Legs
Lyttleton to Coromandal Mercury Islands - Six days - Five nights
Whangaroa round Cape Rienga to Nelson - Five days, four nights

STRONGEST Winds - 45-50 knots approaching Breaksea Sound. Confirmed by a DOC crowd that inspected boat next day.

BIGGEST Swells - about 5.5 - 6 metres. The swells were 3/4 way up the mast which is 11 metres above waterline.

What WORKED.
1) Doing 20-25 minute catnaps for the days/nights on passage.
2) Changing to #3 furling headsail from Nelson to Dunedin. Even this I reduced from time to time.
3) Upgrading the VHF aerial at Stewart island to have great transmitting / reception.
4) Installing an electric anchor winch to save the old back.

What BROKE
1) Tiller pilot stopped at Milford Sound
2) Losing the top three mainsail mast slides twice in bumpy seas.
3) Mainsheet top block attached to the boom. Existing and spare one broke.

Basic SAFETY stuff.
1) Always being attached to boat by harness and lifevest. I just had to look at the water going past, even slowly to know it was definite death if I went over at sea,
2) Resisting temptation to sleep longer than 20/25 minutes at a time. Too many fishing boats and ships around that come up so quickly.
3) Good pair of binoculars.
4) Look after and check the engine like it's your most favourite bestest girlfriend.
5) Going very slowly and cautiously near rocks and dicy bays.
6) Doing anything all the time to protect the boat and rig.
7) Stay upbeat. Don't be depressed more than two minutes. If the mind is good then the body and boat will be good.
Being anxious is however good (makes you sharp) but not scared and fearful (makes you useless).