0

0

The passed couple of days we have walked around Queenstown we walked, went to Glenorchy and Arrowtown. We have had a great time but it was only a week and we have had to return to Imagine.

0

0

We have just gone to Queenstown for a week. Staying at Darren’s house and using his car, we are able to do some sight seeing. We also can catch up with my son and his family who are here on holiday. Puzzling World in Wanaka is an amazing place, with puzzles and illusions. We spent a couple of hours there before having a late lunch in Wanaka and returning to Queenstown.

0

0

There has been a couple of days of nice weather so we have taken the opportunity to spend the day in Logan Park.

0

0

Winter weather is changing every couple of days. We have spent the last few weeks hiding from the wind. Running from the north side of Whanagparaoa to the south side. This is the part of living on a boat is not so glamorous.

0

0

Tatiana’s daughter (Natasha) and Grandson (Yuraslav) joined us for a trip to Tiritiri. It was a beautiful still day. unfortunately not for sailing, no wind. We motored to the end of the peninsular and across to Tiritiri. Once ashore we followed the tracks through the bush up to the lighthouse. There was a full range of birds fluttering through the trees as we made our way the the lighthouse. At the top of the hill we could see all around the Waitamata Harbour. We couldn’t leave without having a swim.

We spent the night at Shakespeare Bay before dropping them off after a great weekend.

0

0

We spent the day afternoon at Kostya’s school (Tatiana’s grandson). He was in a school production.

0

0

Tony and Melonie joined us again for a sail south the explore Motutapu and Rakino. Unfortunately the wind wasn’t in the right direction the first day so we went across to Swann Bay for the first night. Then we headed off to Motutapu and anchored in Station Bay. We all went ashore and trekked up to the ridge and walk along it taking in the beautiful views.

The next day the wind was right for us to sail across to Motuihe Island where we spent two days exploring and swimming before heading to Rakino. Tony had family on Rakino so he and Melonie went ashore late in the afternoon while Tatiana and I relaxed and watched the sunset with a glass of wine.

Monday we headed back to Tindalls Bay intime for Tony and Melonie to get home ahead of the peak hour traffic.

0

0

It has taken tow days for the wind to die down enough for us to head back to Farmers Bay. It was Tatiana’s turn to make dinner and she made a Russian meal (Borcsh). We have swam ashore and walked the beach before setting sail back to Tindalls Bay. The blue sky and nice sail, showed no sign of the bad weather of two days ago.

0

0

The weather is getting more changeable. Another lot of high winds caused us to move bake to Kawau for shelter. We had left it a bit late and the trip was quite rough. When we got to Mansion House Bay it was full of others seeking shelter, so we moved around the corner to Farmers bay. Overnight the swell started coming in the bay making it uncomfortable, so we again moved.

Moutuketekete Island was the place to get shelter from the high North Easterly wind. Imagine was rocking too much to lift the dinghy onboard safely, so we towed it. On the way across the wind got up to 50kts (100km/h). One of the gusts flipped our dinghy over. There was nothing we could do but tow it upside down the rest of the way. This slowed us down a lot.

Once we reached Moutuketekete we tried lifting the dinghy and turning it over by using the halyard, but the suction from the lack of air in the upturned dinghy was too much. I had to jump in the water and remove the bung from the dinghy to allow air into it. Then we easily turned the dinghy over. (sorry too busy to take photos of the dinghy)

0

0

Tatiana and I took some friends away to Kawau and Tiritiri Matangi Islands for three days. We anchored in Mansion House Bay, went ashore and explored the Mansion House gardens and walked the track to the old Copper Mine. On Thursday we had a great sail from Kawau to Tiritiri. There we went ashore to see the birdlife. It was a great three days.