Sunday 23rd April
We are still getting the boat ready for the trip to Vanuatu. Only a week to have the last of the stores onboard and the final things ready for the CAT1 inspection on Friday. The crew arrive on Monday 1st May then it’s whenever the weather looks good, we are off.
A lot of people are eager to help the people in Vanuatu after they have had two cyclones and an earthquake in last month. K Mart here in Auckland have just donated a pile of kids clothes, pillows and sanitary items for us to distribute among the villages on our travels.
Other individuals on the Hibiscus Coast have offered to donated anchors, chain, rope, bedding and adults clothes (No, not that sort of adult clothes).
We will have a full boat by the time we set sail.

It’s been a busy couple of weeks.
Two new Liferings with drogues and lights mounted on the back of Imagine

Bracket made for the Starlink dish and it has now been mounted

Liferaft and Danbouy sent off to be repacked and certified

All the life jackets have been tested and had new gas bottles fitted

New flares in the grab bag

The EPIRB was tested last time and is still current

The gas certificate has been checked and is still current

Fire extinguishers have been replaced

The sensor in the toilet holding tank has been replaced

A blower has been fitted to the engine room, to suck the hot air out

We have patched the leak in the dinghy

Some supplies purchased

Helped a friend install the fuel tank into his boat
Now we’ve got to wait for the liferaft and Danbouy to come back, then get the CAT1 signed off.

Next is working on servicing Imagine’s engine and stocking, fueling and cleaning the boat. –

Yesterday after breakfast Andrew got stuck into some of the jobs that needed doing outside. He repaired the dinghy seat with resin and a fibreglass bandage, mixed up some gelcoat (bog) to fill the chips in the hull and cockpit cabin, measured up for new vent horns and for other things we need to buy.
In the afternoon we went for a swim had a quick nap and did a few more jobs. Andrew went ashore to help Darren get things for his party tonight and to pick up glue and patches to repair the leak in the dinghy. A job for another day.
It was a great party with great food and music. Seems like Imagine is well known around this area!
This morning there was a cool breeze and the sea was choppy, so no dawn swim. This morning Tony B came to visit and brought a new breadmaker. The old one died. He spent the day with us reminiscing over the trip to Tonga, Samoa and Isle of Wallis and catching up on what’s happening. Tony went for a long swim, practising for an ocean swim later in the year.
The next week will be spent working on the boat and getting parts, as usual the weather plays a big part in what we can get done and when.

Friday 24th March
We were up before dawn, but no swims this morning. After breakfast B and Mike packed the last of their bags. We went ashore as the sun rose over hills, bathing Imagine in its golden glow. We trudged up the hill with their over sized bags full of clothes they never needed and borrowed a car to take them to the airport.
It was a quiet ride, only interrupted by B asking if we should turn back to check if the hatches were closed, then asking if we could take a look at the other side of Auckland, anything to delay getting to the airport. Mike said “fine, just drop me at a bus stop so I can get to the plane on time”. Mike was eager to get back to Sydney and family, but I dont think B was looking forward to going back to work.
After we dropped them off at the airport in plenty of time for their flight, we went and visited Sue’s sister. We did a little shopping on the way back to Imagine, then it was rest and relax time, before we start getting Imagine ready to go off shore again.

Thursday 23rd March
Yesterday started with 15knt winds coming into the bay. Mike was the only one swimming before breakfast. As the winds were southerly and high, we opted to go around the southern side of Waiheke to be protected from the swell. Although the winds were predicted to 20 to 30kts for quite a while we only had 9kts then it was back up to 20kts.
By the time we made it around Waiheke and across to Motuihe the swell was minimal and the island protected from the wind. We anchored had lunch then went ashore to explore. On the island we could see the wind was still howling on the southern side. The marine weather forecast said 20kts south west in the morning, so we stayed the night.
This morning we awoke to glass like water. We swam around the boat as the sun rose. After breakfast we turned on the motor and motored off, Imagine making the only ripples on the water. We stopped a couple of times to fish. Our final stop was Tiritiri island where B caught a John Dory fish. The nice big fillets are going towards dinner tonight.
We arrived back at Tindalls beach in time for a swim before Mike and B started packing their things. Their holiday is over. They catch a plane back to Sydney in the morning. Then back to work.

Tuesday 21st March
Only Mike and B ventured into the water for this morning’s swim. It wasn’t the water temperature, it was the cold 10knt wind that was the killer. Mike had to put on a beanie to keep warm.
After breakfast we hoisted the sails and sailed around to the east end of Waiheke. Lunch was partaken in Man of War Bay where there were many boats taking shelter from the north westerly wind. After lunch we anchored in the channel to catch dinner. Sue got sausages out for dinner in anticipation. We had sausages for dinner!
We then searched for a sheltered bay and found Waikorariki Bay, just big enough for us and one other boat (which has left now). The wind and sea have calmed right down now.

Monday 20th March
The water was like glass as we plunged in for our morning swim. The orange reflection of the sun on the ripples of the blue water looked amazing.
After breakfast we went ashore and walked along Onetangi beach, had an icecream and walked back. Back on Imagine it was swimming, lunch, tanning, more swimming and after dinner that Andrew cooked a continuation of the card tournament.

Sunday 19th March
Yesterday after a swim and breakfast we set off from Farmer Bay to explore Beehive Island at low tide. The island had a lot of interesting rock formations and rock pools.
After a quick trip across to Moturekareka we snorkelled the wreck and then set sail for Tindalls beach where we caught up with Darren, Chrissy and Andrew’s Dad. It was then shopping time. Time to restock the fresh fruit and veg and the wine cellar.
This morning we set off for Tiritiri Matangi Island after our morning swim and breakfast. Tiritiri is a bird sanctuary. They have reforrested the island and reintroduced a lot of NZ birdlife. Mike was also interested in checking out the lighthouse (the oldest working lighthouse in NZ).
This afternoon we had a leisurely sail across to Waiheke Island and have anchored at Opopoto Bay for the night.

Friday 17th March
The early morning swims are getting fresher these days.
As there were high winds and rain forecast we decided to chill out today. That said, B and Sue did a little washing which we managed to hang outside despite the forecast. All of a sudden it was all hands on deck when it started to rain.
After lunch we swam to the beach and checked out the damage cyclone Gabrielle did to this bay.
Back on Imagine it was more suntan time which was awesome despite masses of rain all around us, we had a sunny patch for about 20 minutes. It was starting to cloud over so we decided to do some fishing and they were biting but we caught ones just on the limit so threw them back. As we were fishing the heavens opened but dedicated as we are, we carried on fishing in the rain. Mike caught his first legal size snapper. So he has his lunch sorted for tomorrow.

Thursday 16th March
We set off before dawn (daybreak that is, not my cousin Dawn). We wanted to make it back to Auckland in one run. Everyone had a turn at the helm. Mike, Andrew and B had a sleep on the way. B got the record of the highest speed 9.1kts. The wind varied in direction, mostly northerly, and strength, anywhere between 3 knots to 25 knots.
We motored the last hour into Kawau because the wind was changing again.
As we reached Kawau Island Sue asked Mike if he had seen the submarine and pointed it out. Mike began to ask is it decommissioned? Can you swim around it? and other questions, as we sailed passed it. After about 10 minutes we were close enough for him to realise it is a rock formation. He then uttered a lot of colourful language and now won’t talk to us. He did cook dinner tonight but B has banned him from cooking again as he left a bit of a mess (Yes, score for Mike)!
We have anchored for the night in Farmers Bay at Kawau Island and all ready for bed after a long day.