Wednesday 22nd February
We started the day with the weather forecast from miss B. Once we knew it was going to be sunny all day we set off in the dinghy to explore more bays. We went looking for a Geocache but didn’t find it. As there were dark clouds getting closer (not included in the French/Australian reporter’s weather forecast this morning!) we thought we should head back to Imagine.
After lunch Andrew dived the hull again to do some more barnacle removal. B did some watercolour painting. The sun came out for a while so Sue and Andrew went for another swim around the boat and B swam to shore for a walk along the beach and a short snooze. As there are quite a few twigs, leaves, logs etc floating around we didn’t stay too long in the water. Afterwards we played a few games of cards.
We had to re-anchor this afternoon after a launch that had anchored too close, pulled up our anchor. Then it was more cards before dinner.

Tuesday 21st February
Another lazy morning. The sun rose without us.
After breakfast we all bundled into the dinghy with the fishing rods and off we went. This side of the channel, that side of the channel, out in the other channel, all we could catch were under size. So we headed back to Imagine.
After lunch we swam ashore and climbed the hill to find B’s first Geocache In the tree. We walked the beach and checked out a rock pool. Sue found a small lizard on the beach. It ran up to Sue and took shelter in the shade of her shadow. Sue pulled a log over to provide it with shade. Unfortunately after Sue had moved down the beach a little, a seagull swooped down and took the lizard.
After all that exercise it was back to imagine to relax, work on tan lines and snooze time. Andrew cooked his world famous Bolognese and got the thumbs up from the French food critic. After dinner B and Sue tried fishing again and B caught a snapper for lunch tomorrow.

Monday 20th February
Another morning when it’s been too cold to swim before breakfast. Also the Bay wasn’t the cleanest as the river from Kerikeri empties into the Bay.
After breakfast we didn’t bother swimming, just did a tiki tour of the little bays around. B at the helm took us close to the black rocks for photos. We then headed for the bay that we had dropped anchor in on our first day in the Bay of Islands.
As soon as we anchored, it was in the water for all of us. After lunch B and Andrew swam ashore to take photos of a great tree and then a hike.
Walking the tracks in the sun and looking at the beautiful water in the bays was too much. Andrew and B found a track leading to a bay with nobody in and went for a swim. After cooling off they thought it was time to return to Imagine. Sue saw them coming back and swam half way to shore to meet them.
Back on Imagine was coffee time, relax time, wine and nibbles time and now dinner time. We have had two boats come in that have anchored near but we have the prime spot.

Sunday 19th February
It was a bit cool this morning and the sun was still behind the hills, so we had breakfast before our morning swim.
Well, I don’t know what the girls had for breakfast, but when it came time for a group photo they went into hysterical laughter for about 5 minutes.
After the swim we headed off to Roberton Island. Being a weekend it was full of boats. We only stayed long enough to walk the beach and climb to the lookout and lunch. We raised the sails and headed north to Rangihoua Bay on the mainland. We had time for another swim before B made a cake.
It is time for wine and nibblies on the back deck.

Saturday 18th February
The day started with a swim before breakfast. Then after breakfast B told us its not going to rain until the afternoon so we all climbed into the dinghy and went ashore. We walked the beach looking at the array of shells. B and Andrew found a cave.
Then it rained. We made our way back to the dinghy. Andrew waded into the water and maneuvered the dinghy to make it easy for Sue and B to get into the dinghy without getting their clothes wet. Sue made it half way into the dinghy when her other leg started sinking into the loose pebbles (like quicksand). -B decided it would be a good idea to help her, but then B lost her balance and over she went. Sue made it all the way into the dinghy while laughing at B sitting on her bum, chest deep in the water. Luckily the phones and camera had just been put into the water proof bag B was carrying.
By the time we made it back to Imagine the rain had stopped. That’s when we noticed B had shut her hatch (in anticipation of the rain we weren’t getting) while the rest were open.
We hauled anchor to go find another bay. The bay we set off for already had two boats in it, so we went to the next bay. There were two charter boats in the Bay so we anchored out a bit while we had lunch knowing they wouldn’t stay.
After lunch we could see there was a small swell coming in the Bay so we headed off for somewhere else. We found a small sheltered bay. Andrew and B went ashore walked the beach, climbed trees and returned dry. It hasn’t rained all afternoon. B is no longer allowed to report on the weather conditions.
The fishing before wine and nibblies only hooked small snapper, so B made curry and rice for dinner. After dinner the girls wanted to do some more fishing. This time a little more successful. Several small snapper were caught. B had her line broke a couple of times before Sue brought in a Kawhai. Fish for lunch tomorrow.

Friday 17th February
Thursday morning we all went for a swim. After breakfast we did a tiki tour in and out of the bays around us. We stopped in one for lunch in Outu Bay, then B and Andrew swam ashore. While exploring the beach they saw dark clouds approaching, so it was back to Imagine. Quite a rough trip.
We headed around Cape Brett and checked out the hole in the rock. We anchored in a nice bay at Te AkeAke Point. The three of us swam to shore where Andrew and B climbed the hill for the view. We will return another day but we had to haul anchor as the wind was just coming into the Bay and there was a more sheltered bay elsewhere.
We spent the night at Putakokota Bay and this morning headed to Paihia and the laundromat. We also picked up more supplies of fresh fruit. Back on Imagine, we headed back out to shelter in Pareanui Bay.

Wednesday 15th February
We made it. Well almost. We set off at dawn this morning for the Bay of Islands. We had thought of stopping overnight at Whangarei, but changed our minds. We thought the debris from the storm would make it unpleasant. We found out on the way up the coast that Whangarei had warnings to look out for sunken boats in 5 of the bays.
It was a great day, blue sky with less than a metre of swell and the wind in the morning was only 25kts. As the day went on the wind slowly dropped, untill it reached 10kts (the minimum Imagine needs to move). As Imagine got slower and slower we decided to motor sail the last bit.
Because the tide was also against us and the light was fading we have stopped at Te Toroa bay for the night. It’s at Cape Brett, just around the corner from the Bay of Islands. It’s very calm so far but it was good we arrived with a bit of light because now it’s pitch black! We will all be heading off to bed real soon, knackered is the best way to describe us!

Tuesday 14th February
The cyclone hit full force in the pitch black of last night. The wind was howling though the trees on the cliff and the storm surge waves were rocking us around. Not all the trees survived the night. Every now and then we heard the crashing of trees and the splintering of branches as they slid down the cliff into the Bay. In places the cliff has given way and poured tons of mud into the Bay.
Andrew and Sue took turns at staying awake to monitor our tracking position. B didn’t get much sleep either with the waves pounding Imagine and the occasional log/tree hitting the hull on its way out to sea. We were sheltered from most of the wind, with only gusts to contend with.
The little cell phone coverage we had yesterday is no more and the VHF marine weather channel is no longer transmitting (can’t tell what the wind was or is out of the bay). Thank goodness we bought the Starlink Sattelite internet. We haven’t had time to mount it but it works while tied to the deck.
This morning revealed a very muddy bay with the swell still coming in despite most of the whitecap waves passing the bay’s entrance. Nobody was interested in going for a swim this morning.
The wind is predicted to swing more south westerly today. The two power cats have hauled anchor and headed out into the waves, so we have moved into Mansion House bay for more protection from the west. By midnight it’s predicted that the winds will drop off. This means we may be able to make a run for the Bay of Islands on Wednesday.

Monday 13th February
Cyclone Gabrielle is spending some time with us (currently blowing over 60kts), so we have to be patient and keep busy with non sailing stuff.
Sue slept in the cockpit last night keeping watch on where the boat swung and that the other three boats in the Bay weren’t moving.
After breakfast B and Andrew went for a swim in the rain. The Bay was calm, but the wind was still whistling in the trees on the cliff. After their swim and shower on the back deck, they checked out the trees they could see had fallen overnight.
Andrews bread didn’t turn out too good today. We think we need a new breadmaker (its made a few hundred loves). B made a cake for afternoon tea which had a lovely caramelised bottom (slightly browned) we’ll blame that on the overn, then it was back to cards. We are still having fun and looking forward for better weather to sail up the coast to the Bay of Islands.
Hope everyone is staying safe and dry. We don’t get too much news at the moment but know some areas have been really hit hard. We are grateful we are in one of the few bays in Auckland that has given us some shelter so far.

Sunday 12th February
Yes we are still floating. Overnight we had been collecting rainwater in the buckets. So this morning we all washed our hair and showered on the back deck. So refreshing (bloody cold). It was a bit of fun and killed some time.
It’s been raining on and off all day, so not much to do except play cards. The wind on the other side of the island has been averaging 51kts and gusting up to 62kts (120k). Here in the Bay it’s been averaging 7.5kts and max gust we recorded was 21.3kts. Already we have heard one tree fall in the wind.
We will be keeping an eye on things through the night and over the next few days, let’s hope it passes sooner rather than later! We hope all our friends and rellies are doing ok and keep safe.