Monday 6th February
No exercising on deck this morning. It was raining again. Not much to do this morning except program and fit B’s personal AIS to her life jacket. So now we can’t lose her overboard.
After lunch we all went ashore. We found a ball and played throw the ball through the hole in the sign. We weren’t very good at that, so we walked around the shore where B found a rope swing. We checked out the old homestead which is now the information centre.
We got back to Imagine in time for a swim. While sitting out on deck we heard a launch having trouble hauling anchor. B and Andrew went to help. His anchor had hooked through a hole in an old log and wouldnt let go. By the time we got there, there was someone else helping. We used our dinghy to bump and tow the launch away from the rocks while they worked on cutting the log off.
We then put B to work cleaning a stanchion. By the time she had finished the wind had changed direction so we hauled anchor and set sail for Tindalls Bay.
With Sue at the helm, B took time out to rest out on deck. Half way back we encountered a cargo boat travelling down the shipping channel right in our way. So we had to make some evasive maneuvers to get around him. This was when B saw the engine temperature start climbing rapidly. This meant some seaweed or something has clogged the water intake. Then the wind started to die and the tide passing through Tiri Channel was running against us.
Jibing, tacking and changing sails as the wind changed direction and slowly got lighter made it a long sail back. We turned on the motor for the last little bit but only running it just above idle speed to keep the temperature down.
We’ve anchored and are having a cup of tea before crawling into bed.

Sunday 5th February

B was up early this morning, out on deck doing her stretches and exercise. After breakfast we were off. Not far, just around the corner to Islington bay. That’s where Andrew and B went ashore on Rangitoto.

It was the first time B had climbed a volcano. Rangitoto is a dormant volcano (not extinct). Scientists say it’s not IF but WHEN it will next explode.
Without a thought we headed up the volcano. It took about an hour and many photos to reach the top. From the top you can see from Whangaparaoa to Auckland and out east to Waiheke Island.

Upon returning to Imagine we had lunch then motored back to Home Bay where we spent last night. The afternoon was spent boat watching and fishing (we had steak for dinner).

A couple on a nearby boat rowed across to see if we could charge their phone. We talked and showed them through Imagine while their phone charged. They were a local couple that were taking the boat out to see what needed doing to it before they bought it.

Saturday 4th February
This morning the wind was still blowing into Tindalls Bay so we decided to head off to find some shelter. But before we set off Andrew and B changed the filters on the watermaker. B took the helm around the peninsula and sailed across to Motutapu. Sheltered in Home Bay it was time for a swim.
Just before dinner Sue and B tried their hand at fishing, only to catch under size Snapper. It’s pork for dinner.

Friday 3rd February
After another calm night the day started off with rain so B and Sue did a little laundry then we all had showers in the rain.
We introduced B to “pass the pigs” and she promptly won the first game after the referee confirmed Sue’s pigs were touching (although Sue wasn’t convinced even after the torch and camera came out)! Sue won the second “revenge” game.
When it stopped raining B stripped the winch for the main, cleaned and greased it before reassembling it.
After lunch we hauled anchor and headed back to Tindalls Bay. On arrival we went ashore and picked up our new Skylink Sattelite unit and installed it. We now should have good internet coverage around NZ.
We have to find a permanent place to mount the antenna. Until then we will just put it on the back deck.

Thursday 2nd February
It was a relatively nice sail to Kawau with motor assist. Within minutes of arriving in Farmer Bay we were in the water for a swim. Despite the howling winds around us we have been in a very calm bay and a peaceful night’s sleep was had by all.
This morning started with a swim around the boat then B and I took the dinghy around to Mansion House Bay and tried to walk to the Copper mine. There were a few trees down across the track and the track got very slippery so we turned back.
After lunch on Imagine we tried again to get to the Copper mine, this time by dinghy. We had to land the dinghy on the beach and walk around the rocks to reach it. After taking a few photos we returned to Imagine for another swim and the first Monopoly Deal competition – we won a game each but it looks like there are some very competitive people on the boat!
As the tide came in we tried a little fishing, which resulted in catching three little Snapper (too small to keep). It was then time for cheese, crackers and wine in the cockpit as a rain shower passed. Again it is reasonably calm here and we hear it is quite the opposite at Tindalls Bay where we had been.

Wednesday 1st February
B yesterday flew in from Sydney to join us. Auckland has put on special weather for the occasion. Another big storm, high winds and rain causing road closures and cancelled ferries. B managed to stay dry and eventually made it to Whangaparaoa. The trip to Imagine in the dinghy was not quite as dry.
B didn’t take any convincing to take her pants off before wading into the sea to get in the dinghy. We had only just got in the dinghy when a wave crashed over the bow and B got here first initiation to our boat life.
Once onboard Imagine we dried off, put the wet things in the engine room to dry and showed B around. After dinner we all had an early night. Or went to bed early but with Imagine bouncing around in the storm. We didn’t get a good night’s sleep.
This morning the wind and rain are dying down so we wI’ll head off to Kawau Island for a few days and better shelter.

Saturday 28th January
Having been in the middle of one of the worst floods in Brisbane last year, we didn’t think we would have the serious flooding in summer in Auckland!
To all our friends and family in Auckland and surrounds, we hope you and your home’s are all ok. For those not in Auckland, a state of emergency was declared last night due to the extreme conditions that resulted in horrendous flooding, the airport being closed and more. We don’t have full reception here but are getting bits of news when the boat swings in the right direction.
Last night I had a dream that we were staying at the brotherlinlaw’s farm. It was windy and a tree had blown down on top of a small garden shed. Another fell half down threatening to land on the house. We found some rope and went to pull the tree away from the house. At that point I woke up.
I awoke to a large crash and the splintering of wood. Shit, a boat has hit the rocks. I raced out on deck. I couldn’t see any boats around, but there on the beach partly in the water were two trees. The high winds and torrential rain had toppled one of the tall pine trees, which dragged another tree over the cliff. Then a second land slide occurred further along the cliff.

Friday 27th January
After switching the motor off yesterday, the saltwater intake pump was still leaking half a litre per minute. Turning off the sea cock solved that problem.
Today we had to do something about it. Step 1, turn off the sea cock for the deck wash pump and remove the pump. Step 2, find pipe connections to fit engine hoses. Not so easy. None of the fittings onboard were large enough to fit the engine hoses. I used the largest fittings I had, then used short pieces of pipe sleeving each other until the desired size was reached. No not ideal, but it’s only to get us back to the mainland and new parts. Step 3, mount the pump with cable ties.
That should have been all. But no. The water that splashed over the engine while doing all this, had wet the engine sensors. This meant the Volvo computer wouldn’t let the engine start, despite drying off the engine with a towel, it detected dampness or something. It’s funny a boat motor not liking the wet!
Now we are fully stocked we are running two freezers and the fridge. The overcast rainy day has meant the solar panels are not charging the batteries. As the batteries got lower in charge we had to get the motor going to charge them. Andrew disconnected computer wiring from the engine and shorted the starter solenoid with a screw driver. A friend recently called Andrew “MacGyver” and I’d have to agree. He seems to be able to fix most things, even things he’s never done before!
We ran the motor for a few minutes (the deck wash pump works) then switched off and reconnected the computer. The heat of the engine had dried out the problem and the engine started with its normal push of the button.
We can’t run the motor for too long at once because the deck wash pump is not made to run continuously. But it’s enough for now.
We’ve been lucky with this anchorage, we are out of most of the stormy weather

Thursday 26th January
We haven’t done a lot lately, well up until yesterday. We have a new crew member arriving on Tuesday, so we did a big shop yesterday to stock up the boat. Dinghying to shore, borrow a car to get to the supermarket, several trips back and forth to Imagine in the dinghy with the groceries, took just about all day. On Tuesday we will get the fresh fruit and veggies before B arrives.

On the way back from the shops I dropped our phone. Now it has a crack across the back and a growing crack in the corners of the screen. So we have had to order a new one.

Today the weather has turned bad and is getting worse in the next two days, so we hauled anchor and headed to Kawau. Already a large swell had developed. Several of the waves pushed us over 45 degrees according to our floating compass. One of those waves created a slight problem. The rack behind the stove holding all the sauce bottles and oils gave way. Soya sauce, olive oil, vinaigrette and many others, across the stove and galley floor. They had to stay there till we could anchor.

Sue just turned to look out the back of Imagine as the dinghy painter (rope) gave way. Off the dinghy went surfing the waves. We had to drop the sails and turn around and do a man (well dinghy) overboard! Sue guided Imagine alongside of the dinghy on the windward side, to protect it from the high swell. Andrew was able to hook the dinghy and retie it to the back of Imagine.

Next the engine temperature gauge started climbing. A quick look at the engine revealed the salt water intake pump was pouring water out. Oh oh! Three hours from the mainland, a storm coming and a stuffed water pump. Luckily we were only two minutes from the anchorage.

It’s time for a Bourbon. I’ll look at the pump tomorrow when the engine has cooled down.

Thursday 12th January

Today we have had a few light showers. The sea has been like glass. No sign of what it’s been like the past few days.

By Tuesday evening it was interesting. The swell was coming from the north and pounding the shore. The wind was southerly and so high that in this protected bay we clocked 35kt winds. The wind was creating white capped waves riding over the swell and away from the shore. As the swell hit the rocks the wind curved the spray back on themselves.

Wednesday the wind moved to the west. This left us more exposed as it curved into the Bay. We could only ride it out. If we had moved to the western side of the Bay we could have got more shelter from the wind but the swell was hammering that side of the Bay more than where we are. It’s more comfortable pointing into high wide than rocking in the swell.