+2

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We haven’t written anything lately, because we are doing the same thing. Working on the boat! We have bought a new stove and oven. Updated the galley. Painted the cockpit. Covered the walls and roof of our cabin and the port cabin with vinyl. Change the hatch in our cabin for a biger one so we also did a wood reconstruction around it .Lots of varnishing everywhere (entrance stairs, saloon table, bits on winches, wood around the hatch and trim) and we had to replace the thermostats on the fridge and freezers. Replaced the up switch on the anchor winch. And lots of other little jobs.

Working on the boat always takes longer. You have to start by cleaning the bird shit off everything. The birds have got use to us and now come and roost on the boat at night.

Also we were happy to receive awsome little videos from Fabian and Silke they made them of their time on Imagine. Check out!

+4

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Since Fabian and Silke left us we have been working hard on the boat, with the ongoing painting on deck and the cosmetic refit of the interior.
The last two weekends we have been doing refresher courses to be CAT1 compliant.The Sea Survival course was about Man Over Board procedures, use of lifejackets and liferafts…How to survive at sea! We made it!
The Off Shore Medic course was about high level first aid including injections and suturing but also CPR and broken bones management. We definitely hope that we won’t have to use those skills.
After the last day of course today, we headed to Kawau Island to sheltered from a strong northerly wind announced for Monday and Tuesday.As we arrived in the evening Bostaquet Bay was already busy with 4 other boats but we found a spot on the west corner of the Bay and enjoyed a drink and the magical colors of the sunset setteling behind the cliffs.
Tomorrow it’s Monday and believe it or not, like most of you we are going back to work…hoping that we will finish the refit of the back cabin by the end of the week. Boat life!

+2

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Yesterday, after some hiking in Shakespeare park, meeting the cows and taking pictures of Imagine from the height, we chilled out. After lunch time we moved to Arkles Bay only 1 mile away. Then it was time to chill some more. Silke thought Fabian should look a little more civilized, so she gave him a hair cut. In the evening we took the dinghy ashore and walked up the hill to the Thai restaurant for dinner. We had a beautiful view of Imagine out in the bay from our table. We got back to Imagine in time to see another wonderful sunset.

This morning we all went ashore and walked up the hill to the bus stop,Fabian and Silke with their heavy backpacks and B and I with our trolley full of laundry (boat life!). Arrived at the bus stop it was time to say goodbye, Fabian and Silke flying to LA for some ofher new adventures and B and I walked to the laundromat.

After returning to Imagine and having lunch we set off to round the peninsular to anticipate the southwest winds and make water on the way . By 3:30 pm we anchored in Tindalls, and already started to plan work on Imagine again. No more holiday for us!

+3

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We left two house bay, did a little fishing and ended up in Farmers Bay. It’s a nice little bay that we had to ourselves.

Friday once again we tried fishing with no luck. This time we anchored at Motuketekete island. This island is privately-owned and is currently up for sale. We swam ashore and check out the beach and little house on the island. After the swim back it was relax time. By this time the tide was out and B had seen the oysters on the rocks so while Fabian and Silke prepared dinner, we went ashore and harvested a few oysters. I don’t like them but B couldn’t get enough.

This morning the sea was like a mirror reflecting the sky. We motored to Shakespeare Bay on Whangaparao Peninsula. We stopped several times to fish but still nothing for dinner. B took the opportunity to take a swim with the little penguins,in the clear turquoise color, still ocean water.

Being a weekend Shakespeare bay has plenty of boats and jetskiis making it noisy and choppy. But we can’t always have a bay to ourselves. This afternoon B sketched the view while the rest of us just chilled. After dinner we sat and watched the sunset.

+2

-1

Monday morning after a swim and breakfast Silke and Fabian explored the shipwreck in the bay, while B and I did a few jobs on Imagine. It was nearly lunch time when they came back and we were ready to haul anchor. We motored across to Beehive Island and had a picnic on the beach. We left the island, heading into deeper water to try fishing. Again there were lots of little ones but no keepers.

Bostaquet bay on Kawau Island was sheltered from the wind and swell. We thought we were going to have the bay to ourselves, but no. In came The Beast. A 131ft twin hull launch and its 39ft tender. Michael Hill (a famous NZ jeweler) named it The Beast because it was not a pretty boat.

Tuesday morning after some stretching on deck, Silke and Fabian went off in the kayak to explore the bay. By the time they got back the wind had got up and it was time to move. A short trip around the corner took us to Mansion House Bay where we chilled out for the rest of the day. It was interrupted by a trip to shore for an Ice-cream and a couple of swims.

This morning B tried to fix the paint cracks caused by the crain strap while they hauled Imagine back in the water and the other two went hiking on Kawau.

Again the afternoon was chilling and swimming, B created one unique piece to add to her shells jewelry collection.

This evening started with a facial mask for everyone (courtesy from Fabian and Silke). Followed by a glass of Moët et Chandon Champagne…Happy Valentines Day!

+3

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It’s Carnival season in Germany. For this year Silke and Fabian didn’t need much time to decide what they were going to be. PIRATES obviously… or as Andrew and B call them crew members. After the successful ice cream heist in Colville on Friday, we set sails for Rakino where we spent the night. Saturday morning we head up to Tiritiri, trying some fishing on our way but obviously PIRATES are not so good at fishing so we had chicken Korma.

While Silke and Fabian explored the birds and lighthouse of Tiritiri Island, Andrew and B further painted the outside of Imagine. To make sure the paint stays on, we took off to Swan Bay and got lots of spray and rain on the fresh coat…Now it looks like a leopard dress, anyway it needed a second layer, and that will be for later.

After shopping for veggies and fruits in Whangaparaoa today we took Imagine out at 20 knots of wind to play around with the new steering and head for the ship wreck Bay in Moturekareka. Silke and Fabian were more than happy to take the helm as well and learn more about sailing at high wind.

We arrived there just on time for exploring the beach at low tide, B was hoping for some nice oysters but they were too small and warmed up by the sun.

Finally, as every good Pirate: we had drinks for sunset…Cheers!

+2

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Yesterday we stayed at Rangipukea Island, even though a few boats came into the bay during the day. After breakfast we all went ashore where I showed Fabian and Silke how to get oysters off the rocks. The oysters were for bait. B put 1 in the bucket for every 2 she ate. Silke and Fabian did Yoga exercises while B and I went and climbed the islands hills. After lunch Fabian and I went off in the dinghy to do some fishing with the oysters. We came back with one good size Snapper for today’s lunch.

This morning started with no wind, but that didn’t stop us. We started motoring north fishing on the way and sailing the rest of the way. We stopped at Happy Jack’s Island for lunch, then headed across to Colville Bay. We took the dinghy ashore and walked to the Convenience Store for fruit, bait and of course an Ice-cream.

+3

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Tuesday 6th

Yesterday we climbed to the top of one of the islands and then tried fishing again. We caught several small Snapper but nothing we could keep. That meant it was hotdogs for lunch. We found a sheltered spot next to a busy bay, where we relaxed for the afternoon. By evening the bay had emptied out so we moved in for the night.

This morning we started with me climbing the mizzen mast to do repairs on a light. It took 4 of us to pull me up the mast, Silke to pass on my calls ( “up” or “down”), Fabian and B controlling the electric winch. Then Silke and Fabian had a go at climbing the main mast to check out the view. Determined to catch lunch, we motored out to deeper water and anchored. B hooked the first big snapper followed by Fabian (we had them tonight for dinner). Happy with that we have moved to Rangipukea Island and relaxed for the afternoon. It’s hard work fishing and laying in the sun. B and I went for a walk on the beach, before a swim off the back of Imagine. We now have the island to ourselves.

+3

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There was a storm predicted to hit Auckland this afternoon (Friday) through to Saturday, so we made the most of the nice morning. Starting with a swim before breakfast. We then piled into the dinghy and headed ashore to check out the town. We caught the bus from Onetangi to Onerowa (Waihekes city).
It only took an hour to visit all the shops in Onerowa, so we stayed for lunch at a restaurant overlooking the bay. By the time we had got back to the beach and dinghy, the storm had started. This made getting back to Imagine fun. We all stripped down to our undies and launched the dinghy into the 1m waves rolling onto the beach. We were waist high in water before we could climb on board. Even on board we weren’t safe from the waves as some crashed over the bow, filling the dinghy. We made it back to Imagine, laughing all the way. It had been such a nice calm morning.
The wind had stayed the same direction but the swell was now curving around the point making it uncomfortable as Imagine rocked from side to side. Once again we hauled anchor and headed for a more sheltered bay. All the bays on the eastern side were full of boats but we managed to get into Huse bay and be out of the wide for the night.
Saturday we went ashore with blue sky above us. In the few minutes it took to get to shore a big rain cloud came over the hill and drenched us. That put an end to the walk on the beach. With the storm still blowing hard and predicting to turn south, we decided to head for another bay. When we reached Chamberlains bay there was only four other boats there. By evening there were twenty. 
This morning we set sail without having a morning swim. The sky was blue and 10kts of wind off the beam,so making it a nice sail to Coromandel. We stopped just off Rangipukea Island for some fishing, but only caught small undersized snapper. We moved on and have anchored off Whanganui island. Swims and sunbathing were the order of the afternoon.

+1

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Yesterday was hectic. Putting the boat back together and cleaning up ready for the new crew that arrived late afternoon.

Fabian and Silke weren’t on Imagine long before they jumped in the water for a swim. We then had a “welcome on board” drinks and a long chat over diner.

Today after our early morning swim we had breakfast, followed by the traditional safety briefing. We then hauled anchor and set sail to Waiheke island. Fabian took the helm for part of the way. Four hours later we were having lunch in Onetangi Bay. Straight after lunch we were back in the water snorkelling around the nearby rocks, not much to see but enough exercise for the day and make lie down on deck in the sun and rest. Holiday started!