17 November 2024 -New Zealand- Auckland

It rained in the night but was dry when we woke. Joyce packed and we went to a café for breakfast -Mibo near the marina which was very good and is clearly popular as it was very busy.

We had a leisurely breakfast and enjoyed our coffee. Joyce ordered an Uber and went off to the airport to meet Trevor her friend. She has been on Stormbird since the end of September and will have spent in total about 6 months this year on the boat. She will be missed and we hope she has a good trip round New Zealand in the camper van with Trevor. 

We are therefore down to two again. We have had to stay another day in the marina so that they can fix the washing machine drain in the morning. We therefore first decided to walk to the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron where we got a shirt as a souvenir. We then walked back and went into the Viaduct and port area again and walked around exploring.

We then ended up having a drink at the Ferry Building on a terrace overlooking the busy ferries coming back and forward and then moved into the Viaduct basin and had a cheese platter overlooking the basin where we looked over Steinlager 2 which won the Whitbread Race in 1989-1990, Lion of New Zealand which came second in the Whitbread Race in the 1985-1986 race both Skippered by Sir Peter Blake and NZ68 – a training boat for the America’s Cup. Real sailing history in front of our noses and I wonder how many walking by realise this?

After our snack we found a supermarket and got some food and headed back to Stormbird and the sun came out. We had a great cup of tea in the sun and enjoyed a rest after all our walking.

The yard is quiet and although not the best of views it was pleasant. We had a pasta supper and watched the documentary film of Enza the Catamaran which won the Jules Verne trophy jointly skippered by Sir Peter Blake and Robin Knox-Johnson.

The picture of the day is the two of us again now that the rest of the crew have gone.

Opportunity Year Two

In year two I will be going from New Zealand in early January 2025 across to Sydney and up the Eastern Australian Coast, Indonesia and then through Bali, Singapore and on to Thailand to end year two about the end of November 2025. I will need some more crew.

If there is any interest do email me at  hine.nick9@gmail.com  

The blog will continue as we continue the journey. If you have any comments or suggestions about the blog then do email me on hine.nick9@gmail.com