Year 2 – 6 January 2024 -New Zealand- North Island - Auckland

We had an early breakfast and then it was more jobs. Mark Tom and Kevin polished the other side of the hull and the then Mark resealed that part of the deck which needed doing. I noticed in the marina and yard a lot of activity as the Christmas holiday had finished and it seemed everyone was back at work.

The SSB (Single Side Band Radio) aerial had been cut with the works done in the yard and I had been trying to get an electrician. I asked the yard manager to recommend one and lucky a man could come at 2.20pm to see the issue and then he would go off and get what he needed. He did so and then we had to haul him up in the bosuns chair (a canvas seat which you can haul up by rope) so he could get to the fitting  to remove the old aerial and fix the new. It was soon done so that was good. The electrician had originally been from Lymington and came here some 17 years ago.

I had turned on the freezer in the morning in anticipation of provisioning and putting in food to freeze. Despite being on for a few hours there was no change to the temperature. Another issue which needed to be resolved and it was annoying as it was a new freezer effectively in Tahiti in August. I got a recommendation but they were not open and so I asked Mr Google. I found a refrigeration man and called him. He sounded a little excentric and and was called John  said he could come at 2.30pm to check it. I explained what the problem was and he thought the gas in the system had leaked out.

Grant and Trevor had been working on a provisioning plan and had taken the lists of what was on board prepared by Keith Winstanley before he left. In fact, they had been preparing this for a day or so and we then discussed what meals we would like and who would like to cook which particular meals. We had discussed and checked it over and then Trevor, Grant and I headed off to the supermarket to do the big shop whilst waiting for the tradesman.

We did the grand shop and I talked to the shop manager and he kindly agreed to give us a lift back with the shopping and then all the crew came out to meet us and we relayed the shopping back to Stormbird and then had to work out where to put it. This took some time and we had some lunch.  

After lunch Trevor made a casserole and the smells wafted up making one’s mouths water. The freezer man came and started his investigation and discovered that there was a leak and he had to find it. The problem is you have to empty the lockers of everything and take out the floors to get into the bilges where the compressor is. He diagnosed and eventually found the leak and had to weld a new piece. He then refilled the refrigeration and it started working. It had taken him some 4 hours and it was done. Thank goodness. He did not leave until 7.00pm.

The guys had worked hard with their polishing and had put new hinges in the table. Mark put new pole fittings either side of the doghouse. By about 6.00pm as the freezer man was still there I suggested they all went off for a drink. I stayed with the man and after he left at 7.00pm I put all the things back and tidied up. I quickly changed and met the guys and we walked to a nice restaurant near Westhaven called First Mates Last Laughs and had a good meal. I was in need of a beer to start with! This was our last night in Auckland as we planned to leave for Sydney tomorrow.

I went to bed when we got back in preparation for the next day and we had customs coming at 11.00am tomorrow to check us out. I felt we were good to go and our weather man had also given us the green light.

The picture of the day is us enjoying our meal in the restaurant.  

Need/Opportunity Year Two

I am in need of more crew from April to September so if of interest do email me at  hine.nick9@gmail.com  

In year two I will be going from New Zealand to Sydney and hen 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.

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