For my birthday we had Albatrosses flying around us all day.  White bodied ones and black bodied ones always accompanied by a range of shearwaters.  In the morning they often swooped up just in front of the rising sun to give an even more dramatic picture.  But today none so far.  I have been told […]

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The tradition at Hardrock Cafes is for all the staff to sing YMCA for any customer brave enough to annouce it’s their birthday.  I can report that so far this tradition has NOT found it’s way to the crew of Giselle for my birthday.  We will see if Andy is as lucky if we are […]

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Just about to cast off from Whangarei Town basin make our way to Marsden Cove and check out of New Zealand to go to Port Resolution on Tanna, Vanuatu.  Kirsty and her boy friend Andrew have joined us so lazy watches!  Hopefully will achieve daily e-mails on passage

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Trust you were all able to celebrate Tom Bawcocks Eve!  It’s a great way to get Christmas off to a good start on the 23rd – a day ahead of most people. The image of Tom going out and battling the elements to catch fish so that the village of Mousehole didn’t starve for Christmas […]

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We are just about to fly back to the UK for Christmas. Be back in New Zealand in February to finish some jobs and get back on the water. Plan for 2011 at the moment is to get around to Thailand via Vanuatu, Solomon, Sail Indonesia rally from Darwin through Indonesia.

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By now you all know my love hate relationship with airports, well I’m here waiting at the most laidback relaxed airport in the world when I see the “fire truck” creep forward till his bonnet is out of the shed, there’s a buzz in the air like a trapped bluebottle and out of the air […]

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Just fantastic to have Andrew with us, he gives us the jolt we need to get out of THE SHED, out of the yard and off to Fiji. Life in the yard is not much fun and getting out is great. Andrew helps with all the last minute bits and pieces and of course the […]

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Felt a bit guilty getting a very good sail the last day into Whangarei. A number of boats we were talking to on the nets were stuck out in bad weather and seas close to New Zealand. We arrived in Marsden Cove Marina, Whangarei at 11:30 local time and were all checked in by Bruce […]

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Averaged 8.3 knots over ground for the last hour.  Half a knot of current helping us in that number.  A fabulous sail all night.  A near full moon made it all the better. Wind should hold now until we get in.  This should allow us to clear customs on Thursday at Marsden Cove, Whangarei.  If […]

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Great sail yesterday.  Mostly to windward tacking on the windshifts and Giselle going very well with one reef in 12-15 knots of SSE wind.  Died a bit at midnight so started motoring.  Expecting wind tonight from NW and then 20 knots or so from SW.  Well positioned to the west of Whangarei so should have […]

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