(no subject)

Hi,
We are having a frustrating time at the moment holed up in Whangaroa Harbour. It is blowing a gale from the ESE (up to 40 knots), although the biggest gust we have experienced in the harbour has been just over 30. Makes it quite unpleasant at anchor with these gusts hitting us at regular intervals and not a little unnerving at night as we are trying to get some sleep. We always note down the GPS position before dark so that we can then refer to it during the night to see whether we have dragged the anchor. After our earlier experience we aren't too confident of our new anchor so that doesn't help either although it has to be said it hasn't let us down again and it has withstood some fairly heavy loads in the last 48 hours. Still, we are making sure of it by having 120 feet of chain deployed in only 15 feet of water! We moved today and have found a marginally more settled anchorage although it is impossible to escape the wind. Still, we are sheltered from any sea.
We have also lost all radio communication with Russell Radio as the high land around Whangaroa has affected that. On the western side of the harbour apparently it is better but we can't stay over there because of the wind. We'll have to wait until we leave and get somewhere where we can get through.
We are still waiting for the replacement electrical part and then as soon as that is fitted and the weather moderates we will be heading for Mangonui.
In the meantime we hope all is well and will communicate again when we have something more exciting to relate!
Cheers,
J & G

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