(no subject)

Well, it's been a miserable few days with gale force SE winds and rain - and cold!! We have been swinging around the anchor in Opunga Cove which is one of the few good anchorages in SE conditions. This was where the Fraters and Newcombes had baches for many years and where the RNZYS had their annual New Years Eve parties on the beach with a bonfire in the 50's and 60's. We always came down from Paroa Bay in "Jado" at New Year to celebrate with the Newcs!
Anyway, enough of the nostalgia. This morning the wind is negligible and is forecast to go to the SW later which will suit us for getting back down the coast. So, at this stage the plan is to leave early tomorrow morning and hopefully we'll be back in Whangarei by Sunday. We've been listening on the SSB to boats coming back down to NZ and they have been having a fair old time of it. At least one (a catamaran) has deployed a drogue and is being steadily blown back north by all these strong southerlies. They're all reporting 30-40 knots which is absolutely no fun at all if you trying to beat into it. One boat still in Noumea reported 35 knot south easterlies there! All generated by a huge high in the north Tasman which together with a low off the North Island E coast is squeezing the isobars tightly thus generating the winds. To have endured all that for the sake of 2-3 weeks in NC wasn't sensible and we are pleased we followed our instincts and abandoned our voyage.
We are looking forward to planning for April next year when we won't be constrained by any time considerations. In the meantime we are intending after our arrival in Whangarei to take an overland tour and get away from boating and boats for a while. We are thinking of heading south and maybe staying with Jean's relatives at National Park and then returning via Wanganui (note no "h"!!) and Taranaki. Then it will be into re-caulking the decks, hauling out for anti-fouling and generally getting ready. At least we have goals!
Hoping all is well as always,
Jim and Jean (Gina)

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