June 5, 2015- Whangarei, New Zealand

June 5, 2015

We arrived in New Zealand on May 8th with 4-70lb  bags of luggage stuffed with what we thought we needed for the next several months on the boat plus two inflatable paddleboards.

We found our boat at Marsden Cove in good order.  We started on a number of projects to get ready to leave New Zealand for Fiji.  We moved the boat to Whangarei Town Basin to get some work done.  It is closer for the trades in Whangarei.  We got a Single Side Band Radio installed as well as an Iridium Go (satellite device).  Monty worked full out on changing the oil in the engines, getting the water maker unpickled and checking the generator.  We spent a few weeks relearning the boat systems and where things were stored.    We gradually provisioned, getting valuable advice from cruisers about what was available in Fiji and what we should buy in New Zealand.

Provisioning for Fiji

Accessing the instrument wiring

We got our final boat registration after a prolonged process with the Canadian authorities.  Then we were able to  get new signage.  It was important to have the correct registered name of the boat when traveling in international waters and entering a new country.

Removing Samuri signage

New signage for the boat

Because of delays in getting ready for the passage, we were unable to have deliver skipper, Dave Berg, go with us.  He had to go to a wedding in the US and we just ran out of time for his availability window.  Ron Cooke, an experienced sailor from Opua and recommended by our insurance company, was able to make the trip with us.  We left around noon on June 5th.

Marsden Cove, ready to leave

M & M with our skipper, Ron

Ron on watch

We had nice conditions when we left Marsden Cove.  Another Canadian boat, Spirare, left on the same morning.  As we sail out of the Whangarei River and headed north, we passed the rock face called The Old Lady, who looks like she is sitting back in her rocker and knitting.

The Old Lady

We thank Christian, the former owner, for leaving the boat in ready to cruise condition!

More from our passage coming up!