Leg 1

Sorry for the lack of communication, last 2 days have been a blur. 

1400 start and we blasted off down the harbor at warp speed for the Farr 38 - 10 knots plus. But even in those very first few minutes we could easily see that the boats that were good at reaching really had some legs on us. In fact the entire fleet except the other Farr 38 are all reading machines. 

We gybed and hoisted near Rangi sailing deep at speeds in the early teens. The bright yellow, orange and blue whale catcher kite  (because you could catch a whale and haul it in and the kite would still be OK) got a first outing in a while. 

We settled down, slipped into watches and started to become comfortable in our surroundings.  We both were coming to this slightly behind in sleep and we knew we needed to  look after each other through the night.

We changed back to the JT and Rob had some epic surfs for the boat with sustain periods over 17 knots. The rest of the night went quickly and we passed the Cavali Islands just after dawn and pointed at Mangonui Head, thinking of beers on the deck and a swim. 

But as we know you should NEVER think that way, as not long after the wind died and we fought for 4 hours to get out of the hole that as between us  and the finish, all the while Arbitare sailed towards us in the new breeze. 

We finally wrestled free, to make it to the finish just ahead of them. 

With the help of  Rod form the Mangonui Cruising Club we cleared the boat up and anchored, quickly heading below for some shut eye. 

We headed into the club wharf to get water at high tide, to be greeted by Suellen from Live Sail Die, who had popped up to see us, and make sure that our media skills were on point. Suellen and I worked on 3 RAYC offshore races together and it was fantastic to have her help at the stop over, as well as of course Pete and Neil who arrived with the 5 things left in Auckland. 

Next start 1200, we are about to up anchor,  

Sally