[p]beale12.4
[s]
pos: 35 02.3s 173 45.3e
date: 05/05/2017 20:30 GMT+1300

So I am on a sort of distant peaceful solo CycloneDonna-Watch. She is spinning and intensifying near Vanuatu, and I am off the grid on the Northland coast, exploring the Whangaroa harbour slowly by myself.
I spent half an hour listening to the yachts reporting on the Northland Radio SSB call at 5pm today. A few people out there experiencing big swells already and keen to get into Fiji quickly.
All is well on board. For dessert tonight I am breaking into Joanne's special gingerbread, which was reserved for the passage and I have been eyeing for the last couple of days.
Whangaroa is very different. Dark green hills, moody, broody, a little Middle-Earth/Fangorn forest. The northern reaches of the "Old Forest" perhaps.
Sailing today was a bit more challenging. On the wind, across the bay towards Whangaroa entranced sailing with just a genoa was not quite cutting it. So I actually graduated to 2 sails. Now I remember why people do it that way! Manutaki enjoyed being pushed a little and I enjoyed the feeling.
I am heading back into the Bay of Islands tomorrow, to catch up with the rest of the fleet, be social and stop playing solo sailor.

[END]