[p]pjr4728
[s]
pos: 39 29.018s 176 53.5216e
sp: 0.0
h: 0t
w: 11kn SW gusting 22, SS 0.5 NW
d: 05/12/20 18:38 GMT+1300
Arrived Napier after 437nm passage from Opua, taking 3d 9hr (5.4kn or
129nm/day). Mostly pretty-cruisey downwind sailing with only a few frisky
periods lasting only a couple of hours each and shifty winds over the last
36hrs with a bit of beating thrown in.

We had a great time in Opua (where we left on 2nd Dec, waiting a bit longer
than expected for Mili to get out of quarantine (19 days) and to get our
new(old) boom delivered. However, the month gave us the time to catch up
with friends Mike and Josie from Christchurch who furnished us not only
with their company but also champagne and a shore bed and shower! We also
hired a car and headed off to the big smoke Auckland to catch up with the
Roberts family off Intrigue who we'd travelled through SE Asia with. So
great to see them again...with more bubbly and even oysters (Sorry the
latter were wasted on us Wendy!).
Time too the socialise in Opua with the Spacies who had come in a couple of
days ahead of us, and the crews of Patea, Bacchus and Ohana who wandered in
afterwards-some held up more than others by calms!
Last but certainly not least, we got to meet Neal and Lyn Mannering, now
resident in nearby Paihia and former owners of Windchase (or Windy as they
called her). They very generously gave us lifts, muffins, etc as well as
some old, but brand new sheets to replace the ones that had met with an
'accident' on the way in. The goodies also included a very unique
half-model of our boat made by the original designer Alan Claude Smith whom
they knew well before his death. In fact there is not a lot that these two
don't know about just about every P38 ever built in NZ, having been keen
racers on the two they owned and Neal estimated he must have sold about 40
(of 45) of them during his career as a broker! Anyway, it was great to meet
them both!

We're going to be here in Napier until at least next Friday, waiting for
the nasty weather forecast further S over the coming week to dissipate and
allow us to get around to and across the Cook Strait. Not long now until we
can fully close the circle!
TTFN, Paul Sue and Mili xxwoof

[END]