[password] testing2468
[position]35 19.010S 174 07.191E
[weather] wind 19 gusting 30, ENE, partly cloudy, 1030 baro, temp daytime 68F, nighttime 55 F
[status] We arrived to the Bay of Islands Marina "Q" (quarantine) dock this morning, 1 Nov 2017, at 02:30. Opua's entrance and channel are well marked with lighted buoys to mark the oath so entry can be made at night. Still, I bundled up in every layer I could put on against the chill of New Zealand springtime breezes my unacclimated body, and stayed at the bow on watch until we reached the dock. Brrr!

We had pushed hard to get to Opua and to the shelter of the marina before the brunt of the weather low overcame what Bob Mcadavitt called the BFH - big fat high - that was sitting east of the North Island and holding off the low. Good thing we did because once the winds arrived in fuller force, gusting above 30 knots on the Q dock, and much higher offshore, we were happy to be safely tied to the dock.

Two of our sister ships, Whistler and Blue Summit, gave us a warm welcome. The customs, immigration and biosecurity also couldn't have been nicer or more professional. They arrived promptly at 9 am and the process was straightforward and pleasant. They went through all our food stores and the only surprise was we had to give up a bag of dried mushrooms that contained dried orange peels. As they explained why certain food items had to be kept out of New Zeaalnd's environment, it really made sense.

visit us at www.svGoldenGlow.com

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