We thought we should place Chameleon back in her berth before departing. The weather Yoda thinks we should stay at the dock for a few days rather than have to face the 30-35 kts to return on Saturday. We do of course have to be back for shooting on Sunday! Poo on the sub tropical low. How about Monday he says!

depth 70m and we have traveled 2368nm and will arrive in Singapore tomorrow. Seas are still flat but cannot report on 30 plus temperature as I have been inside all day. The boss says the sky is full of cumulus congestus. And he got his last sun tan as the weather on arrival does not sound goodWe had a fantastic classical piano performance by the phillipino man responsible for the song and dance part of the entertainment. He is a graduate of Moscow piano school and was magnificent. Wasted on a cruise ship. And packing took a bit even with the extra bag we purchased at the market in Saigon! Who knows whether we will be on air Monday! We enjoy sleeping in.

  Depth 40m and how they navigate through all the fishing boats I dont know. Had a great day in Sai Gon yesterday. That is the way it is spelled but with accents. It turned out to be only 1hr 15m on the new expressway. We found the site of a hotel that David had stayed in for a short in country R&R with a River Patrol boat mate and then made our way to the cathedral and the Presidential Palace which was very interesting. The bunker rooms had much of the old communications gear and lots of maps. Lots of history to read about and our bus guide filled in the sad gaps of a country that seems to have a thousand years of war with one foe or another. There was no problem with a US veteran  coming back. Just incredulity that someone who had been at Phan Thiet (Fire Base Betty) during the year of the TET in 1968, was alive to return! This was the remark of the manager of the old Tu Do Hotel! Good to be lucky. Shopping at the market was a trial as despite theoretically being communist, individual capitalism is alive and well but very annoying if you dont want to buy all the junk for sale

anchored at Nha Trang, Vietnam and David has revisited places he last saw in 1968. The trouble is that the place has boomed as it is the Miami of Vietnam. A beautiful long beach attracts many tourists although how you could sit on a beach in 33C I dont know. We climbed up to the big white buddah that no longer can see the sea due the high rises. Also visited the embroidered 'paintings' and watched the seamstresses at work despite it being Independence day.

on the SE side of vietnam heading for Nga Trang. A day at sea. Cloudy and light SW, 15. Calm seas

Sihanoukville Cambodia. We toured around in a very nice Lexus taxi and ended up feeling very grateful for having been born in NZ/USA. Garbage and very poor people everywhere. More golden buddahs, temples, and a waterfall. The highlight was the fishing village with some ancient fishing boats

on our way to Sihanoukville Cambodia. great speed.

at Laem Chabang Thailand which is closest port to Bangkok, which we will avoid. Will go to Pattaya and see a wooden temple. Getting templed out but not much else to see. Still enjoying good food but the gym on this ship is not as good as the last and the previous voyage had norovirus so you spend a lot of time cleaning the old equipment.

at anchor Ko Samui Thailand. Went ashore for usual stuff like big Buddah, motorcycles, food etc. Bangkok tomorrow which we will give a miss. Cannot get YIT App to work!

Hanging out at Kawau Is waiting for a decent wind direction to get to Great Barrier. metService have changed their mind AGAIN!

Back in Schoolhouse Bay, Kawau Is as reluctant to come home but looking at the faxes gives us a bit of concern!!!! I have never seen a central pressure of 924HPa before and we would not want to be in the Tiri Channel when that hits on Monday. Home to secure house and boat tomorrow.

North Cove Kawau Is but it should be called cove of many docks. This is a beautifully protected anchorage when you can go way down the bay- only possible out of the peak of the summer season. We came in to say goodbye to Taleisin as she leaves soon with her new owners for new adventures. At least they have a boat that will know how to go hove to comfortably in 60Kts and that will make up for the lack of engine and all the accoutrements that go with having power. Lin Pardie gave us a great tour through what is actually a very spacious interior when you don't have to house batteries and electronics etc! Lin has new challenges ahead and seems pleased to know that Taleisin will be actively sailing again.

I have included quite a few photos as this is quite a momentous time for Lin and Larry and Taleisin.

Had a wonderful night at the new Kawau Yacht Club. It was previously managed by the Auckland Squadron Yacht Club but was closed due lack of patronage. Lin Pardy explained the way it has risen. Six locals with many local helpers have now got it really humming. The bar and restaurant are open with magnificent food from the great cooks. We enjoyed slow cooked goat shank curry while keeping an eye on the cricket World Cup. You know the world is warped when you watch Afganistan play Scotland! We will definitely be spending more time at Kawau and will be returning soon to visit Lin who still has Taleisen at home for another month.It will be sad to see her go but it has been sold to a couple who will make good use of it and hopefully have as many adventures as did Lin and Larry. membership of the Kawau Yacht Club enables you to take their excellent water for free and also a 20 cent discount on fuel and a discount at the bar which is handy on a hot day! And it is good to be able to support this great resource in the area. The bar and restaurant is open 7 days until after Queens Birthday in June. After a winter break it will reopen for the season. 

photo shows Navire

Sailed from great Barrier to Kawau Island in less than ideal conditions. Wind a good direction but the swell from the low way to the NE made life miserable for the crew who made it a one bagger! Came in the north side of Kawau and dealt with 3m confused swells as current rushing out. Glad the wind was not stronger. Looking forward to a visit to the new yacht club tomorrow. Across from our anchorage in Schoolhouse Bay.

In a tiny one boat bay just SE of Smokehouse and very pretty. Took dinghy to visit Sven at Barier Gold to buy some honey yesterday. With nothing but manuka flowers around for the bees you know what you are getting! Maybe a little pohutakawa in summer and gorse flower but the rest is all manuka up this part of Barrier. They also have a variety of other products and the lip chap has just the right amount of tingle. Watched a couple of boats clean and paint their bottoms tied to the poles at Smokehouse. There are big tides at the moment so they have plenty of time to get the job done. Still have not braved the cold water. Will move soon due wind direction.

Anchored in Kaiaraara Bay so that crew could walk up Mt Hobson yesterday, 627m including 1056 steps at the top! She does not want to walk today but it was worth it for the view around the island. From Bush's beach it is 3 hours to the top via the South Fork Track. It was a good day for it as some cloud and no wind. Two 3m killer whales circled the bay and I even got photos. Spectacular.

It is best to get dropped off as this is a very tidal bay and the soft mud makes dinghy wheels useless. High tide is needed for the return.

Moved today as the mussell farm was snapper free! Fished at Bradshaw cove on Kaikoura Island and caught 2 legal snapper for dinner and threw lots back for next year. We are now in a bay that is east of Nagle but does not have a name despite being really beautiful. Holding not great so good the wind is light. The walk up to the lookout on Kaikoura via and thru the scrubby fence line track is spectacular and worth the trip. Wish I had my camera to share it with you!

The map of Kaikoura is available from the start of the track at Bradshaw Cove.

Had the most brilliant sail for a long time yesterday to arrive in great barrier Fitzroy area. What was forecast to be a motorsail to Tryphena in light SE turned out to be a wonderful 17kts from the NE in flat seas. Some times you love it when they get it wrong but it is a bit of a complicated system to forecast says the boss. Anchored in Oneura Cove and now have Dancer, Carmina and Spirare along with several others including a NZ boat with the loudest generator we have ever heard so may move tomorrow!

Anchored at Colville Bay on the NW side of Coromandel south of Port Jackson which is meant to be not good for an overnight. Will head for Great Barrier tomorrow but it is very beautiful here with the spectacular backdrop of high hills. And the attraction of two shops with ice cream, after a bit of a walk.

Anchored at Ponui Island in between Auckland and the Coromandel as we were trying to get to Coromandel and ran into strong winds as we left late on Monday. Will be stuck here by the look of the forecast so may divert to great Barrier when the seas get acceptable to the crew. You cannot go walkabout on this island so cabin fever may set in earlier than normal

Anchored up the Maharangi but about to depart for home as the wx is turning to custard. Took the dinghy to Warkworth yesterday which is a great trip especially as there is a great craft beer bar and cafe to visit now! It takes about 30mins with the dinghy on a plane which is hard in a heavy boat with an 8hp! American cruisers should note to keep the red marks on the port side going up stream. Tie to the dock with the rusted bird by the childrens play ground or go past the Jane Gifford.

Anchored up the Maharangi and very peaceful after the boisterous previous night. No wind as yet for the races but a beautiful day

On west side of Motutapu sheltering from the winds and trying to persuade ourselves to go walking on the great tracks accessible from this anchorage. Will head to Mahurangi tomorrow.

A few planned days at Motutapu before going to Maharangi for regatta day on Saturday.