December 26, Depart Auckland
We left the dock in Auckland around noon. Arrived at Kawau Island 3:45pm. We anchored in Bon Accord Harbor for the night.
December 27, Kawau Island and beyond
We spent the morning on the island visiting friends of the team who have a home on the island. We had a nice hike up from Bon Accord Harbor over the hill to their house in North Cove. Arethusa with our crew came around by boat to pick us up. We were off again at noon with the intention of sailing out to the Great Barrier Island. The wind was just too perfect for heading north toward the Bay of Islands. The Great Barrier Island will be another stop at some point while we are here. We sailed 74 miles up the coast with spectacular landscape to arrive at Whangamumu Harbor at 7pm for the night. Our top speed was about 25kts. We used almost every sail including the new J1 made by North in NZ, J2, C3, spinnaker, main and first reef in the main. The only unused sail was the R1, our biggest reaching sail. The sail combo of the full main and C3 had us over wind speed. Wind speed 16kts, boat speed 18kts. It was a spectacular day of sailing!
NZ Yacht Squadron Kawau Base 
View from hills into Bon Accord Harbor and Arethusa 
Friends’ house and creative garden 
View from our friends’ house 
Perfect wind angle 
Kat on the furl 
1st Reef with new J1 
One of our top wind speeds captured. 
Beautiful landscape 
View of Whangarei Heads 
Sail Rock 
Whangamumu Harbor exit 
Old whaling village in Whangamumu Harbor
December 28, Hike in Whangamumu Scenic Reserve and sail to Oke Bay
December 29, Oke Bay hike, lunch in Twin Lagoon Bay and anchored in Pomare Bay by Russell
Beautiful fine sand beach in Oke Bay 
Disinfecting station on the hiking trails 
Beautiful views from top of hill above Oke Bay. Got a signal and FaceTimed my mother in NH 
Oke Bay 
Through the Albert Channel 
Hat Island at beginning of Albert Channel 
Rawhiti Point, opposite Hat Island 
Town of Russell 
On anchor near Russell 
Our landing in Russell for dinner 
View from Freddie’s long time friends’ house who kindly had us all for dinner 
one of my favorites so far 
Beautiful sunset from Freddie’s friends’ house in Russell
Indy Yachts 
Gorgeous photos trip of a lifetime!!
Sent from my iPhone
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,Sure beats 40 degrees and grey!!! Enjoy
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