#108 NOW July 8, 2006 1200UTC +12 hours (New Zealand Standard Time) Anchored in Crowles Bay S3510.7 E17401.2 Temperature 64, Wind SW 15-20 Gusting Good Afternoon, It is winter in New Zealand and with it comes some winter weather. This year seems to be one of the worst in a long time. The South Island is having record snowfalls, and everywhere they are having power outages, even in Auckland. Yesterday, Cook Strait had a storm with 50 and 60 knots of wind. Twenty-five foot seas forced the ferry service between Wellington and Picton to cancel. Fortunately, for me, the Bay of Islands has remained fairly tranquil. Today there are gale warnings out, but I am tucked away in this little bay, protected from most of the wind. This really is a great cruising area with many little coves and bays to find shelter. However, I have not been idle. My long list of things to do in preparation for the return voyage is keeping me busy. Such things as changing oil in the wing-engine, giving the watermaker a good workout, getting charts downloaded into the computers, having the life-raft repacked, and a new battery installed in the Emergency Locator Beacon, primary and secondary fuel filters replaced on the Lugger Engine, and the list goes on and on. Monday the boat will be pulled and the bottom painted, all the barnacles cleaned off the propellers and seacocks, new zincs installed, and some touch up work done to the haul. A smooth clean hull is important when you are attempting long passages. This will make a significant difference in fuel consumption and range. One job that I have been putting off is the repair of the head (toilet). It has served me well for over four years with few problems. However, it is time to replace all the seals, washers, piston rings, and of course the joker valve. While I was at it, I replaced most of the hoses, which had built up with salt and crud. This is not a fun job, but is as much a part of boating as is enjoying an afternoon in a quite cove reading a good book. The list is getting shorter and I am looking forward to a break when my daughter arrives on the 20th. The plan is to leave August 1 for Tonga with a short stop at Minerva Reef on the way. This should take us about eight days. From there it is on to America Samoa, and finally Hawaii with perhaps a stop at Fanning Island. Do to time constraints of my crew; I am hoping to do this in about six weeks. In addition, we must be out of the Southern Hemisphere before the cyclone season sets in. Many years ago, when I was flying for Western Airlines I was stationed in Hawaii. It was a great place to live, with the afternoon trade winds keeping it comfortable. I may stay there for several months. From there I will have easy access back to the West Coast of the US to visit my grandsonoh yes and of course other family and friends. Well, I had better get back to the list. Lets see clean starboard para-vane winch, grease the windless, reseal the galley counter deck, recertify the fire extinguishers etc. etc. Life is a Cruise, Larry -- Larry Rick Done Dreamin' Nordhavn 40 #33 Site: http://gricknet.homedns.org/Dads%20Web/doneDreamnHome.htm