Up on the hard doing antifoul and other boat stuff. Catching bus to Auckland then back Boxing Day. Merry Christmas everyone

Anchored off little Pine Is (Moitutokape Is) by Opua, getting ready to haul out on Tuesday morning to antifoul

Had a cloudy but great 2 days at Roberton Island, just moved to Matauwhi Bay, adjacent to Russell for the night. Might go in for fish n chips for dinner

Moved this morning to beautiful Roberton Island, just an hour from Russell, rather lovely here.

Had a week in the marina now anchored off Russell, absolutely beautiful, not a breath of wind, sun starting to dip. Stunning

Yes, we did actually arrive! Got in about 0230 yesterday morning, beat the cold front in, had a great night celebrating last night, big sleep. Tied up at Bay of Islands Marina, phew

LAND AHOY ON THE STARBOARD BOW!!! All very good onboard, motored for most of the day, started sailing again in light northerlies a couple of hours ago 37 miles to run to Customs Dock in Opua - @ 1845 NZ Time 23Nov Celebrating with a rum for spotting land, eta around dawn

Late checking in today as Gulf Harbour who normally take our morning checkin have finished for the season so Im updating via satphone, Been motoring all night, but seas very flat almost like being at anchor Over a knot of current against us which is a pain The first of our armada have arrived in Opua, we should be in about midnight - wow 68miles to run to Customs Dock in Opua - @ 1250 NZ Time 24Nov =20

WE HAVE CROSSED OUR OUTBOUND TRACK AND COMPLETED OUR CIRCUMNAVIGATION!!! So that was the hightlight of the day (month, year, lifetime!) Unfortunately we have lost all the wind as we go through the centre of the big high that has provided us with favourabloe conditions, motor is All very good onboard, 180miles to run to Customs Dock in Opua - @ 1822 NZ Time 23Nov Celebrating with a rum

a sunny day at last, what a difference to the temperature being able to sit in the sun Much windier than expected overnight and most of today, looks like we are just starting to sail into the centre of the high now and winds have lightened up and we have just taken the two reefs out of the main All good onboard, 315miles to run to Customs Dock in Opua - @ 1700 NZ Time 22Nov

376 to Opua

doing good time, seas have flattened considerably swell is around 1 metre with some wave chop on top Winds still variable, during the last hour between 12 and 20 true, tired of putting in reefs in the main and taking them out again, running with two reefs at mo and will leave in overnight Just had a big pod of dolphins with us 1700 NZ Time 21Nov

left North Minerva Reef at 7am yesterday (19th), 12 boats left the day before us, we were the 2nd to leave yesterday, all 12 remaining left before lunch Condtions have been variable, we have a big 3 metre swell rolling through left over from the systems going through below us but it is starting to abate and should improve even more We are sailing just west of the rhumb line (the most direct route) heading for North Cape - New Zealand here we come!=20

Moved yesterday afternoon down by the lighthouse in the south west corner Very good protection here, even at high tide quite comfortable Had another big reef walk yesterday, even got to walk on a tiny sand cay at low tide Will be a shame to leave this amazing spot but great to have had such wonderful weather Flown over by NZ Airforce Orion yesterday who collected all our details and wished us all a safe passage home=20

Fabulous spell of great weather contining at North Minerva Reef 1 single hander left yesterday, 1 more arrived, current count is now 26 We will move down by the lighthouse later today, rumour has it there is a little beach at low tide, maybe early sundowners on the beach The wind is due to come in from the southwest at 20 knots overnight as a small front passes over When the wind moves around more to the south we will be leaving - probably Saturday =20

It's another superb day at North Minerva Reef 2 yachts left, more arrived, current count is 19 We have moved across to the south east corner, waiting for the tide to drop more then off walkeling (reef walking/snorkeling by land!)

Glorious day at Minerva Reef It's a holiday atmosphere here, stowed dinghies redeployed, everyone out snorkelling, reef walking, spear fishing We snorkelled the pass this morning, 6 sharks, several wrasse, thousands of Sergent-Majors No 19 yacht just arriving, more to come!

completed 270 mile sail from Tongatapu to Minerva Reef Several others with us, all lined up to enter pass at first light! Trip on the wind, lots over boat day one, yesterday rather pleasant No fish=20

1300hrs still got cell coverage, left 0930. 15knots SSE, 1metre seas, bit bumpy as on the wind. Sunny skies, 3 others next to us, 3 in front, 3 behind. We got us a convoy!

50% cloud cover, 10 knots SSE. Today is the day we leave Tonga for Minerva Reef. The unofficial Big Mama's to North Minerva Rally about to begin, around 12 boats participating, 2 already slipped out. We are a couple if hours from leaving.

Still in Tongatapu with 16 others. Latest plan is to leave Wednesday for Minerva. May leave later today if weather forecast has changed.  Light rain all night long, about 12 - 15 knots SE. 

Still at anchor in Pangimotu, Big Mamas. Up to 25 knots over last 20 hours, about 15 knots now. 100% cloud. Still waiting to leave.

Soggy Saturday afternoon. Lots of distant thunder and lightening overnight, no wind. Watertanks nearly full. No one has left, 2 more arrived

Trying again this morning. Previous had us doing 38knots on our way to New Caledonia, so trying to put us back in the anchorage at Big Mama's in Tongatapu. Warm & sunny, no wind

Still at Big Mamas Tongatapu. 50% Cloud, SE 8kts. 3 yachts left this morning for Minerva Reef. We are waiting for better (different!) weather window. GHR almost impossible to read this morning on 8779

Still at anchor off Big Mama's, Tongatapu. Trialing email checkin on computer with satphone now

at anchor, testing email format

Anchored off Big Mama's Resort, Pangaimotu Island, Tongatapu. Enjoying our last days in paradise