36 37.41S 174 47.23E

Around the world with the Aqualunies
Jonathan & Gabrielle Lyne
Sun 27 Jan 2013 23:11
JANUARY 28TH, 2013
NEW ZEALAND, AUCKLAND, GULF HARBOUR MARINA

We arrived to rejoin our yacht on the 9th January having spent 9 months back in the UK seeing family and friends and having a wonderful family Christmas at home.
Ahead of us we had sent new deck saloon windows to replace the old ones which were leaking salt water and steaming up between the double glazing.  Johnny of Gulf Harbour Marina put the new ones in with help from his assistants and they look great.  They have yet to be tested though...  They are said to be a new better sort, anodised rather than painted.  Whilst the old ones were in and mildly leaking, I sealed them with Vaseline and cleared the salt with white vinegar which kept it all at bay.
We have also ordered and had delivered a new GN Espace Oven to replace the Force 10 oven, it is safer as the door locks and the fiddles are stronger and better for keeping pans in place, it also cooks with all round heat rather than just from the bottom and has a grill with a flame that covers more across the top so one can grill, toast more than just a little at a time, it also has it's own pans which fit perfectly.  For the moment it is sitting on the pontoon as the gas man has to return from holiday before putting it in..
Next, we had Phil Ash (aka 'Flash') of Gulf Harbour Rigging up the mast to do a very thorough inspection.  His reputation is awesome around these parts, he certainly appeared very 'at home' up there.  Unfortunately he found a problem:-  The bolt holding the forward spreader arm had snapped on the port side, there was no indication of when this might have happened and we were just lucky to be here in the Marina when it was found and not somewhere mid Pacific.  Flash took photos and we have sent them to Discovery to be sent on to Selden, with a lot of luck we may have the spare part very soon so we can at last get sailing and with luck they can replace it without having to take down the whole mast.  
The yacht comes out of the water tomorrow for a bottom scrub and anodes replaced.  The Bower thruster engine has gone off to be serviced.  We have new life belts and some re-varnishing has been done, our steps to below decks look very smart. So all in al when we get sailing the yacht will look great again.
Meanwhile we have been catching up on the maintenance jobs that need to be done but keep being put off for some reason or another.  The winches are in pieces as Jonathan cleans, re greases and services them.  Cupboards cleaned and cleared of junk that we no longer need or want.  Dingy engine serviced and new canvas covers made to protect it against the strong sun.
We have managed to do some sight seeing and walks and also catch up with old friends.  We visited Gordon and Pat Nelson (ex HK friends) who have a beautiful farm half an hour north of here with 350 diary cattle and they have also just planted trees to make a Truffetiere  which is exciting. We had a lovely lunch with them and tour of the farm, both their sons were there as well.  I had not seen Andy and Charlie since Swim Team at the Country Club in HK when all our offspring were in the team.
We have had dinner with Mike and Debbie Grey who live in Auckland and are keen sailors.  Again we are old HK friends and Debbie and I used to get together with other Mums and our offspring every week for play group.  They hope to sail in convoy with us when we explore the Coromandel Peninsular once we get sailing.  Because of the delays we are not now going to sail to Tasman Able park coast line on the north of South Island, we will leave that until next year.
Photos below:-


Chaos as we replace windows on the yacht.

 



Leak where chain plate was not properly sealed when yacht made.

 



P1020565

 



Johnny and assistant replacing windows on Aqualuna

 



Everything covered to try to protect wood when windows were replaced

 



Chart Table....

 



Gulf Harbour Marina

 



Gordon and Pat Nelson's Farm 300+ dairy herd walking to the shippen along lane by Popular trees.

 



View from the headland where the marina is

 



Auckland from Mount Eden an old volcano

 



The Viaduct marina in Auckland

 



Viaduct Marina in Auckland.