Home from home!
Bamboozle
Jamie and Lucy Telfer
Mon 16 Dec 2013 17:39
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036:37.400S 174:47.224E
Bamboozle is all tucked up in Gulf Harbour Marina again and having a well
deserved rest until next April. Before putting her to bed we spent a
couple of weeks of the most glorious kiwi spring enjoying the bright lights of
Auckland and cruising in the Hauraki gulf.
 Our first day in New Zealand and for once
spring really had arrived before us! Kiwi mates Marty and Debbie
took us to the Omata Estate Vineyard over looking the beautiful Bay of Islands
where our wine tasting progressed into long leisurely
lunch.  We arrived in Auckland the day before the departure of
the Coastal Classic. This is the biggest annual
sailing race in New Zealand and goes from Auckland up to Russell in the Bay
of Islands. We decided to keep Bamboozle well out of the way and watch the
start from above Devonport on the North Shore. A wonderful sight with our
favourite "little" city as the backdrop.
 I sneaked away from Bamboozle for a boys fishing
weekend at Great Barrier Island and another great kiwi
experience! Lots of fishing, crayfish hunting, plenty of beer
and endless banter and tall stories.....perfect.
 I was so excited to catch my first New
Zealand crayfish while diving in Port Fitzroy. Lacking the
essential skill set I had a bit of a battle fighting to get it out of the
crack in the rock where he was hiding and I was so proud of my hunting
prowess for about 5 minutes until Marty surfaced with a sea
monster!
 Marty with his "Packhorse" lobster that made mine
look like a prawn. I was actually quite pleased that I didn't come across
this beast as I think I probably would have left it well alone rather than
trying to wrestle it to the surface. You can see the bump on Marty's
forehead from where he headbutted a rock during the tustle!
 Lynne giving Lucy a trim on the dock so she doesn't
look quite so wild and salty for the flight home.
 Putting Bamboozle to bed for the summer. Lucy heading up
the mast to tie off lines and the foil so things don't rattle around too
much whilst we are away. She finds it easier to actually go up and do the
work rather than have to winch the hefty skipper up to do the job!
 Dinner on board Bamboozle with some great Gulf Harbour
based cruising friends. Jock and Leanne (Just in Time), Bill and Val
(Ivory Quays) and Grahame and Lynne (Adamite) who we have been cruising with on
and off since 2006. It is our forth (and final???) visit to New Zealand
which really has become a home from home.
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