We have arrived in New Zealand!

 

The trip from Minerva Reef took just over 5 days and, despite trying to pick some decent weather, it was quite a wild ride. We tried to pick a "weather window" that would ensure we arrived with sunshine and fair winds but the elements failed to play their appointed part and we arrived off North Cape at the same time as a wet and windy cold front. Nothing particularly untoward ....just a little unpleasant and a good reminder that we are no longer so close to the equator. After spending most of the year in shorts and t-shirts it was a shock to have to dig out fleeces, waterproofs, boots and even gloves before the end of the passage.  However Savoir Vivre and Lucy took the weather all in their stride and we sailed into The Bay of Islands and into the small town of Opua feeling pretty damp and tired but hugely exhilarated to have arrived.

 

Customs and the dreaded inspector from the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry were waiting for us on the Quarantine dock.  The sheer efficiency of the system was outstanding (what a pleasure to be back in the first world!). They did impound some of our remaining food supplies but not too much and they did it all with a smile!  We were sad to see the last of the eggs go but they did leave our bacon so we still had half of our post passage breakfast.  Within an hour we were all cleared in and we had moved across into the marina for Savoir Vivre's first night tied up to a dock for over 11 months.  It was quite hard to believe we had actually arrived ....New Zealand had always seemed so far away ahead and we hardly dared to plan anything for after our arrival as it seemed to be rather tempting fate. Since leaving Grenada in January we have covered over 9,000 nautical miles and there was a real sense of reaching a long anticipated destination. I think the same can be said for all the cruising boats, now arriving at the rate of a couple a day and for the first time in ages people are relaxing secure in the knowledge that, at least for the moment, there is a break from the long passages. There is also a chance to source spares and where necessary expert assistance to fix the many things that have either broken or worn out since we last saw chandler or a decent boatyard.

 

The little we have seen so far of New Zealand and the Kiwis has also more than lived up to our high expectations. Everyone we have met has been friendly and wonderfully welcoming. The day after we got in we were invited to join a family celebration to welcome in Kathleen, a Kiwi friend who has been crewing on the American catamaran Quantum Leap. She had been away for over 18 months so they organised a big get together with plenty of local specialities to make sure she knew she was home. The table was piled with scallops and green lipped muscles all fresh out of the bay followed by piles of lamb from their farm. A great evening and a wonderful welcome from people we had never even met!

 

Since we arrived we have spent a couple of days sleeping, sorting things out on board and visiting the local area. I was particularly excited to have access to a hosepipe for the first time in longer than I can remember and thoroughly enjoyed washing the salt off Savoir Vivre. We are still to make the full mental adjustment to being back to "normal" and when we had a brief downpour of rain yesterday it took me a few seconds to remember that I no longer needed to rush on deck to rig up the rain-catcher to fill the tanks with all that precious fresh water!

 

Now we are rested and back on top of things we are off for a few days with our car from the local "Rent a Dent Car Hire"  to travel around this very top part of the North Island. It will feel strange to be away from the boat for a night but, I have to confess, I am particularly excited about the prospect of my first bath for a very long time!