First day at sea

First day, leaving Auckland on Anyway. 

I should tell you about Anyway. She is 40 foot long, quite fat (I expect that isn’t a nautical term) but helps stability, built in 1987 and refurbished about 3 years ago. The previous owners were a Swiss couple with a 13 year old daughter. They bought the boat in the States, took her to San Diago and then sailed her to New Zealand. Somewhere along the way the daughter decided it wasn’t for her and the family headed back to Switzerland.

They left an enormous amount of spares of everything on board, plus a card and a bottle of wine for the new owners. Really nice people.

We left Auckland at 10.00 and it wasn’t until we passed Brown’s Island that there was enough wind to set the sails and turn off the diesel motor. 


On the way we passed Devonport, my home for the last year. It has to be the best place in Auckland to live. 

The wind then was between 8 and 15 knots and we headed out to the end of Waiheke and to Man of War Bay.  Arrived about 3.30 having travelled at about 4 knots overall.

This photo is because Ella suggested that there be some photos of me, I normally being the family photographer, this is probably my limit, after this it is other people and scenary.

It was a great day to try out some basic moves and basically get to know the boat. Couldn’t have been better weather (for Winter).

Anyway has a self steering thingy (OK, again not a nautical term) very useful however for allowing Gavin to show me what I need to do at the other end of the boat, leaving the self steering thingy to keep us on course. 

Put down the anchor and had a 'rusty nail' to celebrate our first day, (that being a mix of whisky and Drambuie) then dinner, and reading and mandolin practice, blogging and bed.