Fogg

Yeah I had some problems with some the Indian security services and had to make some changes to get out. Worked fine. Just can't go back.

Popped out of GH Sat am, dropped a long-line off little Manly beach, blasted down/up the N Shore to kill an hour (and 2 kawahai) then retrieved long-line (a bit of a maneouvre in 25kts+) which included 3-4 decent snapper and the biggest beast I've ever landed. Nearly had an octopus too but he baled just in time.

After 2 weeks in W'haven for the VOR activity I delivered AC back home to GH - had a fantastic sail up the N Shore y'day afternoon, borderline over-canvassed in the gusts but did the 16-odd nm trip in record time for AC - 1hr 30 mins. Had a bit of help from the tide, went down the Waitemata at 10.5kts SOG which is good going for us.

Enjoyed soaking up the VOR atmosphere and was out on AC with various friends and family for the full 3 days Fri-Sun. Wouldn't have missed it for anything. Slightly sad that the VOR carnival is packing up and the viaduct going back to normal. I miss that cosmopolitan offshore flavour when it leaves town.

Oh OK. Wonder about the kawhai though. Tried some kina the other day too.... I'm pretty partial to trying anything esp seafood but I didn't love the taste of it must say, not sure what the fuss is about!

Had best ever fishing y'day. After Sat's blow was pleasantly surprised to find Sun looking so good so headed out for some dinner. Came home with 6 snapper and 6 large kawhai. Other fish caught but thrown back included what we assumed to be a very very baby shark - actually looked quite cute but the jaws and teeth clearly had growth potential. After years of trawling lines behind the boat and catching nothing I've got no idea why y'day was so different - at one point we had 3 kawhai on the go - one on each of the lures - was hectic but fun.

Refitted my previously defunct but recently refurbished Navman 3100 multi to AC. Happy to wave goodbye to the awful Northstar unit which I had reluctantly installed in it's place for the last couple of years, it was a shocking thing, even worse than the Navman which is saying something. So touch wood I'm now back to full strength with all instruments working as they should..... famous last words.... something will probly blow in the next 5 mins.

Well considering NZ is one of the only countries where you can still buy a brand new 2 stroke o/b I think we have a while before we get our sh*t together regarding boatie effluent (pardon the pun)

I keep an old ice-cream container in the galley for collecting all my organic waste and I just empty it over the side the next time I'm underway well out at sea. Bottles/cans go into a cycling box, which I empty ashore. And the remaining waste goes into the normal galley bin, which builds up pretty slowly given there is no food or bottles going into it. Seems to work well. And you can probably guess which bin fills up first.

You're confusing direct with indirect contributions. If you go ashore to catch a bus or rent a car you are immediately paying something into the local economy. If you buy things from the local shops your purchase contributes towrds the shop's costs some of which go towards rates and services. On your argument, BBW, anyone who visits without living ashore is a bludger. Maybe we should ban tourists and the spend they bring when they step ashore? amadis - don't be put off by this response, he doesn't speak for all Aucklanders.