ex Elly

First 2 boats off Tutukaka now. Not sure there are any passing lanes. Maybe only the Hen and Chicks.

Wow 2 different antifoul colours! I guess they ran out of blue so had to finish off with red?

First 2 boats neck and neck They are just off Whangaroa now. Slow progress doing 4 kn with 2 kn wind.

They are in New Caledonia now. Doing 10-13 knots. Have head winds and light airs ahead. So probably Tuesday.

Gourmet icecream at Takapuna kiosk. Vanilla Honeycomb with big chunks of homemade hokey pokey. Delicious! $5 single scoop, but the serving is huge - so more like a double.

Really? Wouldn't it be 15 years old?

Nearly twice as many keelers do the Island Racing. There were 28 doing the windward leewards (=9 races). And 57 doing island racing (= 3 races). Also other smaller boats doing windward leewards including sportsboats and wetas. 101 entries this year making it the second biggest ever. Now in its 16th year.

Good sun protection from the long sleeves and straw hats too!

Wow sounds like Barrier is a scary place to be in a bit of a blow!

The resource consent application to develop the infrastructure to host the 36th America’s Cup in Auckland has been publicly notified today. Aucklanders are now able to provide their feedback by making a submission on plans to build the America’s Cup bases and village at Wynyard Basin. You can have your say over the next 20 working days from 30 January to 28 February 2018. http://ourauckland.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/articles/news/2018/1/have-your-say-on-the-america-s-cup-bases/

Notice: 04–18 Half Moon Bay, Bucklands Beach marina damaged breakwater, low wake zone All mariners are reminded to reduce their speed to 5 knots and/or their minimum steerage speed, in order to create a low wake while in the vicinity of the Bucklands Beach Marina. The breakwater was damage with the recent storm event and requires extensive repair. Mariners should navigate with caution while in this area.

A harbour pilot in Gisborne was sacked after his boss discovered he was not on board large ships he was supposed to be on. Things came to a head when a large fishing boat he was supposed to be on, but wasn't, smashed into a building at the port and sent people running for their lives, in March 2017. But Hines claimed he was unjustifiably dismissed and sought reinstatement. He took the matter to the Employment Relations Authority. https://www.stuff.co.nz/business/100754633/harbour-pilot-sacked-after-boat-he-was-supposed-to-be-on-smashes-into-building

Do you think they will drop Hong Kong as a port in the next race?

Do you think for they will drop Hong Kong as a stop for the next race, due to this?

Great news that the Harbourmasters will now have the tools to measure boaties speed. In the past it was just, "send us some photos, and we'll send them a warning." Now they can actually prosecute with evidence. Far too many speedsters in the Waitemata, and Tamaki River, including the Pine Harbour ferry.

So what happened to the film, is it on Youtube?

The Maritime Museum in the Viaduct already has an vintage outboard collection, but may like some more.

Lovely spot in calm weather! Will you pop into Houhora?

Dongfeng seem to be doing better now that Frank Cammas is on board. Are there more Americas cup sailors than usual? 3 from Oracle, 2 from ETNZ, 1 from Groupama...

I think if NZ had a boat entered (a la Camper) then there would be more interest here.

There were some revealing sights at the bar

Apparently you cannot empty your holding tank anywhere inside Whangarei or Whangaroa harbours, and in the BOI you need to go right out into the middle of the bay.... https://www.nrc.govt.nz/marinepollution

There used to be a tap on the jetty in the cove - half way up on the eastern side. But last time I used it was around 10 years ago.

Round the world fleet in damage control as major storm sweeps Southern Ocean https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/other-sports/99881054/round-the-world-fleet-in-damage-control-as-major-storm-sweeps-southern-ocean

That link doesn't work.