Great Barrier - Auckland

A welcome from Luna Rossa

Up at first light again (a habit easily acquired on a cruising yacht), we were off by 0700, motoring though the tight Man of War Passage.

Heading southwest for Auckland, the wind greeting us was - you guessed it - SW/15 kts, with a nice little SW'ly chop developing. Reefing 1 + 2, it was easiest to take a long tack past Little Barrier Island to Cape Rodney, where we eventually found more sheltered water. Tacking past Kawau Island, through a racing fleet heading north, the wind then backed to S'ly 10-15 - again in the face. Ain't it always the way!

Beating up the Harbour

So it was 1730 before we passed Rangitoto light, to be met by Luna Rossa's AC72 out training - quite a welcome as we entered Auckland Harbour. The photo above shows them apparently being towed by their high-powered safety boat. They weren't. They very swiftly roasted past it, and it was apparently impossible for them to keep up!

Having sailed/raced in Auckland Harbour many times before, it's really quite familiar. Perhaps that familiarity, coupled with the strangeness of being there aboard Harlequin, meant the sail up to and beneath the Harbour Bridge really brought it home. Yes, we'd really sailed here from Hong Kong. This was the moment it sunk in, and boy, did it feel grand. An epiphany, I suppose.

The Nippon clip-on

Pride always comes before a fall, though...

We were now late for dinner at Oh Calcutta in Parnell, where all the crew would be getting back together again to celebrate the end of the voyage. Hence chancing the approach to West Park marina (always a bit dodgy) only an hour after low tide. Taking great care with the channel marks, we reached within 300 m of the marina entrance and stuck. Firmly. All we could do was await the flood - obviously with a G&T in hand.

Sundowners on the foredeck

To assist in lifting us clear, and to get some distance between the Skipper and the wise-cracks, the crew were sent to the bow. But we weren't going anywhere - not for an hour anyway.

Not alone, though: a motor-cat joined us after a few minutes, and we left them there, still firmly aground, when we finally floated free and berthed at 2030.

A very quick Italian shower, and we were off to the pub to celebrate - kindly chauffeured by the Cooper fleet of limousines.

Almost exactly a year to the day (we left Hong Kong on 19 Feb 12) - the drinks (and dinner) are on Jim!

Just short of the marina

but not alone...

In the channel - honest!