More motoring as we were pushing straight into 10-15kn of N to NW winds. The day seemed to be endless and boring with the constant drone of the motor and as night fell we were approaching the Taranaki Bight and Cape Egmont, we could see the Maui gas platforms off in the distance as the night went on and we even managed to get in some sailing even though it was heading a bit more west than we wanted but by morning we were heading north and in the right direction, beam reaching at around 6-7kn. The waves were not too big but life aboard was a bit uncomfortable and Emma managed to change species (into a Koala) and sleep for something like 20 hours a day, only waking for the odd peak around outside or try eat some food. As the second night came around we were getting pretty bored, mainly because we were still trying to get into the rhythm of offshore, there was little sailing we could do as the winds were either right into the nose or too light. I think I ended up getting a lot of use from the Sony PSP and was ploughing through the
The next day was a stunning day, we had made really good progress and were somewhere like 100nm west of Auckland, the sun was beating down and we had a tail wind right off the stern so we thought we would fly the old symmetrical spinnaker (now we have never had this up so no idea how this will go), we hoisted it fine after managing to untangle it, we flew it without the pole as its way easier and it flew surprisingly well, oh and there is a decent hole in it but I dont really care as its not really a keeper.
Another day passed and with it came night time, thankfully what would be the last night of the voyage north. We woke to finally see land after a few days and spent a while trying to decypher what we could see through the binoculars in the distance, as the morning mist burnt off we could clearly make out massive sand dunes which were near the top of the North Island. Mid morning we were making a rounding of Cape Maria van Diemen and not too long after we were rounding Cape Reinga (top of New Zealand), probably being looked down on by visitors to the popular lighthouse at the top. The waters around the top were rough (not large waves, just turbulent where the pacific meets the tasman sea in a shallow area). It was spectacular and a pretty surreal feeling, now we just needed to make the long slog across the top and try find somewhere to stop for a much deserved full nights sleep. We planned on Spirits Bay and even ventured in before deciding it was too rolly and exposed so kept heading east and decided we would have to round North Cape and find somewhere south of there. The wind was picking up now and we were facing a good 20-25kn
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