Yip, we left. Unbelievable. Two years in the planning so all quite surreal. There was a moment when I was hugging my niece Mia when I thought, mmm, maybe I could just sneak off now…
Thank you to those family and friends who hooted and waved us off (Alison, the balloons lasted to Cape Palliser!)
The first day was lovely…calm seas, dolphins, Aratiki ferry, cups of tea. From 3pm it turned to *hit. Gale force winds and choppy seas, all through the night. Not all bad though – the ferry rang us to tell us he was passing on our starboard. How about that.
The eyelet in our jib ripped so we are now without a headsail. We’re motoring and using our storm jib. Dean’s not impressed.
This afternoon it calmed down and we were able to do things like brush our teeth. Imagine been in your own person earthquake in a crate – that what it’s like trying to brush your teeth while underway. God, I looked in the mirror – bad mistake.
But we’re all well and happy – a bit tired.
A couple of weeks ago a woman said to me that for her, sailing is either terrifying or boring. Yep.
Better go – I’m on shift soon. We’re doing four hour shifts overnight, with cross overs. No time to spell check. We’re just off Cape Turnagain. Didn’t make much progress today. Not in miles anyway.
Sailing is not scary, sailing is not scary, sailing is not scary. IT’S ALL LIES.
xox
PS. Penny, you may have converted Dean to fruit cake.
Sailing is Not Scary 
great to here from you. I have forwarded to Leigh. brushing teeth would not be a must for me just swill mouth with toothpaste and then water. Hard to believe gale winds thru the night. Next it will be not much wind and Dean will be trying to fly spinnaker. You have to experience all extremes. Have you started to unwind relax read a book etc. guess it won’t be an option until you reach Auckland. Have fun Look forward to yr next blog alison.
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Yay, go Janie and Dean. Look forward to updates. Don’t forget i expect a text in BOI. Love – Jan
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Hehe well done ! Sorry to hear about the jib that’s a bugger. Hope you’ve got some nice sailing today. Love to all xx
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Well done guys. Bummer about the headsail but good to hear you are making progress. The further north you go the better the conditions will be, probably
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How are you going – hope the weather is behaving – praying for a southerly
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Good girl …keep positive
Enjoy your trip it looks like it’s getting better as your head north …Get as much rest as you can, all of you
Cheers
Lloyd
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