LAst days of summer

Somewhere off the Tutukaka Coast

(Rounding Bream Head, at Whangarei)

We left Whangarei this morning, after a short visit to California.  DOMINO, safely docked at MArsden Cove Marina, was itching for a ride, her hulls slightly slimed.  JP was only to scratch this itch.  With hardly a breeze in our back and flat seas, JP launched BigD at 20 knots until he was satisfied that the hulls had been scrubbed clean!  

As we cruise the Tutukaka coast for the last time, I marvel at the beauty and wilderness of NZ's Northland.  So glad we came and not stayed in Fiji for the season, as had been the plan befor we hit the reef and were forced to come to NZ for repairs.

Poor Fiji!  (Photo above: Northern Laus; photo below: Southern Laus) Cylcone Winston had ravaged the islands, starting by the Northern Laus, Taveuni, Savu Savu on the northern island of Vanua Levu, ans the northern Yasawas.  In Many places, all buildings have beef destroyed, trees felled, crops annihilated, pigs are roaming wild, water catchment systems have been blown away.  Fiji needs help!!!

We have decided to join Sea Mercy, a relief organization made up of cruisers, to help rebuild the Laus, where we had been so welcome last year.  Photo below: Vanua Balavu, Northern Laus, our base for the next 3 months.  Winston made landfall here, at 185 mph (315 km/h) 

The DisasterRecovery Fleet is mustering in Opua and plan to sail for Vanua Balavu at the next weather window.

Follow us, support Sea Mercy, and we'll keep you updated on the mission as we go.

We are now rounding Cape Brett and the Hole in the Rock, just an hour from Russell and Opua, and I'm trying to get familiar with our new Google and Bing-driven navigation software, OVITALMAP ... See Domino real time on satellite image!

Or look outside for a few seagulls on the prowl like...

Till next time..  

Another perfect day!!!

Dominomarie