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| Four boys in a boat - what could go wrong ... |
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| Nothing actually went wrong and they had a great time. |
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| Victoria and Ella from Varekei. |
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| The girls needed a bit of extra weight - Devon from SV Anthea helps out on a windier day. |
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| I helped out at the yacht club with the launches and recoveries. Benjamin helping with the boat trolley. |
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| The Tall Ship R Tucker Thompson came into the anchorage so the big kids swam over to say hello |
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| Swimming back from the R Tucker Thompson with scones and jam ! |
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| Benjamin watches to ensure they stay safe. |
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| Swinging on their rope swing. The kids swam back with scones they were given. The kids then went back to give the crew some of the fudge that Victoria had made. |
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| Anchored off Waewaetorea Island where we spent Christmas with the other kid boats two years ago. |
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| Lots of nice hikes in the Bay of Islands. Johnathan is sitting on a WWII observation post. |
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| Pretty views. |
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| Where we anchored for Christmas this time. Waiwhapuka Bay |
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| Hiking on Waewaetorea Island |
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| Hiking on Waewaetorea Island |
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| Hiking on Waewaetorea Island |
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| One of the beaches on Waewaetorea Island. Liz was doing yoga here in peace and quiet when a tour boat load of tourists landed on the beach complete with barbecue and stereo. |
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| Spearfishing with the kids for lunch and dinner |
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| and mulberry jam from the mullberries the kids picked from behind the Russel Boating Club. |
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| A bronze whaler shark coming to check us out. They are bigger than most reef sharks but seem quite timid. |
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| A contrast in anchoring neighbours: nice considerate neighbours anchoring at a safe distance. |
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| A contrast in anchoring neighbours: anchoring too close - hard to see but there is a posh Hanse sailboat right behind our transom). We took this photo after they had let out some more chain and we brought in some more chain after we had asked them three times. Winds were forecast to be 25 kts so not the time for short rodes. |
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| The kids regularly took the bus down to Whangarei to visit their friends on Honey. Christmas preparations |
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| The kids regularly took the bus down to Whangarei to visit their friends on Honey. Christmas preparations |
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| I am not if this is where they stored Benjamin when he visited Honey |
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| More Christmas preparations |
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| The elve's sweatshop in the V-berth. Victoria making Christmas presents |
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| Christmas ! |
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| Christmas ! |
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| Christmas Dinner ! |
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| and, of course, maintenance. Johnathan removing the dynmea tack line so we can take the mainsail off for inspection. |
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| Johnathan and me making a new "anchor stick" for the windlass. |
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| Modifying the anchor stick for the windlass |
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| And a bit of wind - 51 kts - as we prepare to leave the boat for a few weeks. |