Update

Coordinates:35 00 .800 s 174 20 . 124 E
Bearing: 48 T
Boat Speed: 5.5 kn
Wind Direction: SW
Wind Strength:12 fluctates but fairly light
Sea state: 0.5 metre
Crew health : first class

Fish caught: no time to fish

Other points of interest:

After a horrible arrival at cape brett 2 days ago , today has been perfect
Up at dawn to scamper up the mast to the top to retrieve the lost halyard , the snap shackle was ok , it must have been a fluke that it was knocked open when flogging as the wind kept changing in the squall the other night.
motor now all fine , so left early to motor up to Opua to clear customs at 11.30 am . buy some more diesel , fill a water container and departed by 12.30 pm.
What a glorious day , sun out , blue sky and we were soon running before the wind with poled out head sails.
The Bill Belcher designed wind vane was connected and took over the steering , correcting the course by small degrees as it wafts from side to side. Good old Bill , he used to live on Waiheke island , he has passed on now. The $ 100 I spent on materials to build it was a marvellous investment as it has steered Katipo for over 10,000 miles now !
We spent the afternoon tidying up the decks and stowing things not required for a while and have just eaten a hearty meal.
more news about the joys of sailing the ocean tomorrow
Don

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