Our Holiday Dad, Mum, Lisa and I (David)
Introduction
It was finally our holiday. Dads, Mums, Lisas and my holiday, started on the 18th January 2009 and ended on the 16th February 2009. Our starting point was Opua. Our main destination was Great Barrier Island. After that we sailed to the Coromandel. We decided our next visit was Great Mercury Island, then back to the Great Barrier Island. Whangaparoa is where we picked up Teresa, my eldest sister, who stayed with us for a few days. We took Teresa to Great Barrier Island, showed her around, and returned her back to Whangaparoa. We stayed the night at Kawau Island, and headed to Bream Head. We set off again and rested at Whangaruru harbour. That was our last sleep of our holiday on Silent Charm, for the next day we headed back to Opua. The following is a more detailed account of our voyage in Silent Charm.
Day 1
We all clambered into the inflatable dingy. Dad rowed us to the yacht which was moored on a pile mooring at Opua. We got everything stored and left Opua at 6:00PM, approximating a speed of 7 knots. It took us 2.75 hours to get to Cape Brett. Since the sailing weather was good, we decided to do an overnighter instead of staying the night at Whangaruru, our old plan. When we left Cape Brett, Mum and me were in the cockpit (With the Autohelm on) keeping a lookout when the yacht started doing a 270° turn! We leapt off our feet, Mum gripped the wheel and I tried to figure out what the problem was. When the boom slammed across to the other side, Dad came flying up the stairs so we told him “something’s gone wrong with the Autohelm!” We later found out that when Dad was moving a chart, he accidentally bumped the instrument switch, turning the Autohelm off. Anyway we sorted it out and carried on.
5 hours later, the depth sounder went from 120 metres deep to 20 centimetres off the keel three times in a row! We were so shocked I became sick and vomited over the side! We couldn't explain the phenomenon because the chart and GPS showed that it was deep water. I felt better so I went down below to have some sleep. I was the only one that could sleep.
Day 2
When I woke up late in the morning I realised that we had anchored in Oneura bay, Great Barrier Island. When we had breakfast I asked Dad what we were going to do today. He said that we will just have a quiet time in the bay to rest after the overnighter. But we did go on the beach and collect cockles. It was the first time I had tasted them. They were nice to eat.
Day 3In the morning we got up at separate times, had breakfast and left Oneura bay. We headed out towards Little Barrier Island, so that Lisa and I could see how big Great Barrier Island really was. Mum reckoned it was a smaller New Zealand. We came back to the Barrier and went through the Man O War passage into Port Fitzroy harbour. We decided that we should explore the harbour instead of anchoring straight away. It was very beautiful and big. Our electronic compass was playing up so we had to calibrate it by pressing buttons then doing two big circles. It worked and the compass was pointing true north. When that was finished being sorted out, we motored out to the eastern end of the harbour where the little township was. We were going to anchor in a little bay when someone yelled out: “Don't anchor here because I need lots of room to sail out of this anchorage!” So we moved to another spot. We had used up our milk and other bits and pieces so we rowed to the shore and started to walk to the shop when we noticed a track with a sign. The track lead to a waterfall 15 minutes away, so we took it instead.
The track ended when the tiny waterfall came into view. There was a small track leading on top where the pool was bigger. We decided to look for even bigger pools along the stream, which lead us for hours until we could go no further. When we got back to the start we took the track that leads to Port Fitzroy, but the store was shut, so we bought a few burgers from another shop and returned to the yacht.Day 4
We finished our breakfast and left Port Fitzroy Harbour and did some fishing near a cave.
We finished our breakfast and left Port Fitzroy Harbour and did some fishing near a cave.
The cave was impressive. I kayaked right into it.
The fishing was pretty bad but we did catch some Splendid Perch.
The weather was really hot and sunny with just a few clouds in the sky.
We carried on into Katherine bay where we dropped anchor right up to the end of the bay. We had fish for tea.
We carried on into Katherine bay where we dropped anchor right up to the end of the bay. We had fish for tea.
Day 5
After breakfast we left Katherine bay and headed for Miners Head. When we came up to it, we noticed there was a green stain in/on the rock. Dad reckoned it was copper. When we looked a little closer we noticed a mining shaft going into the rock. That’s why it was called Miners Head, we suppose. 
On the other side of Miners Head, was a shipwreck,1894, named the SS Wairarapa, where 130 people lost their lives. The ship had gone offcourse during a fog. They never realised they were so close to the rocks.http://www.doc.govt.nz/conservation/historic/by-region/auckland/great-barrier/ss-wairarapa-graves/
Anyway back to our trip. As we rounded Needle point, we saw some dolphins! But they were snobby and just wanted a feed. So we left their feeding ground and headed for Whangapoua bay.
As we were about to round the point into Whangapoua bay, we thought of the possibility of visiting Arid Island, spend a couple of hours there, and then come back to Whangapoua bay to stay the night in. We did just that. The snorkeling was really great at Arid Island (thats what mum told me). When we got back and anchored in Whangapoua bay, we went on the wide stretch of surf beach when the sun was starting to lose its height. I really liked that day. 
Day 6
We left Whangapoua bay and headed for Harotaonga bay, when the lure that we were trailing behind the boat went: Zzzzziiiiinnnnnggggg! We slowed the boat down, Dad took the rod, Mum and I got the net and gaff while Lisa cheered. But Dad had the brake on too tight and snapped the line. Now Mum has never forgot to check if the brake is too tight. It was a good lure too. We fixed on another lure but it was never the same as the first one. We dropped the crayfish pot at Arid Island then stayed the night at Harotaonga bay.
On the other side of Miners Head, was a shipwreck,1894, named the SS Wairarapa, where 130 people lost their lives. The ship had gone offcourse during a fog. They never realised they were so close to the rocks.http://www.doc.govt.nz/conservation/historic/by-region/auckland/great-barrier/ss-wairarapa-graves/Anyway back to our trip. As we rounded Needle point, we saw some dolphins! But they were snobby and just wanted a feed. So we left their feeding ground and headed for Whangapoua bay.
As we were about to round the point into Whangapoua bay, we thought of the possibility of visiting Arid Island, spend a couple of hours there, and then come back to Whangapoua bay to stay the night in. We did just that. The snorkeling was really great at Arid Island (thats what mum told me). When we got back and anchored in Whangapoua bay, we went on the wide stretch of surf beach when the sun was starting to lose its height. I really liked that day. 
Day 6We left Whangapoua bay and headed for Harotaonga bay, when the lure that we were trailing behind the boat went: Zzzzziiiiinnnnnggggg! We slowed the boat down, Dad took the rod, Mum and I got the net and gaff while Lisa cheered. But Dad had the brake on too tight and snapped the line. Now Mum has never forgot to check if the brake is too tight. It was a good lure too. We fixed on another lure but it was never the same as the first one. We dropped the crayfish pot at Arid Island then stayed the night at Harotaonga bay.
Day 7
We lifted the anchor and went back through the choppy waves to Arid Island to pick up the crayfish pot. We hoped like heck that there was a crayfish in there and...................There was a crayfi... no, just a Moray eel. We dropped the anchor near that spot and did some fishing. Next half-hour someone noticed about 60 dolphins coming towards us! Lisa jumped in the dinghy and blew a tune underwater. As they got closer we noticed something different about the dolphins. Dad then pointed out that they were actually whales! Pilot whales of all sizes!
When they had gone and since the fishing was bad we left and did some trolling near some rocks. That was pretty bad too. We came around lion rock trolling when I noticed a purple squiggly line forming a square which we in the middle of on the GPS. I yelled out: Quick, reel the lures in... We’re in a Marine Reserve! After a while we decided to anchor a bit south of the Marine Reserve. But it was a bit too open and the wind was a bit too rough so we retraced our steps to Korotiti bay, where we stayed the night.
Day 8
We left Korotiti bay and headed for Tryphena harbour. The water was so smooth. A very calm day. As we were passing the busy airport, we saw at least over a dozen of planes fly in or out the airport. We had the lures out so when the reel went Zzzzziiiiinnnnnggggg! We slowed the boat, got the gaff and net, and reeled it in. When it came close to the boat, we saw that it was a Kingfish, foul-hooked, and undersized. Just as we were going to pull it out of the water to unhook it, another Kingfish came into view. It appeared to be helping the caught kingfish off the lure! As we pulled the caught kingfish out of the water, it dropped off and swam away. The free kingfish didn't follow its friend, but grabbed the lure and swam away with it! As we brought it back near the boat, we swiped it with the net and pulled it in. This one was bigger, but still undersized, so we released it back.
We lifted the anchor and went back through the choppy waves to Arid Island to pick up the crayfish pot. We hoped like heck that there was a crayfish in there and...................There was a crayfi... no, just a Moray eel. We dropped the anchor near that spot and did some fishing. Next half-hour someone noticed about 60 dolphins coming towards us! Lisa jumped in the dinghy and blew a tune underwater. As they got closer we noticed something different about the dolphins. Dad then pointed out that they were actually whales! Pilot whales of all sizes!
When they had gone and since the fishing was bad we left and did some trolling near some rocks. That was pretty bad too. We came around lion rock trolling when I noticed a purple squiggly line forming a square which we in the middle of on the GPS. I yelled out: Quick, reel the lures in... We’re in a Marine Reserve! After a while we decided to anchor a bit south of the Marine Reserve. But it was a bit too open and the wind was a bit too rough so we retraced our steps to Korotiti bay, where we stayed the night.Day 8
We left Korotiti bay and headed for Tryphena harbour. The water was so smooth. A very calm day. As we were passing the busy airport, we saw at least over a dozen of planes fly in or out the airport. We had the lures out so when the reel went Zzzzziiiiinnnnnggggg! We slowed the boat, got the gaff and net, and reeled it in. When it came close to the boat, we saw that it was a Kingfish, foul-hooked, and undersized. Just as we were going to pull it out of the water to unhook it, another Kingfish came into view. It appeared to be helping the caught kingfish off the lure! As we pulled the caught kingfish out of the water, it dropped off and swam away. The free kingfish didn't follow its friend, but grabbed the lure and swam away with it! As we brought it back near the boat, we swiped it with the net and pulled it in. This one was bigger, but still undersized, so we released it back.
As we rounded Cape Barrier, we started to look for a place to put our crayfish pot, because we knew Tryphena was just around the corner. We dropped the crayfish pot in a small cove and headed into Tryphena harbour. We pulled up by what we thought was a fuel jetty. It wasn’t a fuel jetty: it was a passenger boat jetty. So we left and anchored in Mulberry Grove, where we got our groceries. When we got back to the boat we saw some people diving off a boat, then coming up with something in their hands. So, when they left, Mum and Dad got in the dinghy and rowed out to where they were diving. Dad then slid into the water with snorkelling gear, snorkelled a bit, then dived. He came back up with 9 scallops in one dive. We had them for tea.
Day 9
We lifted the anchor and motored to the place where we dropped the crayfish pot. The waves were much bigger than when we dropped it, and it was a bit too dangerous to pick it up with the dinghy. So we got a long rope, tied one end to the dinghy, and the other end to the yacht. When Dad was in the dinghy, Mum manoeuvred the yacht upwind of him. That way the dinghy would drift into the buoy. It worked, after the third try. The results were the same as last time...Nothing. “Next time”, we muttered. We sailed to Whangaparapara harbour to fuel up, as there was no fuel jetty in Tryphena harbour. As we entered the harbour, lots of Gannets were diving for fish.
Day 9
We lifted the anchor and motored to the place where we dropped the crayfish pot. The waves were much bigger than when we dropped it, and it was a bit too dangerous to pick it up with the dinghy. So we got a long rope, tied one end to the dinghy, and the other end to the yacht. When Dad was in the dinghy, Mum manoeuvred the yacht upwind of him. That way the dinghy would drift into the buoy. It worked, after the third try. The results were the same as last time...Nothing. “Next time”, we muttered. We sailed to Whangaparapara harbour to fuel up, as there was no fuel jetty in Tryphena harbour. As we entered the harbour, lots of Gannets were diving for fish.
As soon as one would dive, the rest would dive. As soon as one took off, the others would take off. We put the lure out but no bites. Then Dolphins came. They were jumping and twisting and diving and doing all other sorts of things. There were about twenty, including two baby ones. Deep into the harbour, where the fuel jetty was, there was all this pink, slimy stuff, called algae bloom, all over the water.
We fuelled up, and had just finished anchoring when me and Dad saw something big leap out of the water, do a drill twist, and land exactly how it left the water. Probably a shark after some food. We had pizza that I cooked that night.Day 10
We all woke up, and decided we needed to go on land for a day. There was a track, called Tramline track that went towards some hot springs(It was called Tramline Track because a train used to run along it to bring the logged Kauri trees down to the harbour. It was one of the most difficult engineering feats in the world. It had 7 steamers to push it up the steep slope, believe it or not!http://www.doc.govt.nz/conservation/historic/by-region/auckland/great-barrier/tramline-track/). So we packed the needed gear to set out on this track. Dad rowed us to a muddy beach where we tied the dinghy up and walked along the road until we found the track. We followed the track, where we met some people, so Mum and Dad stopped to talk. Lisa and I carried on ahead. I stopped at a gate, but Lisa carried on. When Mum and Dad caught up with me, I told them Lisa had gone ahead. So away we went and we caught up with Lisa 45 minutes later. There was lots of pig rooting along the track, which made Mum nervous. We had a chocolate break and continued. I had forgotten how long the track was so I asked Dad. He said 2.5 hours. We had been going for about half an hour. There were lots of branches coming off the main track but we managed to find our way with the signs. When we were 20 minutes away from the hot springs, I nearly squashed two stick insects, but luckily I was watching where I stepped. I scooped them up in my hands and placed them on my shoulder. When we got to the springs I placed them in a bush.
We all woke up, and decided we needed to go on land for a day. There was a track, called Tramline track that went towards some hot springs(It was called Tramline Track because a train used to run along it to bring the logged Kauri trees down to the harbour. It was one of the most difficult engineering feats in the world. It had 7 steamers to push it up the steep slope, believe it or not!http://www.doc.govt.nz/conservation/historic/by-region/auckland/great-barrier/tramline-track/). So we packed the needed gear to set out on this track. Dad rowed us to a muddy beach where we tied the dinghy up and walked along the road until we found the track. We followed the track, where we met some people, so Mum and Dad stopped to talk. Lisa and I carried on ahead. I stopped at a gate, but Lisa carried on. When Mum and Dad caught up with me, I told them Lisa had gone ahead. So away we went and we caught up with Lisa 45 minutes later. There was lots of pig rooting along the track, which made Mum nervous. We had a chocolate break and continued. I had forgotten how long the track was so I asked Dad. He said 2.5 hours. We had been going for about half an hour. There were lots of branches coming off the main track but we managed to find our way with the signs. When we were 20 minutes away from the hot springs, I nearly squashed two stick insects, but luckily I was watching where I stepped. I scooped them up in my hands and placed them on my shoulder. When we got to the springs I placed them in a bush.
The pools of water in which we sat in made you feel tired and heavy. We were only in there for half an hour when we left, because it was getting late. I said goodbye to the stick insects and we took another route to Whangaparapara. There was a portable toilet beside the track and Mum was busting to go to the toilet. There was a lock on the outside of the door so I locked her in! She immediately started banging on the door so after a few seconds I opened the door. She said there was poo all over the place and full with blowflies. We got back to Whangaparapara and decided to eat tea at Great Barrier Lodge, where we met up with some people. When we finished eating it was dark so we left, pushed the dinghy into the water, and Dad rowed us back. We were all scared a shark might leap out of the water and take a victim. The darkness didn't help either.
Day 11
Today was the day to cross Colville channel to the Coromandel. With spaghetti on toast in our stomachs, we had a rather quiet crossing with calm winds. 5 or 6 hours later we had arrived at Port Charles to stay the night. But since it was a little bit too open and windy for our liking, we just had lunch there instead and moved on to the Southern end of Kennedy bay and stayed the night. We got most of our shells from the beach there.
Today was the day to cross Colville channel to the Coromandel. With spaghetti on toast in our stomachs, we had a rather quiet crossing with calm winds. 5 or 6 hours later we had arrived at Port Charles to stay the night. But since it was a little bit too open and windy for our liking, we just had lunch there instead and moved on to the Southern end of Kennedy bay and stayed the night. We got most of our shells from the beach there.
Day 12I was really tired so I stayed in bed while Dad got the boat moving and pointing it just off Tokarahu Point. After a short while I came out and enjoyed the sunshine. Just after Tokarahu Point we passed Ohinou Island, which was made of some sort of sedimentary-volcanic rock and had two tunnels that looked like they were going through each other!
We had just stepped into Mercury bay when a smaller yacht called Caballero, whom we didn't know, came up from behind and sailed right past us! During the competition, dad called on the radio to say that he required a marina berth for a few days. They gave us one right on the end of the finger. When we got nearer, us and Caballero started to take down our sails. We had in-mast furling but they didn't so we were quicker in getting the sail down. We gained speed then. But when we both had our engines running they again left us in its wake! We arrived at the marina and to our disappointment they were already tied up! Dad paid for the berth and we got some groceries from New World.
Day 13
We got up, and left for Cathedral cove. The beaches were really nice along the way. When we anchored, I kayaked to the beach and waited for the others in the dinghy. When they arrived, we saw that there was a huge cave connecting two beaches, and if you walked under it, it was like walking under a highway bridge. The water was fairly warm; the sun was shining nicely, and a good sized wave coming in now and then. There was a rock a bit further out where people would dive off.
The place was really crowded. I got out on my kayak and rode the waves in, and I tipped out a few times. Afterwards we went back to Whitianga marina. 
Day 14
We decided we will go to Cathedral cove once more. So before we left, we bought some snorkelling gear, etc. When we arrived at Cathedral cove, we had lunch, and Dad, Mum, and Lisa slipped into their snorkelling gear. They went out towards a rock where they saw some fish. After a while Dad came back saying that Mum was too exhausted to swim back, and if I wanted to come with him in the dinghy. I said yes. We were waiting for Mum to hop in the dinghy when I noticed a cave. Dad started rowing towards it and when he saw that it was wide enough, started going in! We had half a metre on each side, but a bit further in it started getting wider. We beached the dinghy on a sandy beach inside. The sand was so smooth and the cave was huge compared to its entrance. When Mum and Lisa didn't like snorkelling in because it was quite claustrophobic. We were all inside the dinghy, so Dad rowed us to the yacht. When the anchor was pulled up, we had a look around Goat Island, when a plastic cup rolled off the deck and fell into the water! Cup overboard! Mum shouts. Dad swings the boat around, Mum gets the boathook, I get the net, while Lisa points to it. I make a swing for but misses, Mum makes a swing for it but misses, I try again and get it! When we were back at the marina, Lisa said she’d get some pipis. She left before six while the gate was open and hadn't come back before eight. The door is locked after six and need a key, which we had, so we thought she must be behind the gate trying to get in! We looked at the gate and the beach but she wasn't at either place so we went back to the boat and there she was, as hungry as ever. She said a kind man let her through the gate. She ate all the pipis so we didn't get any.
Day 15
Today was Dads birthday, 2nd February. Dad was in a hurry to get to Great Mercury, so we had to get his present fast. The night before, Mum and I had thought it over and thought binoculars were a good present. We went to a lot of shops to find a good one but in the end we did. We got back just in time. Dad had just finished returning the gate card and was about to call up the radio, but opened his present first. He really, really enjoyed it and we found lots of uses for it. He called up the radio and said that we’ll head up to Great Mercury Island. A few seconds later we hear Caballero* call up on the radio and say that they were going to Great Mercury too! The race is on... To us anyway. They were first out of the marina so we had to act fast. We untied the ropes holding the yacht and were off. There Caballero was way up ahead of us. We took all our sails out to gain as much speed as possible. But then Dad remembered that he wanted to look at a place that had deposits of carnelian further up the Coromandel. So, to our disappointment, Dad changed course and quit the race, which we made up, much to our protest. When we got to the place (it was called Waikawau bay) we couldn't find what we were looking for anyway so it was a waste of time. We finally left for Great Mercury, thinking that we could've beaten Caballero. When we finally got to the little harbour, we saw them already settled down. With the new binoculars we were looking at the multimillionaires houses, and then we went to bed.
*The yacht that we raced into the marina.
Day 16
We woke up quite lazily and wondered what to do for today. Dad wanted to climb Mt Cook, which was 95 metres high. Since there was nothing really much else to do, and we wanted to stay here a bit, we agreed to climb Mt Cook. We took the binoculars with us. When we landed at the beach, one of us found a great piece of carnelian. Then another person found another piece; greater still. There were so many big pieces that every 5 normal stones, you would find one carnelian! We loaded some of the fine carnelian pieces onto the dinghy and started climbing the mountain/hill. When I was getting near the top, I found a cows tooth and a very small piece of carnelian. The view from the top was so beautiful, the sky was quite clear, and you could see the different depths of the sea bed.
Day 14We decided we will go to Cathedral cove once more. So before we left, we bought some snorkelling gear, etc. When we arrived at Cathedral cove, we had lunch, and Dad, Mum, and Lisa slipped into their snorkelling gear. They went out towards a rock where they saw some fish. After a while Dad came back saying that Mum was too exhausted to swim back, and if I wanted to come with him in the dinghy. I said yes. We were waiting for Mum to hop in the dinghy when I noticed a cave. Dad started rowing towards it and when he saw that it was wide enough, started going in! We had half a metre on each side, but a bit further in it started getting wider. We beached the dinghy on a sandy beach inside. The sand was so smooth and the cave was huge compared to its entrance. When Mum and Lisa didn't like snorkelling in because it was quite claustrophobic. We were all inside the dinghy, so Dad rowed us to the yacht. When the anchor was pulled up, we had a look around Goat Island, when a plastic cup rolled off the deck and fell into the water! Cup overboard! Mum shouts. Dad swings the boat around, Mum gets the boathook, I get the net, while Lisa points to it. I make a swing for but misses, Mum makes a swing for it but misses, I try again and get it! When we were back at the marina, Lisa said she’d get some pipis. She left before six while the gate was open and hadn't come back before eight. The door is locked after six and need a key, which we had, so we thought she must be behind the gate trying to get in! We looked at the gate and the beach but she wasn't at either place so we went back to the boat and there she was, as hungry as ever. She said a kind man let her through the gate. She ate all the pipis so we didn't get any.
Day 15
Today was Dads birthday, 2nd February. Dad was in a hurry to get to Great Mercury, so we had to get his present fast. The night before, Mum and I had thought it over and thought binoculars were a good present. We went to a lot of shops to find a good one but in the end we did. We got back just in time. Dad had just finished returning the gate card and was about to call up the radio, but opened his present first. He really, really enjoyed it and we found lots of uses for it. He called up the radio and said that we’ll head up to Great Mercury Island. A few seconds later we hear Caballero* call up on the radio and say that they were going to Great Mercury too! The race is on... To us anyway. They were first out of the marina so we had to act fast. We untied the ropes holding the yacht and were off. There Caballero was way up ahead of us. We took all our sails out to gain as much speed as possible. But then Dad remembered that he wanted to look at a place that had deposits of carnelian further up the Coromandel. So, to our disappointment, Dad changed course and quit the race, which we made up, much to our protest. When we got to the place (it was called Waikawau bay) we couldn't find what we were looking for anyway so it was a waste of time. We finally left for Great Mercury, thinking that we could've beaten Caballero. When we finally got to the little harbour, we saw them already settled down. With the new binoculars we were looking at the multimillionaires houses, and then we went to bed.
*The yacht that we raced into the marina.
Day 16
We woke up quite lazily and wondered what to do for today. Dad wanted to climb Mt Cook, which was 95 metres high. Since there was nothing really much else to do, and we wanted to stay here a bit, we agreed to climb Mt Cook. We took the binoculars with us. When we landed at the beach, one of us found a great piece of carnelian. Then another person found another piece; greater still. There were so many big pieces that every 5 normal stones, you would find one carnelian! We loaded some of the fine carnelian pieces onto the dinghy and started climbing the mountain/hill. When I was getting near the top, I found a cows tooth and a very small piece of carnelian. The view from the top was so beautiful, the sky was quite clear, and you could see the different depths of the sea bed.
Our yacht looked so tiny, swinging in the wind. We counted about 8 or 9 of the multimillionaire’s houses and buildings. We even thought we saw a private airport on top of a hill! There was still half a day left when we were back on the yacht, so we decided to anchor at a quiet little beach just around the corner and do some snorkelling. The snorkelling was quite interesting because the water was nice and clear and the fish were numerous and beautiful. It was the first time I had seen so many fish (I don’t snorkel much). I was the only one that saw a snapper. After, we went on the beach and then snorkelled a bit more. Then we went back to the yacht where we noticed people diving there. So Dad, Mum and I hopped in the dinghy and rowed to where they were diving. Dad had snorkelling gear on to dive for whatever they were diving for. Down he went. He came up with scallops, so we had them for tea.
Day 17
We left the little bay to drop the crayfish pot at an underwater rock near Ururoarahi Point. When we were at the rock, we dropped the crayfish pot as near as we could get it to the rock. Then Mum, Dad and Lisa went snorkelling. I stayed in the dinghy and looked over the side. There was quite a lot of fish here too. Dad went to check on the crayfish pot. Lucky he did so because it was leaning on its side. Suddenly Lisa flew out of the water into the dinghy faster than saying the word “panic”. We asked her what’s the matter, to which she replied: “I saw something grey and big!” We all laughed. After the snorkelling, we did a bit of fishing and caught a few small sized snapper and pigfish/parrotfish. After this, we decided to go back to the little bay where we got some scallops and stay the night there. As we rounded Ururoarahi Point, Dad saw a little bay and decided to have tea there. While Mum and Lisa were cooking tea, Dad and I decided to explore a cliff. When we were about two thirds of the way up, Dad noticed a huge piece of quartz...a huge piece! Since we couldn’t go any further up, we decided to roll the large piece of quarts back to the dinghy. We struggled to lift it in and only just managed. When we were two metres away from the yacht, we smelt and saw smoke coming from the galley! We quickly scrambled on the yacht and saw Mum busily wiping the back of a pan. We asked her what had happened. She said that the pan was sitting on a grip mat thing to stop it sliding. When she picked the pan up, the grip mat thing stayed on the bottom of the pan. She didn't know this and placed it on the stove! But we eventually had our late tea and headed to that little bay, where we got the scallops, to stay the night.
Day 18
When I woke up, Mum and Dad were getting ready to get some more scallops. I came with them. We got plenty, same as the last time. Today we were going to head out to Peach Cove where someone told us there was a stream and waterfall where you could wash your clothes. The beach was a dazzling white to look at. We followed the stream until we came across a track. 15 minutes later, we found the waterfall and the creek. We left our washing there and walked up the track. There was nothing much to see so we went back to the washing. Lisa took all day..... She had sooooo many clothes! I tried to help, but she just grumped and said: Don’t you do that! She finally finished, so when we got back to the dinghy we left the clothes there and had a look around on the other beach. We looked in a cave and saw some cow bones! When we went back to the dinghy, I noticed some mussels. But they were too small to eat, and saved them for next year. We saw more mussels on another rock, which were big enough so we got some. After, we went to the same old little bay to stay the night, as usual.
Day 17
We left the little bay to drop the crayfish pot at an underwater rock near Ururoarahi Point. When we were at the rock, we dropped the crayfish pot as near as we could get it to the rock. Then Mum, Dad and Lisa went snorkelling. I stayed in the dinghy and looked over the side. There was quite a lot of fish here too. Dad went to check on the crayfish pot. Lucky he did so because it was leaning on its side. Suddenly Lisa flew out of the water into the dinghy faster than saying the word “panic”. We asked her what’s the matter, to which she replied: “I saw something grey and big!” We all laughed. After the snorkelling, we did a bit of fishing and caught a few small sized snapper and pigfish/parrotfish. After this, we decided to go back to the little bay where we got some scallops and stay the night there. As we rounded Ururoarahi Point, Dad saw a little bay and decided to have tea there. While Mum and Lisa were cooking tea, Dad and I decided to explore a cliff. When we were about two thirds of the way up, Dad noticed a huge piece of quartz...a huge piece! Since we couldn’t go any further up, we decided to roll the large piece of quarts back to the dinghy. We struggled to lift it in and only just managed. When we were two metres away from the yacht, we smelt and saw smoke coming from the galley! We quickly scrambled on the yacht and saw Mum busily wiping the back of a pan. We asked her what had happened. She said that the pan was sitting on a grip mat thing to stop it sliding. When she picked the pan up, the grip mat thing stayed on the bottom of the pan. She didn't know this and placed it on the stove! But we eventually had our late tea and headed to that little bay, where we got the scallops, to stay the night.
Day 18
When I woke up, Mum and Dad were getting ready to get some more scallops. I came with them. We got plenty, same as the last time. Today we were going to head out to Peach Cove where someone told us there was a stream and waterfall where you could wash your clothes. The beach was a dazzling white to look at. We followed the stream until we came across a track. 15 minutes later, we found the waterfall and the creek. We left our washing there and walked up the track. There was nothing much to see so we went back to the washing. Lisa took all day..... She had sooooo many clothes! I tried to help, but she just grumped and said: Don’t you do that! She finally finished, so when we got back to the dinghy we left the clothes there and had a look around on the other beach. We looked in a cave and saw some cow bones! When we went back to the dinghy, I noticed some mussels. But they were too small to eat, and saved them for next year. We saw more mussels on another rock, which were big enough so we got some. After, we went to the same old little bay to stay the night, as usual.
Day 19
This morning, we got up and had breakfast, left that little bay, and headed for Great Barrier Island again. The swells were big, the breeze was fairly warm, and Lisa and I were making a racket up front. After 3 or so hours after leaving Great Mercury Island, We were finally quite near Whangaparapara when we saw ship-like looking boats possibly trolling/trawling for tuna. We finally arrived at Whangaparapara. We didn’t do much the rest of the day.
Day 20
We decided that today we would spend our beautiful day at Port Fitzroy Harbour at the stunning Smokehouse bay,
then tomorrow climb the highest peak on Great Barrier Island, Mt Hobson, which was 626 metres high. 
I wasn’t up on deck enjoying the vista, so I was disoriented when I came up and found out that we were already at Smokehouse Bay. We rowed out to the little beach, and pulled the dinghy up onto the soft sand. After exploring around the area, we found out that there were two composting toilets, one full, four swings, a bathhouse, four washing tubs and wringers, and three smokehouses. If only we had caught some fish suitable for smoking! Mum and Lisa went up a track that led to a hill overlooking Port Fitzroy Harbour, while Dad and I stayed back. Dad managed to get some nice photos of some fat pigeons. 
When they hadn't come back for some time, Dad was getting worried, so we climbed the track that they had climbed. We met a man coming down, so we asked him if he had seen anyone. He said: “Yeah I saw two women coming up this track about half an hour ago some way up there.” Then he talked about why he goes up there and some stories about that he often runs down and things like that. Dad said thankyou and continued up the track. Luckily the fella said turn right at the rock to get to the hill; otherwise we might have taken the wrong way. We eventually found them coming down the track. They told us a funny story. I’m sorry but it’s too long to tell the full story so I will tell the basics. Mum and Lisa thought that the fella that we met was chasing them. They had leapt up and hid in the ferns and saw him running down talking on a cell-phone. We eventually got the full story and headed down to the beach. After a while we did nothing else. We went back to the yacht. By then it was getting dark. When it was fully dark Dad suddenly remembered that he had to make a call. The only reception was on top of the hill. He left with a torch and cell-phone and came back half an hour later. Dad started the engine to charge the batteries. After an hour, he finally turned it off. We heard some people shouting: Yaaaaay!
Day 21
In the morning, we left the cute little bay for another bay, so that we could get as close to Mt Hobson as possible. We had the anchor down, and were piling food and togs into the dinghy. We were finally set to go. As Dad rowed to the steps that led from the beach, we just couldn’t see the seabed. Then quite suddenly it rose up steeply, and the oars just barely missed the bottom. There were sooooo many cockles and pipis. We finally beached and lifted the dinghy right up to the steps, where Dad tied it onto some very thick roots. We climbed the steps with the luggage on our backs, and came across a forest road. We followed it for a bit then turned onto the Mt Hobson track. We followed the track for about an hour and a half when we came across a Kauri dam.
We climbed down onto the smooth rock that made the river bed and had lunch. While we were eating, Lisa spotted an eel! At that altitude! 
Dad managed to get a photo. Afterwards, we decided to have a swim in one of the many, smooth rock surface (but rockless) pools that formed the river bed. Where the rock face was wet, it was really slippery, so Lisa and I would slide down the slope and splash into the water. Mum decided she would have a go, but slipped and knocked her head on a rock. We all scrambled to help her. After a few seconds she managed to stir, and slowly sat up. She didn't break anything, and remembered ok so she was all right, apart from a very sickie feeling. We decided that we should turn back and cancel the climb though. After about an hour, Mum began to feel her self again. We had a look at Kaiaraara hut, where there was a sign saying: Please use the axe wisely. But where was the axe? Then Mum and Lisa started getting ideas that the weirdo man had taken the axe and was secretly chasing them, getting ready to knock our heads off. We finally got back to the boat, lifted the anchor, and got outside of Port Fitzroy harbour because that’s a good place to get cell-phone coverage. We rang Teresa to say that we would pick her up at Gulf Harbour marina at Whangaparoa tomorrow. She said it was fine and was really, really, excited. We also said Happy Birthday to Sarah, who is in Australia. Then we went to bed in a bay.
Day 22
We woke up, and got ready to cross the Haruaki Gulf to pick up Teresa. When we did cross the gulf, we saw a fat, brown shark going the opposite way to us. There was nothing much else that happened along the way. When we arrived at Gulf Harbour marina, Whangaparoa at about 3:30 PM, we pulled up alongside the fuel jetty and filled the diesel tank with fuel. We were down on water too, so we filled up the water tanks. Mum and Dad then got food and other things from the store. When Lisa and I were waiting for Mum and Dad, we were going to play Monopoly but changed our minds. They finally returned. Then Dad and I waited at the gate of the marina for Teresa. After about 15 minutes we saw her. She stopped the car and let us get in. We were so happy to see her again. She parked her car at the parking lot and we helped her get her stuff out of the car and into the nearby trolleys. We wheeled the trolleys to the fuel jetty. We were all pleased to see each other. We left Gulf Harbour marina and headed for Whangaparapara harbour in Great Barrier Island. When we finally arrived there, it was really early in the morning.
Day 23
We decided to spend our two days with Teresa in Port Fitzroy Harbour. When we were just off Cliff Island, the Kahawai lure line suddenly took off! Zzzzziiiiinnnnnggggg! Mum grabbed the rod and started reeling it in. Dad stopped the boat, and was ready with the gaff. Mum managed to pull it in and Dad managed to get it in the net(He switched tools). We were all very excited to have a fish to eat. It was a fine size too. Mum put the lure back out, and almost immediately, another Kahawai was caught!
It was Teresa's turn now. After a few minutes there was another fish struggling in the bin! The rod that had the other lure that hadn't caught anything on it yet, suddenly bent like a bow! Dad, who had thumb on the nylon to stop it birds-nesting, whipped his finger off it because it had burnt his thumb! The reel birds-nested and caused a reel tangle-up! Meanwhile, the fish that was on it managed to get off. But Dad and Lisa eventually caught a fish, and there were four Kahawai struggling in the fish bin. On the Junction Islands, we got some mussels. But they weren't as nice as the Bay of Islands mussels though. We carried on through, past the past the Broken Islands, through the narrow entrance into Port Fitzroy Harbour, and anchored at Smokehouse Bay. All of us except Dad went to get firewood so we could smoke our fish. When we returned, he already had a tiny fire going and the fish on the grate. It suddenly started pouring down with rain so we sheltered in the bathhouse, where there was a man waiting for the water to warm up to have a shower. He told many stories. Mum just happened to look out the window and couldn't see the yacht! Dad just said it was around the corner a bit and not to worry. Mum asked if he was sure and the man teased her, saying it was on the rocks, joking. Mum went outside, just to make sure, and it wasn't there! Then we saw it far off in the distance! Dad just managed to reach it in the dinghy in time! He drove the boat forward and lifted the anchor at the same time, nearly hitting someone else's yacht! He saw the problem: The anchor had landed on a cheesecloth and hadn't dug in! We left Smokehouse Bay for Port Fitzroy so Dad can pick up our mail and then we would come back and eat our fish. But the post office was shut.
Day 24
We had breakfast and had to go back to Port Fitzroy and try to pick the mail up again. After this, we anchored in a bay, and went to see the same waterfall (In Day 3) that we had visited not long after we arrived at the Island. It was fun. We even had a swim in the little pool. It was muddier than last time though. We then went back to the yacht, lifted the anchor and departed Great Barrier Island for ever on this holiday. It was quite sad for Mum and I, we enjoyed it. We were sailing towards Whangaparoa to drop Teresa off at Gulf Harbour marina, the same place as before. It was about 9:00 PM when we finally entered the marina. We had a spot of trouble getting into our berth but we managed. It was sad to see Teresa go. We would stay the night in the marina tonight.
Day 25
We spent the whole day on the marina, looking at other yachts. We had lunch at the cafe and had a look in the shops.
Day 26
Today was very similar to yesterday. We had a look at yachts, washed our clothes, and bought some dinghy wheels for the dinghy. We were running out of gas for our stove so Dad asked a kind guy for the nearest gas station, who told him the directions and let him use his car! Then we went to bed.
Day 27
We left the marina in the morning for Kawau Island to start the homeward journey. Just before we went on the main island, we went on one of Kawau’s small islands to see the Rewa shipwreck.
As Dad and I were walking along one of the tracks, we saw our native owl, the Morepork. 
Dad didn't have his camera with him, so he had to go back to the yacht to get the camera. Dad managed to get some shots of it. We then went to the main island and anchored in Mansion House Bay, and rowed up to the beach. 
Thanks to the dinghy wheels, we slid it up the beach. The mansion was huge, and the garden was awesome. We went exploring and found ourselves splitting up. I saw three wallabies. There were two palm trees out the back of the mansion that were HUGE. We eventually went back to the yacht for sleep.
Day 28
We were planning to go to Urquharts Bay, Bream Head, for a stop there but the waves were too rough, so we would go tomorrow. We lifted the anchor and motored to a little shop just around the point. When we got there, Dad jumped into the dinghy to get some food, while Mum manoeuvred, the yacht around the bay waiting for him to save putting the anchor down. As Mum was moving forward against the current, a small launch, obviously not in a hurry, rudely rumbled past our bow, a metre off hitting us! Mum had to reverse the yacht, full throttle to miss him! What cheek! We got the food and went back to Mansion House Bay. We stayed there for about an hour when Dad said “Blow it”, lifted the anchor and left Kawau Island for Urquharts Bay, continuing with the old plan. When we got out of the windbreak of Kawau Island, we then saw how big the waves were. When the yacht sat in the trough of a wave, the crest of the wave would be higher than the bimini! Unfortunately we were heading into the waves, so the bow would go flying off the top of a wave, and come clashing down on top of another one! But the waves will be going side on to us when we round the point, luckily. When we were still going into the waves, the dinghy would do the same as the bow: fly off a crest and crash into another, sometimes totally out of the water! When we were halfway to our destination, a set of sharks followed us for a while, probably waiting for their dinner. After about 4 hours and in the darkness, we made it to Urquharts Bay safely, except that just before we arrived the kayak had almost slidden off the deck into the sea if the other rope had broken.
Day 29
We woke up quite late, because we were really tired. It was lucky it was sunny and not raining like yesterday. Dad said that we would stay here for today, but soon we left at about 12PM for Ohawini Bay, Whangaruru anyway. When we left the bay and were in the main channel, we saw that the big rollers had died down quite a bit. Lisa and I were up front on deck. The bow would go up and up from a crest, and then smash onto a trough, and the bow wouldn’t have enough time to spring back up to ride the next wave, so the bow would be buried and completely submerged by the wave. Most of the time the water would wash around our waist but twice it went right over our shoulders! We could barely hang on it was so powerfull. After the second time we decided we should go back and dry off, because it was getting rough, scary, and cold. A few hours later, in the darkness again, we arrived at Ohawini Bay and had our last sleep on the yacht on our holiday.
Day 30 (The last day)
It was so sad that the last day had come so fast.
Again we were so tired because we didn't get enough sleep. The day was overcast, and the waves were now so tiny that there was no fun in being at the bow on deck. Besides it was cold. We left Whangaruru harbour for Opua, the yacht's mooring site, the last leg of the journey. We caught a Bonito between Cape Brett and Home Point (When we got home we forgot about the Bonito sitting in the trailer and a few days later there was hardly anything left of it, because of maggots). Just as we rounded Cape Brett, a terrible terrible smell erupted from the kitchen! “She’s burnt something hasn't she?!” When we finally got the news out of Mum, she said she did the same thing on Day 17... About the rubber mat thing that stops the kettle from sliding. It stuck to the bottom of the kettle and got burnt on the stove. It was really sad for me when we entered the marina. HOLIDAY OVER.
I wasn’t up on deck enjoying the vista, so I was disoriented when I came up and found out that we were already at Smokehouse Bay. We rowed out to the little beach, and pulled the dinghy up onto the soft sand. After exploring around the area, we found out that there were two composting toilets, one full, four swings, a bathhouse, four washing tubs and wringers, and three smokehouses. If only we had caught some fish suitable for smoking! Mum and Lisa went up a track that led to a hill overlooking Port Fitzroy Harbour, while Dad and I stayed back. Dad managed to get some nice photos of some fat pigeons. When they hadn't come back for some time, Dad was getting worried, so we climbed the track that they had climbed. We met a man coming down, so we asked him if he had seen anyone. He said: “Yeah I saw two women coming up this track about half an hour ago some way up there.” Then he talked about why he goes up there and some stories about that he often runs down and things like that. Dad said thankyou and continued up the track. Luckily the fella said turn right at the rock to get to the hill; otherwise we might have taken the wrong way. We eventually found them coming down the track. They told us a funny story. I’m sorry but it’s too long to tell the full story so I will tell the basics. Mum and Lisa thought that the fella that we met was chasing them. They had leapt up and hid in the ferns and saw him running down talking on a cell-phone. We eventually got the full story and headed down to the beach. After a while we did nothing else. We went back to the yacht. By then it was getting dark. When it was fully dark Dad suddenly remembered that he had to make a call. The only reception was on top of the hill. He left with a torch and cell-phone and came back half an hour later. Dad started the engine to charge the batteries. After an hour, he finally turned it off. We heard some people shouting: Yaaaaay!Day 21
In the morning, we left the cute little bay for another bay, so that we could get as close to Mt Hobson as possible. We had the anchor down, and were piling food and togs into the dinghy. We were finally set to go. As Dad rowed to the steps that led from the beach, we just couldn’t see the seabed. Then quite suddenly it rose up steeply, and the oars just barely missed the bottom. There were sooooo many cockles and pipis. We finally beached and lifted the dinghy right up to the steps, where Dad tied it onto some very thick roots. We climbed the steps with the luggage on our backs, and came across a forest road. We followed it for a bit then turned onto the Mt Hobson track. We followed the track for about an hour and a half when we came across a Kauri dam.
We climbed down onto the smooth rock that made the river bed and had lunch. While we were eating, Lisa spotted an eel! At that altitude! Dad managed to get a photo. Afterwards, we decided to have a swim in one of the many, smooth rock surface (but rockless) pools that formed the river bed. Where the rock face was wet, it was really slippery, so Lisa and I would slide down the slope and splash into the water. Mum decided she would have a go, but slipped and knocked her head on a rock. We all scrambled to help her. After a few seconds she managed to stir, and slowly sat up. She didn't break anything, and remembered ok so she was all right, apart from a very sickie feeling. We decided that we should turn back and cancel the climb though. After about an hour, Mum began to feel her self again. We had a look at Kaiaraara hut, where there was a sign saying: Please use the axe wisely. But where was the axe? Then Mum and Lisa started getting ideas that the weirdo man had taken the axe and was secretly chasing them, getting ready to knock our heads off. We finally got back to the boat, lifted the anchor, and got outside of Port Fitzroy harbour because that’s a good place to get cell-phone coverage. We rang Teresa to say that we would pick her up at Gulf Harbour marina at Whangaparoa tomorrow. She said it was fine and was really, really, excited. We also said Happy Birthday to Sarah, who is in Australia. Then we went to bed in a bay.Day 22
We woke up, and got ready to cross the Haruaki Gulf to pick up Teresa. When we did cross the gulf, we saw a fat, brown shark going the opposite way to us. There was nothing much else that happened along the way. When we arrived at Gulf Harbour marina, Whangaparoa at about 3:30 PM, we pulled up alongside the fuel jetty and filled the diesel tank with fuel. We were down on water too, so we filled up the water tanks. Mum and Dad then got food and other things from the store. When Lisa and I were waiting for Mum and Dad, we were going to play Monopoly but changed our minds. They finally returned. Then Dad and I waited at the gate of the marina for Teresa. After about 15 minutes we saw her. She stopped the car and let us get in. We were so happy to see her again. She parked her car at the parking lot and we helped her get her stuff out of the car and into the nearby trolleys. We wheeled the trolleys to the fuel jetty. We were all pleased to see each other. We left Gulf Harbour marina and headed for Whangaparapara harbour in Great Barrier Island. When we finally arrived there, it was really early in the morning.
Day 23
We decided to spend our two days with Teresa in Port Fitzroy Harbour. When we were just off Cliff Island, the Kahawai lure line suddenly took off! Zzzzziiiiinnnnnggggg! Mum grabbed the rod and started reeling it in. Dad stopped the boat, and was ready with the gaff. Mum managed to pull it in and Dad managed to get it in the net(He switched tools). We were all very excited to have a fish to eat. It was a fine size too. Mum put the lure back out, and almost immediately, another Kahawai was caught!
It was Teresa's turn now. After a few minutes there was another fish struggling in the bin! The rod that had the other lure that hadn't caught anything on it yet, suddenly bent like a bow! Dad, who had thumb on the nylon to stop it birds-nesting, whipped his finger off it because it had burnt his thumb! The reel birds-nested and caused a reel tangle-up! Meanwhile, the fish that was on it managed to get off. But Dad and Lisa eventually caught a fish, and there were four Kahawai struggling in the fish bin. On the Junction Islands, we got some mussels. But they weren't as nice as the Bay of Islands mussels though. We carried on through, past the past the Broken Islands, through the narrow entrance into Port Fitzroy Harbour, and anchored at Smokehouse Bay. All of us except Dad went to get firewood so we could smoke our fish. When we returned, he already had a tiny fire going and the fish on the grate. It suddenly started pouring down with rain so we sheltered in the bathhouse, where there was a man waiting for the water to warm up to have a shower. He told many stories. Mum just happened to look out the window and couldn't see the yacht! Dad just said it was around the corner a bit and not to worry. Mum asked if he was sure and the man teased her, saying it was on the rocks, joking. Mum went outside, just to make sure, and it wasn't there! Then we saw it far off in the distance! Dad just managed to reach it in the dinghy in time! He drove the boat forward and lifted the anchor at the same time, nearly hitting someone else's yacht! He saw the problem: The anchor had landed on a cheesecloth and hadn't dug in! We left Smokehouse Bay for Port Fitzroy so Dad can pick up our mail and then we would come back and eat our fish. But the post office was shut.Day 24
We had breakfast and had to go back to Port Fitzroy and try to pick the mail up again. After this, we anchored in a bay, and went to see the same waterfall (In Day 3) that we had visited not long after we arrived at the Island. It was fun. We even had a swim in the little pool. It was muddier than last time though. We then went back to the yacht, lifted the anchor and departed Great Barrier Island for ever on this holiday. It was quite sad for Mum and I, we enjoyed it. We were sailing towards Whangaparoa to drop Teresa off at Gulf Harbour marina, the same place as before. It was about 9:00 PM when we finally entered the marina. We had a spot of trouble getting into our berth but we managed. It was sad to see Teresa go. We would stay the night in the marina tonight.
Day 25
We spent the whole day on the marina, looking at other yachts. We had lunch at the cafe and had a look in the shops.
Day 26
Today was very similar to yesterday. We had a look at yachts, washed our clothes, and bought some dinghy wheels for the dinghy. We were running out of gas for our stove so Dad asked a kind guy for the nearest gas station, who told him the directions and let him use his car! Then we went to bed.
Day 27
We left the marina in the morning for Kawau Island to start the homeward journey. Just before we went on the main island, we went on one of Kawau’s small islands to see the Rewa shipwreck.
As Dad and I were walking along one of the tracks, we saw our native owl, the Morepork. Dad didn't have his camera with him, so he had to go back to the yacht to get the camera. Dad managed to get some shots of it. We then went to the main island and anchored in Mansion House Bay, and rowed up to the beach. Thanks to the dinghy wheels, we slid it up the beach. The mansion was huge, and the garden was awesome. We went exploring and found ourselves splitting up. I saw three wallabies. There were two palm trees out the back of the mansion that were HUGE. We eventually went back to the yacht for sleep.Day 28
We were planning to go to Urquharts Bay, Bream Head, for a stop there but the waves were too rough, so we would go tomorrow. We lifted the anchor and motored to a little shop just around the point. When we got there, Dad jumped into the dinghy to get some food, while Mum manoeuvred, the yacht around the bay waiting for him to save putting the anchor down. As Mum was moving forward against the current, a small launch, obviously not in a hurry, rudely rumbled past our bow, a metre off hitting us! Mum had to reverse the yacht, full throttle to miss him! What cheek! We got the food and went back to Mansion House Bay. We stayed there for about an hour when Dad said “Blow it”, lifted the anchor and left Kawau Island for Urquharts Bay, continuing with the old plan. When we got out of the windbreak of Kawau Island, we then saw how big the waves were. When the yacht sat in the trough of a wave, the crest of the wave would be higher than the bimini! Unfortunately we were heading into the waves, so the bow would go flying off the top of a wave, and come clashing down on top of another one! But the waves will be going side on to us when we round the point, luckily. When we were still going into the waves, the dinghy would do the same as the bow: fly off a crest and crash into another, sometimes totally out of the water! When we were halfway to our destination, a set of sharks followed us for a while, probably waiting for their dinner. After about 4 hours and in the darkness, we made it to Urquharts Bay safely, except that just before we arrived the kayak had almost slidden off the deck into the sea if the other rope had broken.
Day 29
We woke up quite late, because we were really tired. It was lucky it was sunny and not raining like yesterday. Dad said that we would stay here for today, but soon we left at about 12PM for Ohawini Bay, Whangaruru anyway. When we left the bay and were in the main channel, we saw that the big rollers had died down quite a bit. Lisa and I were up front on deck. The bow would go up and up from a crest, and then smash onto a trough, and the bow wouldn’t have enough time to spring back up to ride the next wave, so the bow would be buried and completely submerged by the wave. Most of the time the water would wash around our waist but twice it went right over our shoulders! We could barely hang on it was so powerfull. After the second time we decided we should go back and dry off, because it was getting rough, scary, and cold. A few hours later, in the darkness again, we arrived at Ohawini Bay and had our last sleep on the yacht on our holiday.
Day 30 (The last day)
It was so sad that the last day had come so fast.
Again we were so tired because we didn't get enough sleep. The day was overcast, and the waves were now so tiny that there was no fun in being at the bow on deck. Besides it was cold. We left Whangaruru harbour for Opua, the yacht's mooring site, the last leg of the journey. We caught a Bonito between Cape Brett and Home Point (When we got home we forgot about the Bonito sitting in the trailer and a few days later there was hardly anything left of it, because of maggots). Just as we rounded Cape Brett, a terrible terrible smell erupted from the kitchen! “She’s burnt something hasn't she?!” When we finally got the news out of Mum, she said she did the same thing on Day 17... About the rubber mat thing that stops the kettle from sliding. It stuck to the bottom of the kettle and got burnt on the stove. It was really sad for me when we entered the marina. HOLIDAY OVER.
David this is such a good story I think you should publish it as a book.
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