Oct. 24, 2007: arrival in New Zealand. What a welcome sight the entrance to the Bay of Islands, on the North island, was for our crew. If you notice what we're wearing in the picture below, you'll see what a huge climate difference we traveled through. Although it's perpetually mild in the tropics, we're now into a cool New Zealand spring. It took nearly 9 days to sail the 1,200 miles from Tongatapu, Tonga to New Zealand, and every day we sailed south got cooler and cooler. Night watches had to be done in fleece! Of course, the kiwi spring is October/November; this season reversal takes some getting used to - Christmas is a summer event down here.
Here's the adult crewmembers from Barbara Ann and Surcouf toasting the completed journey with Champagne on the Opua Customs dock. We've just been granted entry by the kind and professional NZ authorities; our long held dream of sailing to New Zealand has finally come true.
A picture says 5,000 words, or in this case, miles. Here's our route, from the Panama Canal to New Zealand.
Our passage from Tonga was mild, and for the most part uneventful - with the exception of the loss of one of our very expensive carbon fiber spinnaker poles (a long story, and entirely my fault). But not everyone had the good weather we had. In fact, most boats experience a little, or a lot, of bad weather on this notorious passage. The photo below is a sample of what that the sea is capable of. This traditional yacht had its solid hardwood bowsprit torn off by heavy seas on the trip down from Fiji; the damaged pole can be seen lashed to the side, awaiting some serious repairs. Many boats limped into New Zealand with ripped sails, damaged rigs, broken engines, etc. One family of New Zealanders, on the verge of completing their 7 year circumnavigation, nearly lost their boat only 10 miles from finally making it home, after a rudder housing failed and caused major flooding. Thankfully, they were able to jury-rig a repair and were hauled out of the water immediately upon arrival. Besides the major breakdowns and failures, we all have long lists of "to-do's" that have been postponed while cruising the South Pacific. Thankfully, New Zealand has access to well-stocked marine supply houses and offers a complete range of professional craftsmen. "You'll be right, mate" is a kiwi saying that means "don't worry, we'll take care of it."
These 2 shots were taken on the picturesque island of Russell, which can be accessed via a short ferry ride from Opua, where our boat is moored.
Our first road trip to Auckland, with a rental car: Edmond had no idea he was still wearing his neck pillow - couldn't resist getting it on film.
Endless Summer lodge, in Ahipara, was a great surf spot - Ty and Austin took a lesson with a local pro and got right into it.
Sand surfing on the big dunes near the lodge is pretty cool. 
Even an old geezer can get a good ride
The walk back was against 20 knot winds, with flying sand. Small price to pay, though, for a great afternoon's adventure.
Aotearoa - the Maori name for New Zealand - sits right on top of the border of two tectonic plates: the Pacific plate and the Australian plate. The world's largest volcanic eruption in the last 4000 years occurred here. It doesn't take a volcanoligist to find 'em. We visited Wai-O-Tuapu Thermal Wonderland http://www.geyserland.co.nz/ and saw lots of bubbling cauldrons, mud pools, and geysers.
The Lord of the Rings trilogy was filmed on location in New Zealand. Behind us, shrouded in cloud, is Mt. Doom, otherwise known as Mt. Ruapehu . We wanted to take the famous Tangoriro hike that takes you high onto the steps of 'Mt. Doom', but the weather wouldn't allow it.
Bungy jumping is all over New Zealand. Tyler and Austin did the Taupo bungy jump solo and tandem. Here's Tyler and Max doing a tandem jump.
The Hunt boys luging, sans ice, in Rotorua. The ski-lift takes you to the top of Mt. Ngongotaha, where the fun begins.
New Years Eve, in Paihia, with some new friends.
Sure, it's all fun and games.... till the engine needs to be rebuilt. Here's the removal of our engine from its home under the cockpit. We needed to hire a crane; the engine weighs in somewhere in the neighborhood of a 1000 pounds - that's a heavy neighborhood.
While our boats were out of the water for their bi-annual bottom painting, the two families from Barbara Ann and Surcouf rented a beautiful home overlooking the Bay of Islands. Tyler is enoying the view from the porch, while we enjoy another bottle of red wine from a local vinyard. New Zealand is loaded with great mom-and-pop vinyards and we never wanted for great wine. We've been cruising with Surcouf since the Tuamotus, and our two families have become close friends. They're shipping their beautiful Contest 55, Surcouf, back to the Mediterranean in March, and returning to Belgium. What will we do without Surcouf?
West of Auckland is a beautiful nature reserve known as Waitakere. Lots of hikes and long views. Here's Juan and Diane, from the catamaran Azul, along with their friend, and guide for the day, Pablo.
The kids from Azul and Barbara Ann enjoy and slide on the black sand dunes, while Jackie checks out some beach grass she thought interesting. Some NZ trivia: this beach, known as Kare Kare, on the Tasman Sea, was the location chosen for the movie The Piano.
HOLD FAST - from "Master and Commander". The old salt in the movie had his letters tatooed; Tyler's letters are from a Bic pen.
Speaking of holding fast - don't let go, boys! Skurfing behind the dinghy has become one of their favorite pastimes in calm anchorages. Why did I buy that windsurfer?
Austin takes his environmentalism to heart. So does Anderson; she and her family drove up to Opua from Auckland for a 3 day visit on Barbara Ann. The group shot below shows Josh and Anderson from Azul, Max from Surcouf, while Evan from Emelia shows us his profile shot.
A good cigar while at anchor in Whangaroa Harbor. Edmond, from Surcouf, and I show the boys how it's done. 
Jackie's best friend from Miami, Loriann, flew in for her second visit. These two shots are from our lunch at the Mud Brick winery, on the island of Waiheke, near Auckland. The scenery, good wine and great friends made for an unforgettable afternoon.
Downtown Auckland, with the Sky Tower in the center. 
Poor Loriann. She flies all the way to see us in New Zealand, and we pick her last day with us to haul the boat out of the water for repairs to the prop shaft. Sorry, Loriann! Her two weeks with us flew by.
These two photos were taken near Whangaparaoa, north of Auckland.
Those motorcycle lessons the boys had in Niue came in handy in New Zealand. The boys from Barbara Ann and Surcouf went on an off-road adventure on a very hilly sheep farm. Lots of falls and lots of big smiles. Priceless.
Recovery from falls suffered during the outing was hastened by hot tubs and cold beer in Rotorua, one of our favorite Kiwi towns. Following our visit to Rotorua, the crew of Surcouf reluctantly flew home to Belgium and a return to shoreside life. The crew of Barbara Ann flew to the US for family visits and errands.
It is now June, 2008, and the Austral winter is upon us. It's too cold to be in New Zealand! While we waited for a weather window to sail to Fiji, a rainbow landed on the nearby, aptly named, Pinetree Island.
Finally, the weather cooperated and we sailed north toward Fiji. Little did we know it was to be one of our roughest passages yet.
Fiji
