We motored to Great Barrier Island today for our “shakedown cruise”. Yes, we will get enough shaking on the actual passage toward the Australs and Tahiti in a week or so, so why practice? Because we have not been sailing since we arrived in Whangarei the day before Thanksgiving.
That is a long time to leave major systems, like the engine and the watermaker idyll. Just over five months. Oh, and we needed the time to reacquaint ourselves with the sea and sailing. Hopefully there will be some wind on the return trip to test the sailing portion. Meanwhile we are out here feeling the gentle roll of the ocean and getting some sea-legs back under us. Oh, and getting our rear ends used to sitting still for long periods of time.

The engine ran beautifully and the small diesel leak seems to have been resolved. The watermaker started up and is doing its magic of giving us drinkable water from the sea.

We were escorted out of the Whangarei River by two of the largest dolphins I have seen. They stayed with us for about a half an hour and really enjoyed it when I waved my red hat at them. Apparently they see color. Who knew?
And as we got within two miles of Great Barrier Island we were greeted by another pod of about eight dolphins. It is great to be here and to feel so welcome.

I have kept myself busy today updating THE spreadsheet for all of the tools we stored back under the V-berth. Yep, all of those tools and paint and varnish ar stowed away. Phew. Bob could not wait to get anchored to commune with the snapper. Maybe tomorrow he will catch dinner.