New Zealand, easygoing

If you're not laid-back, New Zealand isn't really for you, unless you try to be laid-back too. We reach our reserved berth in the new Okara Marina in Whangarei an hour after closing time, at one o'clock in the afternoon. Sharron, the marina manager, is still there and takes the ropes. We are given a key and a brief introduction, and we will take care of the rest on Monday. It's nice to have arrived. We have covered 4,500 nautical miles this year, and that's all we'll be doing, as we have chosen Whangarei as our base for exploring New Zealand. Most shops are open on Sundays, and once again we are completely overwhelmed by the abundance of choice. However, we don't do any major shopping, as we are still on foot. We plan to change that next week by buying a car.

Hundertwasser House in Whangarei, New Zealand

I found a Mercedes C-Class online that fits our price range. The car is from Japan and has 111,000 km on the odometer. At €6,000, it's a little above the normal selling price in New Zealand, but it's available immediately. We take it for a test drive and buy the car. While we take out insurance, the Certificate of Fitness is reissued and is valid for one year. Purchased at 10 a.m., handed over at 3 p.m. Oh, right, we still have to pay for the car. But that's no problem in New Zealand. The transfer arrives three days later. Maybe it's my beautiful blue eyes, but anyone who thinks that's a problem in New Zealand is sorely mistaken. A deal is a deal, and that applies to both sides. With the car, we are flexible and can go anywhere. Shopping is easier, and the hardware store is now within reach for us too. We order a new gennaker from the sailmaker, and Gaby would like new cushions in the cockpit. In the morning we were at the Sail Loft; in the afternoon Phil came on board and took the measurements. What more could you want?

Mobile base for the next 6 months

In addition to the boat work, there is also time for short excursions. We visit the Whangarei Falls in the north of the city. The waterfalls plunge 26 meters into the depths and are fed by the Hatea River. From the parking lot, a path about one kilometer long leads around the waterfalls. Kauri trees and ferns provide shade along much of the way. The circular trail, which is just over a kilometer long, can be easily mastered by anyone.

Waterfalls in Whangarei, New Zealand

In the afternoon, we get back to work on the boat. I look for a new mast slider, which was torn out of the mast track during the crossing, and find one online. It's not exactly cheap, but I can't do without it. I order the part in Auckland and have it sent to the marina in Whangarei. Here in New Zealand, that should be no problem. We'll see.

Shit happens! Defective mast slide

Last but not least, we also visited our old Katinka this week. A good year ago, I sailed her to New Zealand and moored her at Norsand Marina. Unfortunately, I didn't have enough time back then to look for a broker. We've now made up for that and arranged an appointment. It won't be easy to sell the boat, but we have to tackle the issue now because it's not going to get any better. We were all the more surprised at how good the boat is in. I had imagined it to be in worse condition. Well, I made sure that the boat was aired out once a week, and that seems to have worked, as there are no mildew stains or mold inside. It's a little dusty, but nothing that can't be quickly remedied. We would be delighted to find a new owner for the boat soon, because it is a stable and robust boat that has given us a lot of pleasure, and a new owner will certainly feel the same way.

Katinka on shore, Whangarei, New Zealand

Anyway, summer in New Zealand is fast approaching. The days are getting longer, and there are plenty of hours of sunshine to charge our batteries. We are particularly happy about this because it means we won't need to pay for shore power. We still have some work to do on the boat next week, and then we will slowly start preparing for Christmas. Christmas doesn't seem to be a big deal in New Zealand; at least there is very little sign of it in the city. You won't find a Christmas market here. But that's not a problem. We'll be spending Christmas, we can reveal that much, on a small farm south of Auckland. As always, we wish you fair winds and keep a stiff upper lip.