The New Boat

Well,  our new boat DID arrive before we had to vacate the apartment in Oceans Hotel with a few days to spare.  Our broker arranged to have it taken from Picton, over the Cook Strait leaving it for us to pick  up at Napier.  I (Doreen) was supposed to have driven the delivery team consisting of John, boat neighbor Ken and Bill, who is a fishing buddy of theirs.  However,  due to a health problem I was unable to do that so but Garth, another boat neighbor kindly did that for them.  In the meantime Erin came to stay with me at the apartment and it we had a good catch-up time.
The trip from Napier went well and was enjoyed by all those on board.  The weather was good and there was only a one day delay setting off from Napier.  The only mishap was the loss of the anchor (some pin or clip failed) which meant having to go into Gisborne marina to try and find another.  It was a long holiday weekend and everything was closed but fishermen there lent them their spare which meant they could carry while the weather was still good.  By all accounts it was a nice journey putting down the anchor each night somewhere sheltered and enjoying good food and drink and a good nights sleep.  They phoned to let us know when they reached Tutukaka and I was able to go down and meet them.  I took these photos of their arrival from a big boat at the end of our pier.

     That is Bill in the cockpit.  John is at the helm up top.
We had a few days to slowly move our stuff on board and it did not take long to feel at home.
On the second weekend after the boat arrived  (the first was getting settled) we took the boat up to Wangaruru Harbour and I was able to enjoy the boat as a boat.  It sure is different to a sail-boat!  Most of the boats on our pier at the marina had the same idea so we were all there.  One of our neighbors took this picture of us.

That is John sun-bathing on the deck and you can see my head in the sun deck.