Sea Quest before departure in the Bay of Islands, New Zealand.

storm jib and had ready in its bag, the trisail at the foot of the mast.

That evening, Michael hardly tasted the gourmet pasta. He was trying to figure out why the main engine alternator no longer worked. Then he leapt up with an idea. The flexible woven wire lead to one of the brushes had broken but was soon repaired.

10^th June
Gusty squalls and overcast skies. On the roll-call for yachts we heard others to the west of us who had already tasted the fury of the frontal system. Some reported 45 knots. Worried, even though the front was not due until next morning, Michael bent on the storm jib and hauled up the trisail so we could heave to for the night.

11^th June
By morning the front had, to our relief, pretty much blown itself out! By noon, with the regular sails set, we were bounding along. The sea had turned to sapphire and we had a fine downwind sail for the rest of the day.

Michael was still investigating the extent of the seawater damage caused by our double-dunking. Several electrical circuits failed. The CD changer won't work. A switch burnt itself out, but the fire could not spread because the surroundings were far too wet!

Despite our troubles, nature smiled on us with a pink and purple fantasy sunset.

11^th June
Nothing threatening appeared on the horizon through the next day and night while the wind blew politely from the west at 15 knots.

12^th June
Today we hauled up our bright geniker, a cut-down spinnaker. For the next 36 hours we made no sail changes and averaged 4.7 knots ---- a comfortable speed.  So peaceful it was, that Michael washed his clothes and we hauled the carpet on deck again to dry out some more! Later Michael took apart the water pump to extract cat hairs. The pooping took a swipe at his moral, but he is cheerful again.

We see pelagic sea birds most days. Albatross visit once a day at least, and more frequently a dark petrel and the distinctive black and white patterned Cape Pigeon.

13^th June
With little wind and a nice blue sky it was a good day for a big roast dinner of beef, pumpkin, kumara and potato. Michael fixed the CD player.

14^th June
At midnight the wind sprang up again so we managed good time for the next 24 hours. So far we have stayed just ahead of another advancing front. Others behind us have been becalmed for days. . In the morning a hoary old pure white albatross greeted us as he sailed high over the rigging. That night Michael spotted a ship, the first we have seen since leaving.

Michael re-secures the dinghy on the foredeck.

Above, Michael harness up weathers another frontal system moving over us.

Below he checks on the sails and gear before darkness falls.

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