Sunday 3 April Motuihe Island and Islington Bay

Mother's Day started with a fine morning and a leisurely breakfast watching penguins bob around the boat. It seemed every fisherman and woman and boat owner in Auckland had taken to the water today taking advantage of a late summer weekend. Motoring over to Motuihe Island was like charging through a moving slalom course. One moment that little boat off to starboard had his anchor down, rod out and then all change – he was on the move across our bows. It was as busy as the Solent on August Bank Holiday, but with sunshine.

Motuihe seen from Motutapu

Motuihe island was packed with merry makers, picnicking on the beach, leaping off their boats, water skiing, boogie boarding and coming and going like flies on a sticky bun.

The weather forecast predicted the wind to strengthen late afternoon and when it did we shifted to our night anchorage in the wonderfully sheltered Islington bay between Rangitoto and Motutapu islands. This is where we hid from a cyclone at the end of January. We expect to be hiding from 20 and 30 knot northerlies forecast for the next 36 hours before moving into Auckland on Wednesday morning ready for Mum to catch her flight home on Thursday evening.