Friday 6 January Captain, we have a DFI

A different flippin' idea. Our plans to race in the Russell Tall Ships regatta got defenestrated this morning. We've been listening to the weather forecast for tomorrow all week and day by day the expected wind has been increasing until today it was upgraded to gale warning; gusts up to 45 knots and heavy rain. It was always our intention to have a fun day out with Chris and Dave of Chrisandavers Dream, aka CD, as crew together with their friends Richard and Karen who regularly race in Kerikeri with much success. I believe the term is 'ringers'. Without any experience of racing ourselves we hoped having help might mean we weren't last across the line.

Our priorities changed from getting to Russell today to finding a safe anchorage to sit out the blow. We chose Omakiwi bay in the south west corner of Bay of Islands which would afford us a semi circle of high cliffs to tuck under. We were the 8th boat in but by sunset there were 45 boats in the anchorage; motor cruisers with their shallow drafts at the very front and yachts behind.
Knowing we'd be on the boat all day tomorrow we went for a walk along the road behind the beach and then on the beach where we met other boaters walking their dogs. They suggested a walk up through the trees where we'd find a Maori cemetery. What we found was a modern cemetery with ornately decorated graves; glass paperweights, windmills, solar lights to illuminate crystal angels, gnomes, a small wicker fence, children's toys, flowers, manicured lawns and a view out over the bay. What was amazing and refreshing for our jaded experience was no evidence of vandalism. In a way the decoration was similar to graves in other islands in the Pacific – a celebration of the afterlife.
In celebration of today's life we invited CD to come over for dinner. Chrissie had made me a rope ladder for getting into the dinghy or attaching to the cleat on the rear step instead of the putting down the rigid swim ladder. Each time I use it I'll think of CD. Thanks guys – job's a good 'un.