Sailing log and Karuna refinements

The chart shows the track from yesterday - the tacks are outward bound into the light Northerly.

A showery day today with a few more jobs ticked off between the fronts including:

• A messy epoxy job affixing the red gum strips, smuggled into the country, to the keel of Karuna.  Neatened up the seat extension and sealed with epoxy.
• Two strolls down to the fuel dock resulted in 20 more litres of diesel in the tank (I reckon two more trips will fill it).  Easier than trying to manoeuvre into the fuel dock and tie up on my own.
• A few other bits and pieces replacing a couple of clips and re-organising some storage.
• A visit to JB Marine and a chat to James about a couple of issues still to be resolved, including the possibility of a new house battery (which died again tonight - all of sudden dropping from 12.5v to 10.5v with just a few led lights on...).  The good news is he has one in stock and it is slightly less in price than the existing 4 yr old battery with its purchase price in situ!
• I'll need to fit the 80 amp circuit breaker  I brought over in January tomorrow to see if I can get power back to the anchor windless - raising the 35lb anchor in 15m of water yesterday by hand was almost enough to 'pop the phu-phu valve.'

Around dusk the wind finally dropped away (it had been blowing 25+ out in the gulf) and I jumped in Karuna for a spin down the channel. Finally getting sorted this rowing caper with long (15 feet) of oar width.  Does take some forethought in tight spaces!  Stroked down to the mooring and chatted with Webb before another shower sent me scurrying back to Kalai for a reprise of the Moroccan chicken cooked last night (tasted even better tonight!)

I had thought about visiting the OCC tonight but decided to have a quiet night - coffee and dark Whittaker's chocolate adding to the ambiance...

James is down in the morning in and then I'm off up the Opua hill at midday to catch the Naked Bus to Albany where I'll be met by Lorraine and spend the weekend at the Enrights where  the Ballunatix are reuniting Sunday for the first time in 20 years.  Should be fun!  Back on the bus Sunday 5:25 pm which should get me back in Opua in time to see Storm v Dragons at the OCC 9pm...

Next week is looking wet initially but a big high pressure system is forming out west that should bring some cracker weather from late Tuesday through the rest of the week.  Webb and I are planning a mini-cruise to either Whangamumu or Whangaroa depending on where the wind and whim take us!

Below is Karuna en route from Dargeville to Ngunguru on Tuesday - we had to stop for a spot of lunch outside Whangarei - Barrington is guarding the strategically parallel-parked Peugeot...