Location 35° 18.8S 174° 07.3E
Thursday 12:00, 07.05.2007

The Schooner Maggie B has moved a bit to Opua, in The Bay of Islands, only a few miles from Russell. We are at 35° 18.8S, 174° 07.3E. We moved to get a little work done on the Maggie B, specifically a 220V shore power connection (we have a great 110 V system, which doesn’t matter at all outside of the US and Canada). And some solar panels installed.

The solar panels can potentially give us 15 amps per hour, which could meet most of our 100 amp daily “appetite” given the usual “is it sunny, where are the sails, etc.”

We had a little party last night for the Fourth of July. It was a fun evening. I was even able to find some other Americans! But we had all the local boaties, including lots of Germans, some English, a lovely older French woman, a Brazilian, a Canadian, some Kiwis and an Aussie or two. We quickly forgot the Glorious Fourth and got well into Jamaican Rum, Scotch Whiskey, Tasmanian wine and Belgian Beer. A very international night!

One German couple had spent two years along the coast of Chile and they had some good advice, and annotated our Chilean Cruising Guides. My favorite piece of advice from them was about anchoring in unknown Chilean harbors:

1. If no trees along the shore in the harbor, leave at once.

2. If there are trees, anchor near where the taller ones are.

3. When anchoring near the taller trees, see which way they are leaning, and set your (multiple) anchors accordingly.

We are also having our toilet overhauled. Willis had done it once, I did it a second time, but now it is time for professionals. A critical item.

We are staying at least through this weekend, probably returning to Russell tomorrow. In Russell this Saturday, they are having their first annual Birdman Festival. Lots of rides and games, but the high point is the 15 entrants who have made human-powered vehicles that are ridden/driven off the end of the pier, trying for the longest distance before they hit the water. Should be great fun.

All is well.