Arrived in NZL

Hi everyone, you will be pleased to hear that we have arrived- maybe we won't come back as its really nice here!

Where did Sunday go?
On Saturday we drove down from North Wales, the Calder’s flew down from Edinburgh, The Norbury’s drove down from Staffordshire, the Whitfield’s crossed the bridge from Cardiff, and the Gill Taylors and Burns made the short trip from the home counties. We met at Heathrow at 1800 and checked in then started flying at 2100. Alan and Ravi’s bike were loaded for £35.00 each, unfortunately it had cost the Calder’s over £100 to fly one of Jamie’s bags just from Edinburgh to London and more again to New Zealand. Our plane was a Boeing 777, the captain welcomed the team on board which was a nice thing to do.
We flew over many countries including the Mountains of the Himalayas and China before landing at Hong Kong late afternoon on Sunday after 13 hours of flying and 9700kms. At 7pm local time we boarded the same plane after the refuelled it, and we flew over the Phillipines, Papua New Guinea, and the Torres Strait before crossing over Australia’s northern tip then out over the Great Barrier Reef and on over the Pacific Ocean to the north coast of NZL and onto Aukland, landing at about 1100 local time after a flight of about 11 hours and 9000kms.
All baggage was accounted for, and we walked about 1km to the domestic terminal, it was like a warm summers day at Pwllheli but the light was much crisper.
Then we boarded a 50 seat Bombardier plane complete with propellers, for the 50 minute flight to Napier. It was pretty cloudy and bumpy, in our tiny plane but they still served water, tea and sweets- all good and with a smile.
We came down through the cloud and landed at the tiny airport next to the sea, it all looked strangely familiar. We were picked up by Deb and Phil in Lime Green people carriers, for the 2minute drive to our Marineland Motel which is right on the sea front.
We have 2 self catering apartments which are good. Matt went to the beach and has already lost a flip flop. And Jen and Sarah have gone shopping to the supermarket.


We got up early on Tuesday morning well 0600, then went back to bed. Breakfast outside with a great view across the bay. Then we went off to the club and got the boats, unfortunately the sails haven't turned up yet you might but at least we know where they are.
They started at Eastliegh, went to Stanstead, Colne,Seizehn [ China], Changi, Aukland and might arrive here today.


So our first day afloat was using NZL sails- it is quite common for us to have to borrow other sails. Dinner last night was fish and chips, well 3 fish and chips, 3 fish ? well thats how it is.



Cycling is good too , my and Ravi's bikes made it here and the sailors have been doing time trials along the coast, Jamie is the current leader on 11.40. This morning I did a quick loop of 20 miles past some wineries and to an apricot farm.





Matt has gone shopping, then we are off to the club, a 2 minute walk away for afternoon training.

Did I mention that we were leaving the harbour when I saw a Welsh flag on a yacht, the lady abourd was from Merthyr Tydfil!
More news soon mates.