Got up this morning to find ice on deck...welcome to NZ!

Coming in from sea, our first view of NZ were glimpses of dark hills in the distance, appearing and disappearing behind the clouds. As we got closer we could see dark forbidding cliffs shrouded in grey cloud as we passed Stephen's Island. We had enjoyed a good run in to the Sounds, a bit of motoring as the wind died but the sea also dropped so conditions were not too uncomfortable and we managed to not be too knocked by tides and the incoming southerly. We rounded Cape Jackson just on a beautiful sunset and motored up to Picton, by now the clouds had cleared and it was a glorious starry night if a bit chilly with the odd blast of bitter southerly wind at times (notably some people were down below huddling around the diesel heater drinking tea, leaving me to pilot the yacht in.) As the heater had not been used for some time, lighting it involved filling the cabin up with smoke and fumes several times.

We made landfall at Picton about 2200 on Monday night, customs and MAF were nearly as pleased as us that we had made good time and were earlier than our ETA of 0200 Tuesday morning. After we had completed the official formalities (the usual friendly, efficient, excellent service we've found in NZ) we picked up a mooring for the night and enjoyed a calm night's sleep (broken only by large rumblings from the Cook Strait ferries that seemed to be trying to berth next to us!).

Tuesday morning dawned crystal clear, not a cloud in the sky, views of the green hills and blue sea of the Marlborough Sounds disappearing into the distance. After a quick dash ashore to get some provisions for breakfast, we headed around around to Waikawa, where a friend had organized a berth and was there to take our lines. We spent the day organizing the jobs that need doing, notably getting the boom fixed, followed by hot showers, then cold NZ beer and a meal at the local pub...bliss.

Thanks to all the people who helped make this this passage a good one including: our crew Alasdair who managed to put up with us for the duration, NZ customs, MAF, maritime radio, the winlink radio operators and Tony (Charterlink Marlborough).