Hi! Yesterday (Sunday), we FINALLY sailed out of Marsden Cove Marina! We sailed 32 miles SE to Moko Hinau- a beautiful, clear day to be on the water! We saw a Thresher Shark along the way! After we arrived and dropped the anchor, we put on our wetsuits and went snorkeling. The water was blue and crystal clear, and we could see all the way to the bottom! Daddy took us for a for a dinghy ride and Mommy went paddle boarding. We explored caves and passed under boulder arches. The wind picked up over the afternoon, and by the time we had finished dinner, the wind had shifted and was blowing like crazy! We stargazed and went to bed. I wasn’t in bed long before Daddy decided that the anchor wasn’t holding and we needed to move. We pulled up the anchor and left for a safer, calmer place called Bradshaw Bay in the Great Barrier Island. It was a two hour sail. Hall went to sleep and we can’t believe he slept through everything! The seas were rough and the wind was loud. I snuggled in the cockpit with Mommy and Daddy. Mommy and I fell asleep. We finally dropped the anchor around 12:30am! We were so tired. Fortunately,(for Hall) Hall went to sleep way before all of that happened.

The next morning, we woke up in calm, beautiful Bradshaw Bay, but we were all exhausted! It was overcast and we spend the day reading, going on dinghy rides and fishing. Daddy took us to the marina store and bought us a candy bar! I decided that I wanted bangs, so Mommy cut my hair! I love it and it’s nice to have a change.  She also painted my toenails Tarheel blue.

There are not many other boats here. Tomorrow, we plan to go on a hike to the top of Mt Hobson- it’s supposed to be beautiful and hard!

Off to write in my journal!

s/v Nogal