Friday February 18,2000- Orams Marina, Auckland Harbor, NZ

Hello there sailors,

First off we’re sorry about not having the journal published on time yesterday. Our computer system was in pieces as Reza is in the process of installing Microsoft Windows 2000. He is making progress and we are all keeping our fingers crossed hoping he will finish soon.

With winds from the southwest and a two-meter swell, our 12-hour passage from Tauranga was smooth. Since we had seen this stretch of the east coast in December we retraced our old rout. I was wide-awake during my watch, looking at the waxing moon reflecting off rocky cliffs on the coast. On Monika’s 200-400 night watch we rounded Cape Colville and headed southwest into Hauraki Gulf. Pushing straight into the wind caused so much crashing and rolling everyone woke-up and we piled into the wheelhouse to see what was going on. Trevor and Michael altered the course and speed to make the ride a little more conducive to sleeping. The swells were a steep three meters and the wind gusting at 35 knots. (For the record James stayed snug in his bunk since he had expected those sea conditions passing through the Colville Channel.) Thankfully not more than 10 minutes later the wind died down, STARSHIP was back on course and we were back in our bunks. (All except Caroline who was on watch with her cowboy hat on for the rough ride.)

STARSHIP sneaks into Auckland at dawn, a city braced for 
the first race of the America's Cup tomorrow.

The order of the day has been to tackle a massive list of jobs we need to accomplish while in Auckland. It has been a madhouse in the salon with engineers, deliveries and the constant jingle of the cell phones ringing. Trevor is coordinating jobs with the boatyard since they have to all be finished by the time we leave on Monday. Paul from McKay Yacht Services dropped off some packages and mail (yeah!). DJ and Enrico are putting together the provision wish list. Monika is shopping at the chandlery for boat supplies.

We are all looking forward to watching the first race of the America’s Cup from the racecourse here in Auckland. Prada vs Team New Zealand. There will be chaos out in the gulf with everyone and his dog trying to get a piece of the action. Michael has invited some of our Microsoft sponsors out for the day to see the race.

STARSHIP signing off,

Anne-Lise