We had a great time on the Coastal Classic from Auckland to the Bay of Islands.  Left Auckland on Friday morning in a beautiful sou-wester with the headsail poled out.  With 5 ladies and 3 young girls on board, it was always going to be a fun trip, filled with laughter.  We didn't let that detract from the sailing though - top speed of around 12 knots and into the finish line at 2.44am Saturday morning.  No soggy sandwiches on the Ika Moana II though - we managed to sit down from a hot roast dinner on Friday evening - racing in style!  Our story got picked up by the Paul Henry Show on TV3 and on the Sailing Anarchy website - http://sailinganarchy.com/tag/ika-moana/.  Happy times!

We are busy getting the Ika Moana ready for the Coastal Classic yacht race from Auckland to the Bay of Islands and then a cruise back down afterwards.  It'll be a great test for the boat ahead of the summer charter season and plenty of fun for the crew aboard.