Altogether we ended up motoring 88 hours. During the 18 years that I owned Antigone I hardly put that many hours on the engine in an entire year. Santana is on the headset, coming on board in FM stereo from a local Maori station where I pick up about one word in 50. It's 30 degrees C. outside, warm for New Zealand. The coastline off to starboard is starting to change more rapidly as a slowly rising easterly pushes us south.
Dolphins are alongside, flashing in and out of the glassy seas.
Nine Pin Rock which marks the turn into the Bay of Islands is only 30 miles ahead. Forget all the whining at the beginning. I can feel it. Life is good. Aotearoa is welcoming us home.