STORMS

We arrived back at MYLADY midst forecasted prolonged very wet weather. I raised against the odds to get all the big things washed and dried on the lines. Between squalls, skipper could finish up the underwater paint and other have-to's for our big splash. Very early in the morning during a dry spell, David and Kevin of the boatyard gently let MYLADY back into the water. How good to be floating again. And off we went, down river to the bay outside by the heads. There the sea and wind were not favourable so we dropped the hook next to the land-wall in an eddy out of the heavy current. It was a surprisingly comfortable 'uncharted' anchorage. 
When we heard 60 knots forecasted on the marine radio channel, with swell of up to 4 meters, we decided a nearby marina might be a more protected option. With haste we heaved anchor and motored back up-river for half-an-hour whilst the rain and wind increased. Pat and her husband took our lines and helped to settle us in Marsden Cove Marina. It blew and blew - the whole night through.  Our fenders got pushed out as MYLADY was squashed on her side to the pier. A jib on another boat ripped out and flapped like a turreting gun, to pieces.  Morning came and skipper put another line to shore to pull MYLADY off our pier. The storm intensified. According some locals, this was worse than the Lucy cyclone which came through about a month ago. Lunchtime weather improved to the point where we dared sticking our noses out from our covers. Today, a day later, we will leave once again for the bay at the heads to sail direction Great Barrier Island tomorrow.