S/Y Skal sailing trip from Whangarei, New Zealand to Sydney, Australia, summer 2010 - 2011.

1. S/Y Skal Whangarei, New Zealand To Sydney, NSW, Australia Nov. 2010 – Jan. 2011

2. Part 1 - Preparing for the Trip

3. Upgrades and Improvements Custom made bowsprit with anchor roller Source: Riverside Boat Works Stove and Oven Source: GasQuip New running rigging: lines, blocks, deck organisers, rope clutches and traveller Source: Ronstan Custom Chart Table

4. Upgrades and Improvements (continued) New standing rigging Source: Northland Spars and Rigging New Rudder Source: G. Marcotte and Riverside Boat Works Mainsail Source: Lee Sails, Hong Kong Rub Rail Source: George Marcotte

5. Upgrades and Improvements (continued) 6 Person Life Raft (used) Source: Northland Sea Systems 100 Litre Flexible Water Tank Source: Plastimo Iridium 9555 Satellite Phone (rental) Source: David Berg SPOT GPS Tracker Source: West Marine

6. Upgrades and Improvements (continued) 15 Watt Solar Panel Source: Burnsco Marine “Sue” The Windvane Autopilot Source: South Atlantic Autopilots

8. Electronic Charts

9. GPS and backup unit

11. Freshwater

12. Food

13. Flares

15. SPOTLife Vests Cat 4 Flare Pack

16. Very Happy to be going in the water

17. Splash!

18. Part 2 - New Zealand to New Caledonia Depart: Opua, Bay of Islands, New Zealand Date: 5 November 2010 Arrive: Noumea, New Caledonia Date: 14 November 2010 Body of Water: NorthTasman Sea Total Distance: 931 Nautical Miles Crew: Kushila Stein

19. 1 St Day Out, last view of New Zealand

20. Sunset at sea

21. The happy crew of S/Y Skal.

22. ½ mile Very tight entrance into the lagoon.

23. Arrival in New Caledonia

24. In quarantine having a beer

25. Flying the French courtesy flag and the Q flag

26. The big clean

27. My next crew was patiently waiting in Noumea ready for the next leg

28. Part 3 - New Caledonia to Australia Depart: Noumea, New Caledonia Date: 17 November 2010 Arrive: Noumea New Caledonia Date: 24 November 2010 Body of Water: Coral Sea Total Distance: 816 Nautical Miles Crew: Ann Christian

29. Ann at the helm leaving Noumea Harbour

30. An island inside the reef

31. Last view of New Caledonia

32. The Calm before....

33. ...the storm.

34. Sue performing well in heavy seas.

35. The storm sails.....never used before.

36. Ann on watch...taking it all in stride!

37. Waves getting bigger. Good job, Sue.

38. Safe and Sound in Bundaberg.

39. Part 4 – Bundaberg to Sydney Leg 1 Depart: Bundaberg, Queensland Date: 30 December 2010 Arrive: Yamba, NSW Date: 6 January 2011 Body of Water: Tasman Sea Total Distance: 230 Nautical Miles Crew: Barbara Knight, Amanda Christian Leg 2 Depart: Yamba, NSA Date: 27 January 2011 Arrive: Sydney, NSW Body of Water: Tasman Sea Total Distance: 351 Nautical Miles Date: 29 January 2011 Crew: Amanda Knight

40. It took three days to get to Bundaberg because of flooding

41. Beached boats near Marina in Bundaberg. These were the lucky ones.

43. Doing 20+ knots down the Bundaberg river.

44. Barbara hanging on.

45. The Great Sandy Straights. Big mistake!

46. Fraser Island

47. Tweed Head on the Gold Coast. Barbara had enough and jumped ship here.

48. At the town pier in Ballina, NSW.

49. Arrival in Sydney.

50. The view from Skal’s new home.

51. 2500 miles, and we made it! Thank you Skal.

52. And for next year.....Tasmania.