The First Stage...

So, we packed up, stored, sold our possessions and moved out of Cotlands Lodge within 3 weeks... basing ourselves at the Bay of Islands, now things really were moving.

We arrived at the Bay, then 24 hours later the exchange rate suddenly hit the forward order we had placed for the Rand!  We placed the order for our boat - our pipe dream was becoming our reality...
This is a sunset at the Bay...

We decided we would "formalize" our water experience and upskill ourselves in a major way - so we have booked to go back to school.  Marlene and Johan had told us about a sailing school they went to in Thailand.  So we checked it out.  We go to Thailand on 30 April and will be there for three and a half months... we are aiming at achieving our Commercial Ocean Yachtmaster to 200 tonnes certificates.