citrus season

T picking grapefruit at Michael & Judy Churchouse's farm.
Patumahoe, NEW ZEALAND (July 2013)

Internazionale 1010 / ITALY

Anasazi Racing is currently featured in the travel section of Italy's weekly publication Internazionale #1010 (July 26, 2013)  Images/Words by Somira Sao

auckland waterfront 2013

Auckland's waterfront has been converted into a pedestrian-friendly scene with awesome smooth surfaces for skateboards, scooters, and long-boards.  Tormentina & Raivo's favorite is to go to the top of the Events Center ramp and make Figure 8s around the columns.  Stepping off the boat, the entire area around the Viaduct Harbour where we are berthed to the new Wynyard Quarter development (North Wharf to Silo Marina) is a nice "safe zone" to let the kids loose on wheels.

Sky Tower (Also known as the "space needle" by my kids)
Auckland, CBD (July 2013)

Container #1
Viaduct Harbour, Auckland Waterfront - NEW ZEALAND (July 2013)

Events Center & Containers #3 & #1
Viaduct Harbour, Auckland Waterfront - NEW ZEALAND (July 2013)

Karanga Plaza Information Kiosk with sod roof & fully open-air walls during open hours.
Viaduct Harbour, Auckland Waterfront - NEW ZEALAND (July 2013)

Events Center &  Karanga Plaza Movable Recliner Benches
Viaduct Harbour, Auckland Waterfront - NEW ZEALAND (July 2013)

containers, marriage & nostalgia for where it all began

Seems very fitting that we would end up at the Viaduct, living with three kids aboard Anasazi Girl. The most ironic part is that we are surrounded by development that has integrated creative multi-use shipping containers into the landscape.

The entire waterfront has changed, but in some ways things don't feel all that different from the way it was when James and I first came here in 2007.  When we see the containers, it's nice to be reminded of how this place used to be back when we were first in love and ready to start a life together.

Thinking back on the history we have with this city, it made perfect sense to choose Auckland as the location to get married.  Eight years after we first met, three kids later, and more adventures together that I ever imagined you could squeeze into such a short amount of time - James and I finally tied the knot.

We had a civil ceremony on July 1st at the office of Internal Affairs with a small group of witnesses, celebrating after at the top of Sky Tower.  We partied the following weekend at the home of our friend & midwife Tina Patrick in Ponsonby.  Thanks to everyone who came to celebrate with us on short notice.  The love has always been there, but it felt really good to make it official.

Te Wero Island, Viaduct Harbour, Auckland - NEW ZEALAND (July 2013)

James talking to our good friend Judy Churchouse on the urban astro-turf at the book swap container. James was cruising in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico in the 80's on a Blackburn 2 tonner called Nyamba when he met Michael & Judy Churchouse. The Kiwi couple spent seven years circumnavigating the world on a Lidguard 30 with a Chinese junk rig called Shantung. We reconnected with them in 2007, and they have since become like family to us.  Thanks Judy for the awesome spread of food & Michael for walking me down the "aisle" at our Kiwi wedding two weekends ago.

Fremantle Sailing Club, WESTERN AUSTRALIA (May 2007)

During James' solo voyage (2005-2008), he made a non-stop record attempt from Cape Town to Tauranga. He was ahead of Derek Hatfield's record when he broke Anasazi Girl's mast deep in the Southern Ocean. He successfully brought her unassisted under a jury-rig into the port of Albany. A. Girl got moved up the coast to Fremantle and the mast was transported separately by road to Brett Burville at Windrush Yachts for the repair. A month before he departed for New Zealand, we cycled to the container port, found & bought a used 20 footer (above). This box served as a storage space and workshop while James prepared for his passage. By this time, James had Anasazi Girl dialed and had figured out that when he left port, it was all about sailing, not working on the boat. From that point on, he sailed super light with only the bare essentials, shipping spares to the next port of call.

In October 2007, James and I conceived our first child Tormentina in a 20' sea container on the wharf in Auckland.

At that time, he was preparing for the second half of his solo circumnavigation aboard Anasazi Girl.  This leg (9000nm crossing 13 time zones) would complete his circle around Antarctica. He loved sailing in the Southern Ocean and wanted to experience every nautical mile of it.

After two years of being in an atypical relationship that had spanned several oceans and continents, James and I committed.  We decided to start a family together.  When we succeeded at getting pregnant, the boat was hauled out at the Viaduct, next to the Team New Zealand America’s Cup base where the Events Center is currently located.

We were living dirt-bag style, squatting in the windowless container next to the boat.  Accommodation was simple:  a foam mattress and sleeping bags on the floor, MSR camp stove, no refrigeration.  

Inside, we set up a temporary office and workshop.  We were surrounded by all the boat gear, which included 1000 meters of spectra lines, fenders, dock lines, boat spares, tools, and sails.  We had road bikes and Sector 9 longboards to cruise around on.  Showers happened at the Team NZ base and the Auckland City Tepid Baths.

Life was simple.  We were in love, we had each other, and a mutual promise to do everything we could to live an outrageous life together.

We no longer have the 20 footer that sealed our fate together, but it's nice to walk around the waterfront now and be reminded of those special days.

The scene in our 20' container parked on the wharf at the Viaduct.
Auckland, NEW ZEALAND (September 2007)

James styling on the Sector 9 longboard with Anasazi Girl & the ETNZ base in the background.
Viaduct Harbour, Auckland - NEW ZEALAND (October 2007)

Container scene:  James drinking Taragui Yerba Mate with a bombilla and a traditional gourd.
Viaduct Harbour, Auckland - NEW ZEALAND (December 2007)

portrait of lyn holland & alex vallings/c-tech

Recently visited my friends Lyn Holland & Alex Vallings at their factory on Rosebank Road in Auckland.  They are the directors of C-Tech, a New Zealand company that manufactures high-quality composite products for the marine industry.  Their clients are too many to name, but include  Banque Populaire V, ETNZ AC72, and Luna Rossa AC72.  Their lightweight carbon battens have been on Anasazi Girl's main since 2007, have gone nearly two times around the world (including the Southern Ocean) and are still going strong in perfect condition.

Lyn Holland & Alex Vallings, Directors of C-Tech.
Rosebank Road, Auckland - NEW ZEALAND (July 2013)

night scene on anasazi girl

Even though winter solstice in the Southern Hemisphere has recently passed, the nights are still cold and the dark comes quite early in Auckland.  Yesterday morning there there was frost chilling my bare feet when I went to wash the dishes on dock.

During the day, I took the kids to the Auckland Art Gallery and the Central City Library while James did some work on the sails at the loft.  I was reminded how fast they are growing when my 5 year old daughter led the entire way there from memory on her scooter.  Just a few months ago, making a trip like that from the Viaduct on foot was quite an endeavor with three kids, but now it seems pretty effortless.

R & T drawing and writing on the port side berth above the water ballast tanks.
Not too long ago, they could both sit up in this space.  Both kids digging their headlamps from BD.
Steam forming on the port light above them as I cook dinner.
Anasazi Girl, Viaduct Harbour - AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND  (July 2013)

january 26, 2008 (day 42)

by James Burwick

Below is an excerpt from my log book of my solo circumnavigation undertaken from 2006-2008.
For some reason it feels right to start sharing more of what I have experienced. This log entry was written at the end of a passage from Auckland NZ to Capetown SA.  This was a bold attempt that went well.  Not without plenty of "space walk" moments. The mountain life I am recalling is another life in the Rocky Mountains of Breckenridge,Colorado USA in the 1970's. Alpine Java is Jack Tackle my close friend who e-mailed me throughout the voyage.At this time  Climbing and sailing were my passions in life and  friendship was my wealth.

January 26, 2008 (Day 42)

Position 41.57S 8.41E

250nm miles on Day 41

237nm last 24

Cape Town 651 nm

"I know what you came for and I know when to leave. You came for my heart. Now its time to leave. For I cant stop you. I will open my door. My heart is here waiting. I wont need it no more." Dido

Very difficult to leave the Southern Ocean. This boat. This special boat. And believe me I have driven plenty. I don’t like to talk numbers and such but plenty of them I drove. This little one. She has a spirit. And a very healthy relationship with the Southern Ocean.

I can feel the outstretched arms from the dock in Table Bay. Under the mountain with the table cloth. Table Mountain

"The single most impressive landfall in this world" I have heard it from many. It is true. I can feel all the Kiwis cheering us on from our Last Port of Call Auckland NZ.

I am amazed. I never finish anything. Maybe it is because the things I try don’t have a great success rate. So many mountains I went up on and never reached the top. "Did you get  up" they said to the Alpine Java.
They stopped asking me.

Well it looks like the girl and I are getting  up alright with strength and stamina and power to waste.
Still running the same sail configuration in this stable air. Just ease the main now and again and let in or out  some water ballast. It feels tropical today. Heat is off and the door is open. 20 deg C another blue sky just a different shade of blue.

I been resting like an old dog in the back of a pickup.

Reminds me of a big black dog named Mr Bojangoles. Once upon a time we lived in log cabins and tipis in the high mountains. In two gulches named  Illinois and Negro Bill. There were 18 people and 10 dogs. Hike into in the summer and ski into  in the winter. Summer time was short. We used to bathe in the creek below Mt Pride and use Dr. Bronners Peppermint Oil Soap. Water so cold it made your scalp shrink and it hurt. But it tickled as Mr. Bojangles would be lickin' the soap off your bum. Sage and Medusa, 2 other mountain dogs looking on.

I cannot get enough rest now as the difficulty is about to begin. The real business end of the trip. Landfall. I am traversing a deep ocean ridge the Agullhas Ridge.  There are sea mounts: The Panzarini, Schmitt-Ott, Erica, Wyandot, Protea, Argentina.  I know the boys are fishing there. How do I know.? Cause I hung with them at the docks in Cape Town. And we talked and drank and carried on and I pried open their minds and begged for info for I knew the time would come when I would sail by my friends in the deep and I wanted to make sure they picked up the ch 16 and told me a story. The story of how it is and how it isn’t.  That is
what make the tears flow today. Not the sea and the wind nor the sunscreen in my eyes nor the perfection of the nature and this boat. It is all of the human spirit that I return to. Heavy stuff for a runner and quitter like me.

"Ole Luke he is a runner" {Cool Hand Luke}. Hero for me. Can't hide so I am always running. It took 42 days crossing 13 time zones for it to arrive and here we are.

Running with the wind one more day. Catch me if you can.

bill goggins' blog on harken

A thanks to Bill Goggins, CEO of Harken USA for a kind mention on his blog.

north sails new zealand

From our location in the Viaduct Basin the kids can scooter easily to the North Sails New Zealand loft on Pakenham Street West.  We met up with Josh Tucker and Dan Bush (aka Bushy) to look over Anasazi Gilr's quiver of 8 sails.

The coolest thing is that we brought back two of three sails that North built for A Girl back in 2007 post-circumnavigation.  The sails were designed by Stéphane Fauve, built by Dan Bushy, under the supervision of loft foreman Matt Smeaton.

What a really nice feeling for James to bring Bushy's sails back to where they started.

Pearl (6 months) and Tormentina (freshly turned 5 years old) inspect Anasazi Girl's
mainsail in the foreground while Josh and Bushy take a look at the sail in the background.
Loft at North Sails New Zealand - Auckland, NEW ZEALAND (July 2013)

q&a adventure journal

10 Questions from Brendan Leonard / Adventure Journal:  HERE

outside online

Links below to images and story published by Outside Online.

STORY & IMAGES

tormentina's 5th birthday

T in her velvet op-shop dress decorating for her party.
Viaduct Harbour, Auckland Waterfront - NEW ZEALAND (July 2013)

T trying to look like Lady Gaga in her home-made birthday lace crown.
Viaduct Harbour, Auckland Waterfront - NEW ZEALAND (July 2013)

viaduct basin, auckland waterfront

Anasazi Girl, Te Wero Island
Viaduct Basin, Auckland Waterfront - NEW ZEALAND (July 2013)

a girl back in auckland

We rode the tide all the way to Cape Colville and then again across the Hauraki Gulf to Rangitoto. Forecast was correct. Winter took a rest for 12 hours. Just enough to let us pass.

Anasazi Girl is now tied up at Te Wero Island (South) in the Viaduct Basin.  Visitors welcome.

Tormentina driving out the river mouth at slack tide, calling out the traffic ahead.
Whitianga, Coromandel Peninsula - NEW ZEALAND.  (June 2013)

Boys on watch.
Mercury Bay en route to Auckland, NEW ZEALAND.  (June 2013)

eastern coromandel coastline

Mercury Bay, NEW ZEALAND (June 2013)

cook's oyster river

We moved back onto Anasazi Girl and stayed four nights at the visitor's berth in the marina while we waited for a good forecast to move the boat to Auckland.  This is the view of the Whitianga River from our berth.  The river and the numerous coves in this area provide a super protected spot for boaters to tie up.

When Captain Cook came to this area to watch the transit of Mercury and found the river teeming with oysters and shellfish, he quickly named this the "Oyster River".

Morning view of the Whtianga River.
Coromandel Peninsula - NEW ZEALAND.  (June 2013)

early birthday present

Tormentina's 5th birthday is coming up on July 2nd, so the big topic lately has been birthdays.
She made me this beach sculpture as an early birthday present for me.
Whitianga, Mercury Bay - NEW ZEALAND.  (June 2013)

moving day

Out of the shack and back on board Anasazi Girl.
Whitianga, Mercury Bay - NEW ZEALAND (June 2013)

last days in the shack

Busy babies in the shack.
Whitianga, Coromandel Peninsula - NEW ZEALAND (June 2013)

jumpers

Tormentina and Raivo jumping off the rocks in the town park in front of the Mercury Bay Library.
Whitianga, Coromandel Peninsula - NEW ZEALAND.  (June 2013)

roasted ginkgo leaves

Tormentina made an imaginary fire and roasted her "marshmallows"of ginkgo leaves.
Whitianga, Coromandel Peninsula - NEW ZEALAND.  (June 2013)

LINDA.meiden june 2013

A photo of Laura Dekker sailing Anasazi Girl is featured in the June 2013 issue of LINDA.meiden (Netherlands) / Photo by Somira Sao

We took Edwin Delaat, Laura Dekker, George Brasell, and Daniel Tealmann out for a day sail on A. Girl last summer.  I was less than a month away from giving birth and down below watching the charts as the young sailors drove the boat with ease around Waiheke Island.  Nice to pass the sailing torch to the next generation.

Laura Dekker driving Anasazi Girl.
Hauraki Gulf, New Zealand (November 2012)

patagonia, inc. spring 2013

Tormentina and Anasazi Girl are in the current Patagonia, Inc. Spring 2013 catalogs (Japan & USA).

The clothing company is based in Ventura, California and produces incredible technical clothing - including an extensive kids' line.  All three of our children have been wearing the gear since they were newborn.  It's super durable and incredibly well designed for the rigorous + active lifestyle we have on the land and at sea.  It's also the only clothing we carry on our family adventures & ocean passages.   

coromandel relaunch

Relaunch is always a tense time.

How did Cook manage to sort everything out in his head?  Wonder how he dealt with stress?  His purpose for coming here to measure the Transit of Mercury with Charles Green probably got him well in tune with nature, the universe, and everything he needed to know about navigating this harbour and its river systems.

Dirunal tide.  Twice a day, that gives us a two hour window when the Whitianga Harbour is deep enough for Anasazi Girl to be lifted, launched, and moved down river into Mercury Bay's deeper waters.

Darryl Smith, the Whitianaga Marina manager asked us how work was progressing.  We told him everything was moving forward with the haul-out.  Our biggest stress was that if we had any issues with the boat after the launch, the time pressure to get in and out of the travel-lift slip was really tight, as was the time to get out of the river and secured to a safe mooring.

Darryl told us to relax.  The timing was perfect.  The marina was already scheduled to re-dredge some of the slipways that had been silted in due to the extreme tides.  He said he would make sure the visitor's dock was dredged first, so there would be a deep-water berth that could accommodate Anasazi Girl and any other deep draft vessels.

What a huge relief.  This would allow us to carefully check all the systems on the boat before leaving the protected bay.

On Thursday afternoon, after James prepared and painted the under-side of Anasazi Girl's keel bulb, the boat sat in slings overnight at the marina.  The next day, Darryl and Graham Murrell (who is in charge of the travel-lift operations & maintenance) showed up at 5:45 am, in the dark, to launch us.  A. Girl slipped into the water without a breath of wind or drama.

The kids and I met James at the boat later that morning.  We were no longer boatyard rats.  We were in the water:  E Pier, end-tied, floating once again.

The fresh paint and non-skid on the decks and cockpit felt good on our bare feet.  Rough on the delicate clothes and the soon to be crawling baby, but clean, safe, secure.  It would keep us firmly attached to the boat in wet conditions.

Tormentina and Raivo were happy to be back in their home space.  They took a break from sibling rivalry to get re-acquainted with the boat.  They measured their bodies' growth since we had moved off by hanging on the carbon grab bars, sitting up on the water tanks, and crawling through the quarter berths.  Their tiny bodies had grown, but they could still slip easily through the escape hatches, in and out of the transom.

I was blown away when they called out to me from the aft compartment to tell me, "Mom!  Everything is dry in here.  Dad did a good job."

Big relief.  We were back in the water.  The water was on the outside of the boat.  Thanks to the marina for their excellent service and support during our haul-out in Mercury Bay.

Anasazi Girl is currently end-tied to E-Pier.  Visitors are welcome.

Graham Murrell, Marty Pooley, and James remove the acro-props from Anasazi Girl's cradle area.
Whitianga Marina, Coromandel Peninsula - NEW ZEALAND.  (June 2013)

Graham Murrell shifts A. Girl into position for launch.
Whitianga Marina, Coromandel Peninsula - NEW ZEALAND.  (June 2013)

James under the bulb preparing the under-side for primer + paint.
Whitianga Marina, Coromandel Peninsula - NEW ZEALAND.  (June 2013)

James, Mitch Pascoe and Karl Storey inspecting the underside of the keel bulb.
Whitianga Marina, Coromandel Peninsula - NEW ZEALAND.  (June 2013)

A. Girl on the freshly dredged slipway at E Pier at the Whitianga Marina Visitor's Dock.
Coromandel Peninsula - NEW ZEALAND.  (June 2013)

runner river