Dr. Watts, Jo and Kaci sailing Patricia in Hauraki Gulf, NZ.
In 1996, two cyclones found their way to New Zealand.  This unusual weather year resulted in some pretty dramatic stories and lasting frienships among those of us who were there at anchor, hanging on moorings or at docks in the north islands' inconsistently protected bays.  Within this past few weeks, I've enjoyed catching up with some of them. Kurt & PL from Osprey.  Cathy in Wisconsin, who was aboard Tethys with us while we rode out a hurricane at anchor, recovering our tangled ground tackle when a mega yacht dragged down on us in the midst of the first storm. And then, there were the women of Patricia, a lovely old wooden H28.  I met the women owners soon after the second cyclone.  I'd experienced it alone aboard Tethys, snugged to four aging pilings in a gull lined corner of Auckland's West Haven marina.  Meriel & Jo rowed up to invite me to dinner, pleased to find another boat completely owned and crewed by women.  This past week, they wrote to say that in a recent storm there this year (not a hurricane this time) Patricia broke free of her mooring and beached.  Her strong wooden construction withstood the beating and they took this as a sign it was time to take her out sailing again!  It was this time of year when we met 8 years ago...and I can't help but wish I could meet them in Keri Keri, Russell, Tutakaka - as we all have been many miles and seen many storms since then.  Safe sailing you two and thanks for writing!