New Zealand South Island Trip

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Photographer Fred about to set out

After working with all the pros at the America's Cup, I have learned how to look the part

Christchurch, South Island

Heading up the trail

First thing, we went for some hikes.

Judy at the lake

Queenstown

View from the top of the aerial tram.

Another view of New Zealand

Over a canyon, this platform was a scary launch point for bungie jumping

Hills and Sunlight

Lake Wakatipo

Road to Glenorchy

Milford Sound
It rained constantly here, we wondered what it would be like to visit in a boat

Milford Sound

Dunedin

Hills Near Wanaka

South Island Sheep

We were told, but it could have been a myth, there are more sheep in New Zealand than people.


Wanaka Valley

Wanaka Airfield

Click here for images from Warbirds over Wanaka Airshow, 2000

Click here to see photos of the Jaguars

Back on the road

South Island Town

A little Rock slide

South Island Beach

Fishing Boats

Tucked away in an Auckland Backwater, we worked on Wings' bottom, ran into a few laid back cruisers and a famous NZ racing family
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Judy, happy when the wind is blowing in her hair

Kay Koski and Judy, their favorite evening activity: playing cards.
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Back into marina life again
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Opua

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Cruisers gathered near the Opua General Store to await news of their friends. Sadly the news was not always good.

Storm Waves

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Waves, not wind, are the main danger for yachts at sea. This big wave passed us without damage, but several yachts were damaged or sunk during this storm.

Woody Goose

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The tragedy of Woody Goose: This once beautiful British ketch, now forlorn and broken, filled with sand and keel ripped off, went aground on New Zealand's North Island when the anchor dragged and the couple on board could not get underway before she struck. One death ensued.

Riding Out The 2nd Storm

Opunga Cove

When the second big storm came we sought shelter in the Bay of Islands. Sitting out 50 knot winds and drving rain, we listened all night to the VHF radio traffic from the rescue attempts off the New Zealand Coast. Just after dawn I heard Mike's transmission from the bridge of the commecial vessel which picked him up that "Julie didn't make it up, she is still on the boat. We're going around to make another pass and get her."

Then, later, he reported that on the next pass they didn't find Julie or Salacia, his Tayana 37 cutter, only wreckage, including mattresses and locker doors. I knew in my heart, after hearing that, that Julie Black was gone.

Judy Jensen

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Judy

Suva Market

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Under the blue tarps, this outdoor market in Suva had a wierd light.

Suva, The Capital of Fiji

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Downtown Suva is pleasant and well stocked for provisioning and shopping.

Royal Suva Yacht Club

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The Royal Suva Yacht Club is an upscale place, by Fijian standards, and we enjoyed a pleasant stay there, including barbeques on the lawn and cool Fiji Bitter's in the bar.

Ovalau Boats

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Upon seeing these boats at a little harbor on the back side of Ovalau, we decided the village near here must have had some extra yellow paint. Either that or all of these boats were the product of one builder, and this was his trademark?

Going to perfrom Sevu Sevu

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Entering the village on Naigani Island, on our way to perform Sevu Sevu with the Chief, Bob stops to put on his sulu.

Waya Island, Yasawas, Fiji

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This is a Fijian house in the Yasawa's.

Ba Town, Viti Levu, Fiji

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This is the mainstreet in Ba, a sugar town on Fiji's Viti Levu Island, on the North Coast.

Boats on Ba River

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The town of Ba is on this small river. Maybe next time we'll try to find the mounth of the river in our dingy and motor up to Ba.

Road to RakiRaki

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The main highway around Viti Levu, Fiji's main island: on the North Coast the traffic is light.

Mudflats & Mangroves

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These mangroves and this disused marine railway were under 3ft of water when we came in here. Now our dingy, well behind us in this picture, needs to be dragged through this mud, and over the rocks and barnecles to the water before we can go home.

Ovalau Church

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We drove past this church on our tour of Ovalau Island. We stopped the cab and got this great shot.

Photos From New Zealand

The rolling green countryside, more than anything, typifiies New Zealand's Northland

After a couple of years in the Pacific, This is the big smoke

Tucker B Thompson, a true sailing vessel

We never tired of this skyline

A day on Auckland's busy harbor, Kiwis are boating crazy

The Fires of Fiji

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The down side of the dry weather is that grass fires, like these, spring up everywhere. Worse were the burning sugar cane fields. Whether started naturally or burned by the farmers in protest over low prices, they were devastating for many in Fiji's Indian community, and the sights of the burning hillsides each night haunted us.

Cinnabar

Ed and Julie sped from Papeete to Fiji to crew for us at this regatta. Good people.
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Malolo Lailai

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When we got to Malolo Lailai we found crystal clear waters, dozens of cruising yachts, and a luxurious resort..

Momi Bay, Fiji

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The west side of Fiji is dry, the weather is sooo good here, we loved it.

Wings' Crew

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Here is the top flight international crew that raced Wings to such success in the Musket Cove Regatta. From left, Ed Fitzimmons-Yacht Cinnabar,USA, Alan-Yacht Incandescent, Gurnsey, Judy Jensen-Yacht Wings,USA, Neal Adams-Yacht Ruben Jane, New Zealand,Carol Noel-Yacht Elyxir, USA, Danny Raak-Yacht Maranatha,Australia, Grenville-UK, Georgie-UK, Nicole Haeck-Netherlands,Julie Swisshelm-Yacht Cinnabar,USA