Trying with photos again!!

Hi from Phileas

I am experimenting again in the Library at Devonport with my new gadget, the card reader. I managed to lose a whole load of Fogg's photos when I posted them from our house so I thought I'd try this way. OK I can't the computer won't let me. I'll have to try a different Internet place.

Anyway while I am here I will tell you what we have been up to recently. Well actually what Fogg has been up to. Yesterday he sailed on NZ 40 which was one of the boats that was entered in the Americas Cup when it was held in San Diego in 1995. It was a beautiful boat and maybe I'll be able to put some pictures up later. I'll leave him to tell you all about it.

I decided not to go with him so I sat on the harbour wall and filmed the boat and took some photos. Then I succumbed to a rather good blueberry icecream and my latest Barbara Trapido novel. What a pleasant way to spend an afternoon!

Today we have been back to Rangitoto to take pictures for my colleagues in England (see previous blog on succession). Brilliant walk to the top, exhausting but well worth it for the views and satisfaction. Heading off now to the pool so over to Fogg.

Hi. A brief note from me. Fogg. Yesterdays trip on NZL40 was awesome. I was involved in the sailing of the boat. I manned the 'grinders'. A kind of winch that pulls the ropes attached to the sails. 'Painters' I think the ropes are called. I took the helm and put the boat about. 'Tacking' for those that don't know the language! A large sailing boat. We had 350 square metrs of sail flying. A spinacker when the wind was behind us. That increased the sail area a lot. The boat weighed 27 tons and the keel alone weighed 18 of those. The hull was made of carbon fibre. There were five professional crew on board and the rest was made up of people who just bought into the trip. It takes about 20 people to sail one of these so you may imagine that most were kept busy. It was fantastic and I want to go again. There is a n opportunity to engage in a race as there are two ex America Cup boats in the harbour. who knows? So, an excited Fogg who realised yesterday had not lost the call of the sea and the ability to handle a boat although the technology is much different that when I last sailed. Loved it. Lots of unused miscles used yesterday. Today I climbed a Volcanoo. Wow! So lots of love and best wishes to you all.
Fogg

xx