The End

It had to happen I suppose but our trip has ended. We are now back in sunny but chilly Wanaka after a largely uneventful and sleep free return trip. Much better going this way than the other with no waiting around on concrete airport floors. Anyway, the wind finally came back for the last few days and it was good times at the Kanaha beach park. 5.3 weather but super fun with a decreasing NE swell breaking on the outer reef. Caught a few waves. Missed a bunch too and when you get tired of that its off to the channel for some blasting about and a few tricks. Some of the top guys in the world were there practising their slalom racing and testing sails. Robbie Swift and Kevin Pritchard absolutely flying around a couple of bouys. I tried to keep up but was lacking 2 1/2 metres of sail, 30kgs of weight and a whole bunch of technique. Good to watch though.
Kevin Pritchard.
Me this time.
Not one of my better ones.
I thought windsurfers just had ugly feet.
Sometimes the wind blew a bit of sand around and Erica had to take shelter.

Yesterday afternoon I took the car up to Hookipa to watch the waves sailing. Hadn't been there when it was windy and it was great to see some top guys out there. Young Kai Lenny who is only 15 or so was the standout. But it a zoo with 25 people out all sailing in the same spot and trying to get the biggest waves. And this was a pretty small day. If you get it wrong its time to get aquainted with the urchin infested rocks on the inside.

And the point turned on a special Maui sunset for our last evening.
So we left beautiful tropical weather with trade winds and got back to this! Auckland 7 AM. Blah. But snow is forecast and the mountains are already looking pretty good. So into another winter we go!