May 25,1999

G'day friends and family:

At 0930 this morning a little black cat named MaiTai arrived on the Moonshadow after a year's absence from her floating home. The last two Salthouse boatbuilders left around 1030, having put the last touches on the boat. At 1130 we sailed out of Auckland with my good Kiwi friends Amy, Cate, David, Mary and Nigel waving us goodbye from the fuel dock.

A few tears fell as I waved goodbye and thought of all that has happend, good and bad in the last year. Now, finally, we are back sailing and on our way to French Polynesia to pick up where we left off.

We are close reaching in light winds near the Corumandel Peninsula and all the hurry and haste are over. All that could be done has been done and we have nothing left but to sail Moonshadow to Raivavae, our first intended port of call.

The motion of the sea has made most of the crew drowsy and they are napping. I am enjoying the quiet moment.

We will endeavour to update you along the way with our on-board email, but if this is the last message you get for a few weeks, don't fret. We will still send you a journal of our passge at some point.

Ciao for now, George, Paula, Phyllis, Steve, Dale and MaiTai