We are soon to be in the Tasman Sea and with only 1000 miles until we reach Sydney Town. I’m so pleased I arrived in Auckland almost a week prior to our Crew 7 boarded Oceans of Hope. It was just great to actually meet Crew 6, hear their stories and share a meal together.

I felt very privileged also to have the opportunity to meet a range of folk from New Zealand MS organizations, the terrific team from Oceans of Hope/Sailing Sclerosis and to accompany a couple of Taster Sailing sessions around the lovely Auckland Harbour.

A couple of days in and on our way, we as Crew 7 have very much already established a great bond of mutual respect and trust. This also with the permanent crew who we feel completely empowered by in all we attempt and ultimately do achieve.

Among a range of highs (it’s already been so much more than I expected!) for me some of them have been the “Patch” and nil seasickness, followed by everyone enjoying the dinner of which I contributed to creating – healthy, a little organic and fresh!

My sense of great fortune to be aboard Oceans of Hope has been reinforced – we are all having a great time with each other, complete strangers only a few days ago and now we are very much the Crew 7 heading to Sydney Town from Auckland. We are all different people, we are from different countries and a range of culture, however we are a TEAM attempting this challenge and we will all see you soon in Sydney having successfully achieved this, the Crew 7 Tasman Sea challenge!!! I’m sure to celebrate will be a long shower and then the raising of our glasses in Sydney, Australia to World MS Day 2015.

Report from Bosun Bertram:
Almost 400 miles out of Auckland and we are cruising along on a due westerly course. The last three days have been challenging with winds up to 46 (!!) knots and averaging around the 30.2 reefs in the main and our small jib giving us speeds varying from 6 to 9 knots depending on the favour of the wind angle. Sporadic seasickness onboard but all in all a very very impressive pull from our new crew doing the leg all the way from Auckland to Sydney 1200 miles over the notorius Tasman Sea!

Local time onboard is 15:30 and our current position is 34,1.73S , 167,28.43E