A walk along the coastal paths of Waiheke Island is like a stroll through the archives of Grand Designs. Amazing houses, manicured olive groves, netted vineyards and native bush all bathed with the noisy clatter of cicadas. The anchorages have filled with the weekend Aucklanders and those bays that are protected from the ‘strong wind advisory’ are at a premium. The 40 knot easterly gusts that our vhf warned us of have not materialised and Shimshal is quietly dancing around her anchor when a more moderate puff comes through.
