“Land ahoy!!” where the words I woke up to this morning, and just like that my seasickness was cured! Breakfast was just as random as dinner last night – trying to eat all the food at risk of being destroyed when arriving in New Zealand due to our strict immigration regulations. Waisting food is a big no no on the Tara – any leftovers on my plate are always distributed around the ever hungry crew – you can imagine their dismay at the NZ customs officer throwing away their precious unopened bottles of honey… there were tears shed! Our final morning at sea was a bustling hive of excitement. Excitement of yet another country crossed off the Pacific Expedition list and bringing Sir Peter Blake’s boat home for the first time. For me it was emotional, the overwhelming pride to belong to such a beautiful country, on board a boat bringing the positive change that our world needs, in the name of a man that made Aotaeroa known – A man that lives on even 15 years after his death. The red socks we gave the crew are out in full force and dolphins ride the bow as we sail into Marsden Point Marina – the weather couldn’t be more perfect. The Tara sticks out like a sore thumb from the other yachts docked and its not until I step on land that I realise its sheer size. Our time on the Tara was brief, but the beauty of sailing in the middle of the ocean is the isolation that it brings. There were no everyday distractions and in ten days we created our own little world. Charlotte and I may be disembarking today but the spirit of Tara and Sir Peter Blake live on through us.

Here’s to the wonderful people of the Sir Peter Blake Trust and Tara Expeditions for making this trip of a lifetime possible, here’s to our incredible pacific ocean that sustains life in so many ways, here’s to Sir Peter Blake’s vision and here’s to being the change we want to see in the world!