I landed in Auckland at 5am on April 13 and planned to catch a bus for the four-hour trip to Opua. As I left the customs area I heard my name called out – there was Captain Joe waiting for me at the airport. Cosmos was still in Whangarei where it was moored for the typhoon season. Joe had new windows installed in the saloon – the installation was faulty and a second set of windows had to be installed. This pushed the departure from Whangarei back to Tuesday, April 16, one week behind schedule. Joe decided to catch me at the airport before I left for Opua. With three days to kill, we decided to do some New Zealand touring.

We went to downtown Auckland and visited the America’s Cup Village on the waterfront. Docked at the village was Katana, Oracle CEO Larry Ellison’s 243 foot motor yacht. Ellison's Oracle Racing Team has two 80 foot America’s Cup Class sailboats in Auckland preparing for the challenge races scheduled to start in October.  

Katana at America's Cup Village, Auckland, New Zealand

We had breakfast with one of the two Italian America's Cup teams -- well we didn't exactly have breakfast with them -- we were eating in the same restaurant.   I did take a group picture for them.

Joe and I visited Sky Tower -- it's like Seattle's Space Needle.  We went up to the observation deck where we had a magnificent 360 degree view of Auckland.   As we were looking out at the fantastic scenery, we heard an announcement, "Two minutes to sky jump."  We joined a crowd assembled at one of the windows and saw a person soar down from above.  The "Sky Jump" is a 630 foot  jump that's like sky diving only it's a controlled descent.  The jumper is attached to a cable that controls the speed of the fall (approximately 37 mph).  I told Joe that I had to try it -- he said I was crazy and talked me out of it.  He suggested that we tour Waitomo Caves the next day where we could abseil over 300 feet into a cave --- abseiling is like repelling -- you go down via rope.  Joe said it would be much safer than jumping off the Sky Tower.  I reluctantly agreed.

Joe and Tom aboard the Ted Ashby in Auckland harbor with the Sky Tower in the background.

Joe and I spent Saturday night in a B&B on an ostrich farm just a few miles from Waitomo Caves.  At 7am Sunday morning, we met our guides for the abseil experience.  We were outfitted with boots, coveralls and safety lines and made our descent 300 feet into a cave.  It was exciting going down.  When we got to the bottom I inquired how we were going to get back up -- I was told we were going to climb up and out --- no elevators like there were in the Sky Tower.  The climb out was one of the hardest things I've ever done -- almost as tough as Marine Corps boot camp.  We zigged and zagged up rock paths -- at one point we came to a 100 foot ladder to climb straight up -- imagine climbing up the side of an eight story building -- I almost died but I made it.

Tom and Joe ready to descend into one of the Waitomo Caves

After surviving the caves, we spent Sunday night at a farm house B&B, then  made our way to Whangarei on Monday.  Pete, the window man, was putting the final touches on the windows.   George, Steve and Anders were making final preparations for our departure the next day.  We went grocery shopping for fresh meat, vegetables and beer -- all the necessities.  That evening Joe treated us all to a bon voyage dinner at Reva's on the waterfront.

Cosmos Crew at Reva's - (L-R) Steve Hall, Joe Dorr, Tom Murphy, Anders Toren, and George Hotz.

Cosmos pulled up anchor in Whangarei on Tuesday, April 16 and sailed a short distance to Poor Knights Island where we anchored and spent the night (see Leaving Whangarei pictures).  We sailed to the Bay of Islands on Wednesday and to Opua on Thursday.  Opua is New Zealand's main point of entry and departure for cruising vessels.  We anchored in Opua harbor Thursday night, planning to clear New Zealand customs Friday morning for departure to Australia.

At this point, we were a week behind schedule.  We were looking at a 10 to 14 day run across the Tasman Sea that would put us in Australia sometime between April 29 and May 3.  I was scheduled to return home on April 27 on a flight that evening from Auckland airport.  In all likelihood we were going to be in the middle of the Tasman Sea when it was time for me to leave for home. The only way I could leave Cosmos from there was to fake a heart attack and be removed by helicopter.   I didn't think that was too good of an idea.  I was faced with a tough decision -- come home a week early or a week late.  As much as I would have liked to stay, I decided to leave Cosmos Friday morning and head back to Maryland.  We all had a great dinner in Pahia Thursday night (my treat) and I caught a bus from Opua to Auckland Friday morning.

Lo and behold, the bus terminal in Auckland just  happens to be at the foot of Sky Tower.  I got there at one o'clock and had several hours to kill before my 6:30pm flight to Los Angeles --- plenty of time to dive off the tower.  After paying my fee, I was outfitted with a jumpsuit that came right out of a Marvel comic book -- I looked like a cross between Superman and Captain Marvel -- well maybe I didn't look like them but I was certainly dressed like them.

Tom ready for his jump off of Sky Tower

The jump is 630 feet (that's equivalent to a 53 story building).  I was equipped with a harness that was connected to a cable that would let me down at a speed of approximately 37 miles per hour for 25 seconds.  The scary moment was standing on the diving platform looking down, preparing to jump.  For a second I thought of backing out but then I just closed my eyes and leaned forward off the platform.   The jump was fantastic -- so good, I did it a second time.

View from the diving platform

It's a bird.  It's a plane.

After the second jump, I headed to the airport to start the 17 hour journey home.  I can summarize my adventure by saying New Zealand is beautiful, the Cosmos crew is great, the Sky Jump is fantastic, the trip was too short, and one of these days I'll get even with Joe Dorr for almost killing me in the Waitomo Caves.