22 May 2000
Andiamo is in the middle of being packed up to go on the container ship.  100's of manhours nearing an end!

28 May 2000
Andiamo is loaded onto the Columbus Victoria bound for Auckland where she will await another ship to San Francisco.  The girls watched the loading from the bridge and were not amused when the boat was lifted complete with captain and crew onto the ship!  Andrew, Stephen, Peter, Geoffrey and Dave "travel" with the yacht onto the container ship while Lesley & Gadg man the tender boat. To prove the new way of travel here are some photos!

30 May 2000
Andiamo makes Page 26 in the Wellington Evening Post:

"Wellington yacht Andiamo is to compete in two world- renowned events in July and August.
The yacht was lifted on to a container ship on Sunday for its voyage to San Francisco.
Its crew flies out on July 5 to prepare it for the 2070 nautical mile Pacific Cup race from San Francisco to Hawaii. Eighty six boats have entered the race, which starts on July 13.
It is a forerunner to the Kenwood Cup in Hawaii beginning on August 1. Andiamo owned by Wellington exporter Andrew Taylor, has been appointed the reserve to the New Zealand team in that event. However it is able to compete as an independent entry and if one of the three New Zealand team entries got into strife, Andiamo could score points.
The cup is raced over 10 races in seven days, including the last one over 150 miles around the islands.
The Royal Port Nicholson Yacht Club is supporting the campaign, which has cost the crew $100,000 to organise.
Only one member of the crew, Geoffrey Meyer, has competed in the Kenwood Cup before.
Crew spokesman Peter Sandford said it was after Andiamo finished third in the Sydney-Hobart classic in 1997 behind Brindabella and Exile that the crew thought they had the ability to compete in the better races throughout the world.
The crew for the Pacific Cup will be: Andrew Taylor, Stephen Moir, Peter Sandford, Malcolm Smith, David Henderson, Richard Muirhead, Lesley Hamilton and Mike Boyd.
Joining them for the Kenwood Cup series will be Andrew Spencer, Chris Pettit, Colette Kraus and Meyer.
"The Pacific Cup traditionally is a downwind race with big seas for 10 to 12 days. We are carrying six spinnakers, a new sail wardrobe and new electronic equipment," Sandford said.
One of the last activities for the crew will be a fund-raising lunch hosted by Greg Wilson and Burton Shipley with America's Cup designer Laurie Davidson as the guest speaker."
 

31 May 2000
Andiamo arrives in Auckland.  Wiz, Chipper and Ricko take over the last minute work to the hull, assisted by John Goffin (Goff).

15 June 2000
The Custard hits the fan. We learn that the Columbus Florida is no longer going to stop in San Francisco.

16 June 2000
The curve ball is greeted by most with shock & horror. Looks like Andiamo will be offloaded in Los Angeles at Long Beach. E-mails and phone calls go back and forth with Jim Quanci from the Pacific Cup organisers and Steve Reinhart from Encinal Yacht Club swinging into action in the States finding alternate ways of getting the boat to San Francisco. Sounds as though it's a Motorsail of 2 - 4 days. Flight availability is checked to see if it is possible for the team to leave earlier. Tails is working on a new plan! Late in the afternoon, the alternate plan is in action. Wiz, Riccardo, Goff, Legs and Mike motor Andiamo from Auckland to Tauranga with the mast still strapped to the deck, fortunatly the weather is looking after them.

17 June 2000
Andiamo is supposed to leave on Columbus Florida bound for San Francisco, but she is now in Tauranga. Senator, Tails & Sneaky motor up to Tauranga early and arrive in the afternoon. The boys appear to be having a bit of fun if the video is anything to go by! Some of the Auckland crew head back.

18 June 2000
Andiamo is loaded on the Direct Jabaru bound for San Francisco via Suva. The Senator has the last word declaring that he is not repeating the effort again in Suva. Well done to all the crew who rushed to the hour of need and the campaign is back on track.

23 June 2000
The day of the lunch at Keelers to farewell the Andiamo Crew and raise some dollars to help the campaign. What can be said!  Comments via E-mail suggest "brilliant, fantastic, sore heads on Saturday" etc.  The long lunch set sail around midday, enjoyable formalities included getting to know a bit more about how Gadg joined the Andiamo crew, how Burton does it when he can, and the History of Andiamo by Laurie Davidson.  We were all hoping for some insight on the reasons for Laurie's leaving Team New Zealand and we "got it"!  In between we had wonderful entrees, fantastic mains of Beef, Lamb and Fish followed.  There was a tear or two as Gadg gave us an awesome farewell and we returned the favour.  Good Luck in the Big Smoke of Sydney Mate!

Following was a period of "conviviality", where someone managed the camera and the results gave us crew & partners photos.  All of the photos from the lunch are able to be viewed on the link below.  Around 6ish we adjourned downstairs and continued being convivial as the photos will no doubt show.

A huge round of thank yous need to go to Gadg and Burton for having the foresight and imagination to organise this awesome event, the crew rewarded them with some gear bags and shirts.  At last sight Gadg was wearing the shirt and fleece and climbing into a cab saying we're continuing at Tails house!  By that time most had thrown in the towel, but we hear the diehards carried on some more.

Thanks to all who attended as a nice sum of money was raised to help the guys on their way on their adventure.

Thank you to the crew for my gear too, I already gave the bag a trip to Auckland at the weekend, but how am I supposed to fit my dressing gown in as well as my clothes??  Thanks heaps guys, I wouldn't do it if I didn't love it!

29 June 2000
Rob Tomkies (Tonks) joins the Kenwood Cup Crew, now all we need to do is find him a plane, a room and a big bunch of flowers for Chrissy!