Happy New Year from Sydney and what a fabulous day and New Year's Eve celebrations we've had. Beyond our wildest dreams and one we shared with an estimated 1.5 million people who lined the shores and lookout points around the harbour, a figure which excluded the thousands of people on yachts of every shape and size floating on the water with us.

The anchorage started to fill up by mid-morning, but, as they say: "there's always room for one more" as the late arrivals squeezed in. Although the anchorage was chaotic and we had to deal with three powerboats, in particular, who truly did not have a clue of what they were doing, which subsequently endangered and caused collisions with yachts anchored near us, a friendly and cordial atmosphere, nonetheless, prevailed throughout.

Our day started with phone calls to the family in Ireland and Arizona, then dressing Paw Paw for the event, followed by Ros and Rick off Raya stopping by for a morning coffee. It was lovely to actually spend time with them, since last seeing them in Fiji, and not just having to wave from a distance as we crossed paths in various parts of the Sydney Harbour this past month. Next was a visit from Ian and Andrea off Zoom and it was lovely to catch up and swap sailing stories since last seeing Ian in Tahiti.

By then it was time for Roy to fetch Terence for his transfer to Paw Paw, along with the various South African treats he brought with him, including biltong. With that the festivities started. Besides the entertainment value of watching other yachts anchor and getting very cosy with a number of them, other events were laid on at various stages of the precedings. First, we enjoyed two separate aerobatic shows, then there was an organised parade of all sorts of yachts decorated in festive lights pass by us. By 2100 the boerewors was barbecued and the boerie rolls were going down well to the sights of the early fireworks display for the children. It was a wonderful sampler of what was to come.

Before we knew it, we were joining the entire anchorage in the count down to 2018 and witnessing an event that was simply spectacular. As fireworks shot off the Sydney Harbour Bridge and the Opera House, six barges lining the channel which leads up to the bridge on either side, also had perfectly synchronised displays. The entire setting, atmosphere and having Terence onboard with us was, not only surreal, but truly an experience of a lifetime; one that was worth every inch we have sailed to get here; a New Year's Eve celebration that will be difficult to surpass, ever!

To all our family and friends around the world, you were all with us in our thoughts on this wonderful occasion. Wishing you a healthy and happy 2018 and, God willing, we'll still get to see a few more of you in parts of the world we have yet to visit, as we continue on this incredible adventure.

Watch this space for the upcoming video on the website.