With huge sadness we sold Rainbow fortunately to a wonderful man. Neil Ritchie, an Optometrist in Auckland and a reserve naval officer attracted by Rainbow's history was the perfect owner for our boat, totally dedicated and willing to invest a considerable amount of money many times more than we had originally paid to take care of her ageing needs. Rainbow is still in their family today and now at a ripe old age of 105 years old is moored in the Tamaki estuary in Auckland and often seen sailing on the beautiful Waitamata Harbour.

Rainbow Yacht Charters, (of course) from humble beginnings with one 20ft trailer sailer, not that far removed from our original fibreglass sloop grew over the following twenty five years to be the South Pacific's largest operation with some 40 yachts ranging from 26ft to 51ft based in Auckland, Bay of Islands, Fiji's Yasawa Islands and Tonga's Vava'u group.

There were many adventures along the way - we weathered stormy seas much like that first night out from Canada except this time within the realms of business. We rose to dizzying heights during the 1984 heyday of the share market boom as owners of a major national tourism business that operated some 100 rental cars and motorhomes, the fleets of yachts and motor cruisers throughout New Zealand and the Pacific Islands, and had began to purchase land to build country club resorts in three locations. Eventually, with the share market and the economy in ruins around us and having held on longer than most new corporates, we had to come to grips wit h $1.6m overdraft.

All good things come to an end – really?. Our growth and public awareness internationally caught the eye simultaneously of the world's two largest charter boat fleet operators both vying for the South Pacific destination and we fell for the seduction of a merger. In truth it was the only solution to our own growth and continuous seasonal cashflow difficulties.

All went well until 'something' came to get me. Clearly my time for playing around with boats was up and I was called by what I can only describe as my soul to begin a new life. It started slowly and innocuously enough with a strange encounter in Aspen, Colorado. This encounter rocked me with a new perspective which was much like Pandora's box for although initially I did not take it seriously or heed, circumstances and people starting appearing and adding to and extending what had been offered.

No, I am not going to tell you what it was, you can discover it for yourself if really interested “Much More Than I Bargained For...” a book about my life I wrote for my two children - the sequel to the “Rainbow” story.

Sometimes life seems to be an endless replay of a series of circumstances that have a common thread, sort of 'Groundhog Day' spread out over time to a point where it is only in hindsight that it becomes apparent that we have been going round and round and never really getting anywhere. Well, in this circumstance my life went from circles to a definite spiral leading to a new level of awareness, consciousness if you like and new experiences which although have a similar and very familiar outward appearance are remarkably life changing on the inside. It’s a life all about Change, Trust and Desire to learn more about What is Really Going On!

I hope that you will enjoy it.....

Roger (Raj)