Three yachts, which are part of the the Oil Free Seas Flotilla, have departed Auckland today Monday 11th. They are the SV Vega, SV Friendship and SV Shearwater II. Other boats in the flotilla will depart from Wellington, Kaikoura and Bay of Islands later this week. They will meet about 110 nautical miles west of Raglan where Anadarko is about to start exploratory oil drilling. The flotilla is a coalition of individuals and boat owners who oppose deep-sea drilling and the new legislation that takes away New Zealander’s long-standing right to peacefully protest at sea.