Kiapa

Kiapa is a 52ft Morelli Melvin gunboat catamaran, built in Oregon, USA. We bought her in San Francisco in 2011. Her owners are Lionel and Irene Bass, who hail from Perth, Australia.

Recent Updates

Posted: Fri, 20 May 2016 - 14:49

How lucky was I yesterday? I went on an International Date - not only with Lionel, but Norm and Ian as well!! And now I am all confused, is it today, or is it yesterday?? (Is there the equivalent of

Posted: Thu, 19 May 2016 - 07:06

After listening to various SSB net schedules yesterday and this morning, what I am picturing right now is not quite the ITCZ, but the NMCZ - the North Minerva Convergence Zone. Yip, it sounds like

Posted: Wed, 18 May 2016 - 07:02

Yesterday was a combination of a yoga/pilates/aerobics/tai chi day as we reached this way and that, squatted down to retrieve this, stretched out to grab that as we changed sail configurations again

Posted: Tue, 17 May 2016 - 06:59

You know the mental image some people have of cruising....... that it's all about the wind in your hair, sailing off over the horizon to a coconut tree lined white sandy beach in the tropics, a nice

Posted: Mon, 16 May 2016 - 07:37

What a fabulous start to our passage. Blue skies, mountains off to port, and while still in the Bay of Islands we landed our first fish - a nice size bonito, but oops, being 'fussy' fish eaters we

Posted: Sun, 15 May 2016 - 09:59

We cleared with Customs nice and early this morning and are now officially underway to Minerva Reef. The soft grey fog has lifted and we are motoring out the Bay of Islands in beautiful sunshine

Lots of yummy fresh fruit and veggies on board.

Posted: Fri, 13 May 2016 - 17:42

The weather gods still say Sunday morning, so Sunday morning it is!! Winds should be no more than 18kn...in theory

Posted: Thu, 12 May 2016 - 17:47

After looking at the forecast once more we have decided to delay our departure to Minerva Reef (and then Fiji), so no longer leaving today but now on Sunday. Thankgoodness NZ is still enjoying

Posted: Mon, 9 May 2016 - 12:01

On a mooring in Opua. Waiting for a departure to Fiji on Thursday 12 May.

Posted: Wed, 4 May 2016 - 08:53

We are now in Marsden Cove, Whangarei enjoying some social activities before heading to Opua in the next few day

Posted: Tue, 3 May 2016 - 06:52

Nice and snug with Fusio last night in Omaha cove. Today we both sail to Whangerei. Winds should be light.

Posted: Sun, 1 May 2016 - 21:11

Very happily anchored in a scenic bay off beautiful Sandspit after a pleasant sail from Great Mercury Island. Solo sailing was fun! Irene back on board, as is Brian (aka Brainy), one of our crew for

Posted: Fri, 29 Apr 2016 - 18:23

So my deck grip is all finished and Kiapa is ready to go. I will sail (and Irene will drive the car) from Tairua to Hauraki Gulf tomorrow and then start to pick up our crew for the passage to Fiji.

'Before and after' the deck grip is stuck on.

Posted: Tue, 26 Apr 2016 - 18:50

Ok, so today we got our new dick grip for Kiapa. All the way from the good ole USA. We will fit the grip to my dick tomorrow and then head north to Whangeriei over the weekend, Then off to Opua to

Posted: Sat, 27 Feb 2016 - 13:08

Back in Tairua after a lovely week out exploring the Coromandel Coast, all the while enjoying freshly caught seafood. Now for our next adventure on South Island - we fly to Queenstown later today.

Posted: Tue, 23 Feb 2016 - 17:33

Anchored at Opito bay. 6 miles south of the Mercs. Tomorrow back to Taiua which is 18 miles away. Tonight is fresh snapper and scallops again. Ho hum

Posted: Mon, 22 Feb 2016 - 08:19

At last in Great Mercury Islands. Last night we ate Thai spiced scallops and the best snapper EVER. The cook was Dave Chrisp on Furtuna . Well done Dave. We will head back to Tairua on Wednesday and

Posted: Sat, 30 Jan 2016 - 18:24

Happily anchored off privately owned Slipper Island, not too far from Tairua on the Coromandel. Have just returned from a scuba dive where we gathered some paua for dinner. Yum YUM. Lionel is

Bummer the Pohutukawa trees are in the shade.

Posted: Sun, 10 Jan 2016 - 12:34

After an early 5am start (to ensure we "crossed the bar" coming into the estuary mid morning at high tide) we are now berthed in the spectacularly located, brand spanking new Tairua Marina. We'll be

Posted: Sat, 9 Jan 2016 - 16:49

Comfortably anchored in Kennedy Bay on the eastern side of the Coromandel Peninsula after a very pleasant sail from Fairway Bay. Saw quite a few whales along the way - we think they were Bryde

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Kiapa

Kiapa

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