Anchored in Assassination Cove or Te Hue Bay. Needed good internet for an important phone call tomorrow morning. Still great weather, although a bit chilly for us. Fun to watch all the NZ'ers swimming, water skiing and paddle boarding.

Made an epic passage this morning. . . . all of 1 nm. Omakiwi has accessible beaches and a nice walk or two ashore. Still very pleasant weather.

Merry Christmas. We are out of the slip, andhave a working refrigerator, a great present for us. Beautiful clear NZ summer morning.

Still in Opua, galley well underway. New stainless box going in this coming week(we hope). New formica around sinks looks great. Main roller furler noise sorted, still waiting on outcome of small break on headsail furler.

Safely tied to Q-dock in Opua. 0600 as sky was getting brighter. Beat the front, all good aboard.

Less than 100nm to go. Looking for the forecast northerlies so we can shut off the engine. Busy day yesterday, fixed steering, put on new v-belt on engine, and changed oil in new transmission, per the instructions after 25hrs of use.

Sailing, very nice morning, but cold. We seem to be benefiting from a bit of current pushing us along.

Getting colder, smaller moon, still confused seas but we are making headway in the right direction

Sailing, in the right direction, getting cooler, and wind backing from last night, hope it holds

FINALLY pointing in the right direction to Opua. Still very confused seas, but they are down a bit

Whew, what a day. Spent yesterday "treading water" tacking but not making any headway toward Opua. Hope we have better luck today. By the way the wheel steering quit as well. The autopilot is still working, we hope to be able to repair the wheel/cable steering today.

Bashing along east of rhumb line. Front came through last night around 1830 not too bad. Not so comfortable now. At least we are sailing faster than yesterday.

Motorsailing, sailed into no wind around 21 04s 176 38e. Seems to be some adverse current. We have seen some with us and some against us since we left. Had to use a light blanket last night, we are gonna miss the tropics

Underway, making good time. Enjoying the last of the warm weather

We will leave today for NZ. Hoping for the best. Looks like a good first day, then not much wind.

Moored in Vuda Marina. Awaiting a haul out, hopefully tomorrow, to clean bottom, put on zincs and right back into the water. No hard stand. Then the wait for an adequate wx window to Opua

Will move into Vuda Point Marina today. Hope to leave Fiji, end of the week or early next week.

Moved over to Saweni Bay for a couple of nights, so we can see some friends we met in Majuro, Marshall Islands

Happy Diwali. Anchored in Nadi Bay. Calm nights.

Momi Bay, SW corner of Viti Levu

At anchor in Momi Bay.

Anchored on Momi Bay. Waiting to go into Vuda Point. Great leisurely sail today. 10-15k SE winds, left early so could go slow.

Anchored off Robinson Crusoe Resort, Likuri Bay, Viti Levu. Great sail from Vunanui Bay once wind filled in around 0900.

bottom of Viti Levu

About 30nm, W of Suva at anchor in Vunanui Bay.

May move today, not much wind forecast from Fiji Met. Looking to move along the S coast of Viti Levu toward Vuda Point.

Good protection.

Staying put

Anchored on Malumu Bay on Beqa

On mooring in Lami Bay, west of Suva.

On a mooring in Lami, just west of Suva

Still anchored in RukuRuku, on Ovalau. Will visit the school today.

Anchored in Ruku Ruku on Ovalau, will take the truck into Levuka this morning

On our way from Taveuni to Koro

On a mooring at Paradise Dive. Dropped off our guests, and had a great meal last night.

Anchored in Katherine Bay, in honor of Kathryn Sobocinski one of our guests. Will walk into the village today.

Still in Albert Cove Rabi, went into Nuku yesterday and visited the school. More snorkeling today

Anchored in Albert Cove, Rabi

Anchored in Nasosobo Bay/Dakinuba, on our way to Albert Cove, Rabi. Kathryn and Mark are on board, but no fish yet!!!!

Still on a mooring in Savusavu

Still on a mooring in Savusavu

On a mooring in Savusavu. Enjoying chicken pies and ice cream. Got one load of fuel aboard, more today and the reprovisioning will begin.

this is a test send

Long motor sail from Nabouwalu to the Cousteau Resort anchorage just outside of Savusavu. Hooked two fish, landed zero! Very light air for all but the last couple of hours, made the Nasonisoni Passage on pretty much slack tide(luckily, we hear). Will start the cleaning and organizing for upcoming guests.

BIG DAY, yesterday. The crew of Astarte met and got photos with the Prime Minister of Fiji, Frank Bainimarama. He was taking the ferry from Nabouwala back to Viti Levu and we came ashore to see him off. We were met by his security detail, who invited us to join in with all the other photo takers that were there with their cell phone cameras. We were quite honored.

At anchor

Anchored REALLY close to the ferry dock in Nabouwala.

Bashing their way east along the coast of Vanua Levu in uncomfortable seas

Anchored in Bua Bay. Will wait here for the best window to make the last two hops to Savusavu

Now on west side of Vanua Levu continuing their circumnavigation of the island

Made the turn, no on the western edge of Vanua Levu. Will have to be more careful with weather windows to finish the circumnavigation

Anchored off Naviqiri, still on the north side of Vanua Levu.

Wind, calm. 100% cloud, 1010.9mb Astarte is pointing E. May or may not move west today. Calmer than yesterday.

Still anchored near the Draketi River. Wind 15-18 SE, 40% cloud, 1011.4mB. Calm night, but windy early this morning.

Tore ourselves away from Palmlea Farms(it was difficult to leave). Anchored in Nakalou Anchorage, looking forward to a dinghy trip up Fiji's longest river, The Draketi. 18-22E- ESE gusts, 60% cloud 1012.6mB

During Tony's net on 20m.

Anchored off Palmlea Farms resort. Enjoyed a really good "cooks night off" dinner out at their restaurant, with Michelle and Lance from Sweetwaters. Enjoyed one of the best key lime pies we have ever had. Wx, calm, Astarte pointing SE, 35% cloud, Bara1014.6.

moved closer to mainland as needed protection from the swell.

Got really rolly and rainy this morning around 0900, so decided to move back closer to Vanua Levu and protection for the weather that is forecast early this week.

Anchored off Ligau on Kia Island. Finally got into clear water, but it was a bit rolly last night. Not sure how long we will stay

Anchored in Malau, near the plywood mill. Not far from Labasa. Took the bus in today to start the reprovision. Another trip tomorrow.

Another nice day. This at 2100utc, 9am NZ time

Still off Tivi Island. Glass slick, no wind. 360 Blue, no clouds at all. 25c 1012.5mB. Will go in to look for the school, if we can make it through the mangrove channels at low tide

Anchored near Tivi Island. Will go in this afternoon to determine if Sevu Sevu is possible and necessary. It is an area that is very influenced by the Indo-Fijian Culture.

Anchored in "Black Jack Bay". Had a great downwind sail, but still no fish landed or even bites

Had a very pleasant visit on Also Island. We hope to start moving west as soon as we get some good light this morning. The Vanua Levu circumnavigation continues.

Anchored at Also Island. Met Jim who runs the Rag of the Air net. Will enjoy a few days here before continuing south and west around Vanua Levu

On the way to Also Island to say hi to Jim

Albert Cove Rabi (pron Ranbi) Is Fiji.

Anchored in Albert Cove. Nice sail up here, slow but comfortable. Still no fish!!!

Anchored in Katherine Bay, Rabi Island. 7 hour trip, 4 sailing, 3 motoring. A bit rolly, but we are optimistic that the swell will move around more to the east. Too slow for fish! But we had a line in.

Anchored in Dauniba. The flying foxes we are glad to report seem to have survived Winston. Lots taking to the air last night. Motor sailing trip here, but better than the last attempt. No fish!!! We tried hard

Tried early this morning to head to Fawn Harbor. Head seas and 18k of wind on the nose. . . .we re-lived the theme of this years cruise. We turned around and went back to the anchorage off the Cousteau Resort. Will wait for better conditions.

on their way from Savusavu to Fawn Hbr

Off the mooring at Copra Shed and around the corner to the anchor at the Cousteau Resort. Hope the trough goes through tonight so we can have good visibility for the entrance tomorrow into Fawn Harbour

Safely settled in SavuSavu. In the marina for one night, then onto a buoy Thursday. Salt washed off, cooks night off.

Yesterday got better and better for sailing, then around 4pm things started getting really rolly again! 27 nm to go

Really confused seas again last night. But still making good time. 159 nm to go

Really confused seas last night. But still making good time. 300 nm to go

Quite confused seas, but still making great time. 432nm to go to Savu Savu

Had a pretty pleasant night sailing, but as we got out to the squalls we got out of the wind. Now motor sailing

Roaring along under sail. Seas pretty bad, not much rest for the good crew of Astarte. But making great mileage. 685nm to go!

Roaring along under sail. Been quite fast for us. Boisterous day ahead we think

Still underway toward Fiji. Had to start the iron genny about 0300. Very very light winds. Heard the Orion last night calling boats looking for an active EPIRB. Don't know how it was resolved.

Take Two, left Opua yesterday around noon on our second attempt for Fiji. Conditions are a bit rolly, but was making good time until about 0430.

Made it to Opua Marina, Will rest up tonight then start the work tomorrow. Monday is a holiday so hopefully we will begin the replacement of the roller furler then.

28nm to Opua. Welcome back!

28nm from Q dock in Opua. Condtions settled down.

Have turned back for Opua, currently motorsailing. Headsail roller furler has failed. Better to get repairs in NZ. Very very rough night. Did our best to hove to, 35k winds big seas, all right on the nose. Still right on the nose, but now underway again.

Roller furler has failed and they are returning to Opua for repairs

Been motoring almost non stop since yesterday morning. Will need to conserve fuel. We will be sailing from now on. Squally after midnight, light air between squalls

Underway for Minerva or Fiji. "pretty not bad" sailing. Wind speed all over the board, along with boat speed. No too much in the way of squals, so far. Really glad to be on the way.

In Marsden Cove, the official check out port. Will be looking at a window to leave, but Monday is closing up. Argggh

In Wahngarei Town Basin, prepping for the trip north, hopefull on the next weather window.

Moved up to the Nook. Expected some wind that never really arrived, first time here.

Motorsailed back toward Whangarei. Anchored in Urquhart Bay, hoping to get into Whangarei marina next week to begin the prep to head to Fiji in early May

Still anchored in Great Barrier. We moved from SmokeHouse Bay to get some protection from the forecast winds. Glad we did. Saw a fearless Little Blue Penguin as we entered this bay. I put the wrong numbers in for the position, so this one should be correct. Wx today simply gorgeous, but a bit cold.

Anchored in Great Barrier. We moved from SmokeHouse Bay to get some protection from the forecast winds. Glad we did. Saw a fearless Little Blue Penguin as we entered this bay

Finally out of Auckland for the year(we think). Got a good wx window to head out to Great Barrier Isl. Will be here for a week or more.

Whoo hoo, the Kawau Boat Club is open after power repairs all over Kawau. Big wind change at midnight, no major issues in the anchorage

We moved to Mansion House Bay to get some relief from the westerlies that were building

Back in Bon Accord Harbour, Kawau. Have our friend Tom aboard. Barbara is still back in Salem,MA with her mom. Good motor trip here.

Came back into Bon Accord Harbour, Kawau Island. Yet again. Have our friend Tom with me this time. Barbara still visiting her mom in Salem, MA

Back in Auckland. Had a really good sail from Kawau to Pier 21. Had the tide with us and saw 8.5k with reefed main and heady!

Music Festival today. Over 150 boats in the harbour. Giant NZ Yacht Squadron event tonight as well as races today!

Came back into Bon Accord Harbour, Kawau Island. After a VERY successful visit to TiriTiri Matangi. Actually spotted a Kiwi on a night walk. Will stay here if the wx lets us, through Saturday and the Music at the Mansion event.

Will move from Putiki today to Titri tiriMitangi. Hope to see the nesting blue penguins.

Anchored in Putiki Bay, on the south side of Waiheke Island. Wine tour today with our guest Sue

Moored at PIer 21 in Auckland. Sue arrives Sunday, hope the wx cooperates and we can leave on Monday or Tuesday for Waiheke Isl

Anchored in Uquhart Bay, waiting to go to Kawau either tomorrow or Friday