Anchored off Abato Islet at Tarawa where we hope to celebrate New Year's Eve with some new expat friends ashore. Anchored off a pretty resort that seems many miles from smelly Betio (in fact is only 12 nm away). Dolphins greeted us in the pass to Tarawa and we stopped for lunch off the Parliament buildings to get better light to come this far east.

Enroute from Butariari towards Tarawa. We were slowly sailing close hauled towards Tarawa in winds under ten knots but wind has now eased below five knots. Motoring. Dolphins and a sea turtle came to see us off as we left the pass at Butaritari.

Anchor down at Butaritari

Have departed Tarawa and enroute towards Butaritari where we hope to spend Christmas. Nice fast close reach in the lee of Tarawa so far under genoa, staysail and mainsail.

Anchored off the Parliament buildings. Much nicer surroundings and not getting bashed by the wind chop like in the commercial harbour last night. Anchored in 19' of water and the tide should drop about 7' tonight. Waiting for our paperwork to head out to the outer islands.

Anchor down at Tarawa, Kiribati at 1300L today. Awaiting Customs clearance etc.

Fluent is back in the Northern Hemisphere. Taking a short tactical pause to allow for a daylight entry to Tarawa. Nice day of sailing despite ever decreasing winds and increasing current against us. Found out that our bigger fishing lure (we always drag a big and a small lure on passage to cover our bets) had its two big hooks stripped off of it at some point. They were substantial hooks so it would have been a big fish.

Still on a close reach but the wind speed is slowly diminishing. 2.8nm to the equator.

Still making good progress on a close reach despite the foul current against us. Should cross the equator tonight. After a long absence since our our Mexico to Marquesas passage, we can see the big dipper again at night - plus the Southern Cross and Orion.

After what seemed to be constant squalls since Tuvalu we have had a nice patch of squall free sailing for the last 18 hours or so. Just past the half way to go point.

Squally day and night. Mostly sailing close reach or close hauled. Presently motoring in a post squall calm.

First day at sea almost complete. Mixed bag of motoring in 0.9 kts of wind, motor sailing in 5 kts of wind and screaming along with the wind in the low 20 kts. Heavy rain in squalls. Just had a private airshow from a helicopter from the nearby fishing fleet.

Intention is to depart Funafunti today towards Tarawa, Kirabati. Looks like a light wind but squally trip.

Back in front of the town at Funafuti.

Anchor down off Mateiko. Still the only cruising boat around.

Anchor down at Funafuti. Nice passage.

Another nice day of sailing in light air. Lots of electrical activity overnight. Fluenta fishing drought is over as we caught a 83" long (we broke our scale trying to weigh it) sailfish. Fish now for breakfast, lunch and dinner and the fishing lines are inboard as the fridge and freezer are full. Photos on the blog at: SV-Fluenta.blogspot.ca

The squalls lasted through the forenoon but otherwise a calm sailing day close reaching in light air. Just passed the southernmost island of Tuvalu (Niulakita Island). 140 nm to Funafuti.

Good progress during the day reaching at speeds in the 7's and low 8's. Now slower progress with adverse tide and frequent squalls. Caught and returned a 50+ barracuda. Was rather hoping it was a tuna instead.

Nice first day on passage towards Funafuti

Heading off towards Funafuti, Tuvalu

Alongside Copra Shed preparing to head north towards Tuvalu

Anchored off Savusavu after a fast but rolly passage from Taveuni.

Anchored off Taveuni.

On a mooring bouy off Paradise Resort.

At the Copra Shed, Savusavu

Anchored off Coconut Point on our way to Savusavu. Shallower anchoring so should be easier than it was this morning in 60' this morning without the windlass.

Anchored off Nananu-I-Ra enroute towards Savusavu.

Broken windlass so anchoring is good exercise.

Brief stop at Denarau to wait out a bit of a blow, pick up parts and do some serious provisioning.

Anchored off Musket Cove.

Ready to be hauled out at Vuda Point

Anchored outside of Denerau preparing the boat for our trip to Canada.

Kind of like pulling over to the side of the road to sleep, we are anchored off Gana Point on the north coast of Viti Levu on our way to Nadi.

Anchored in Cukuvou Bay in Yadua.

Anchored on the east of Yadua.

Slowly sailing under bare poles towards Yandu waiting for sufficient daylight. Nice peaceful sail.

Anchored at Makogai to see if we can help with Sea Mercy. We have not been ashore yet but damage to the trees is evident even from a distance.

Fast if bumpy passage with a 0430 departure from Savusavu. Slight delay to standby to help a boat drifting towards the outer reef at Point Passage (turns out he was in sailboat and could sail out of danger rather than the precarious tow we were potentially going to need to do). Speeds into the 7's and 8's and one small Mahi Mahi caught.

Anchored Savusavu 0400L. Nice day sailing either wing on wing or broad reaching

Light air day going sailing either wing on wind or broad reaching in winds from 6 to 9 kts. Winds built up to 10 to 12 kts now that we are in the Koro Sea.

Nice day of spinnaker sailing with our light air spin up from just after sunrise to sunset in winds varying from 6 to 10 kts TWS. Have been wing on wing all night making decent, if slow, progress down the rhumb line towards the Koro Sea with about 10 kts average TWS. Bobby the Boobie Bird has stayed with us on and off all day but appears to have left - perhaps our failure to catch any fish recently has disappointed him.

Most of the day was a nice close reach - boat speeds from the high 6's to the low 8's - as we were under what looked like the clouds of the trough. Wind died once the trough moved off and now going back and forth from sailing in light air from the south (not very productive) and motoring slowly. Bobby the Booby has joined the crew for awhile and spent most of the day on the stbd solar panel and now is sleeping on the aft deck. Kids are enjoying our new "pet" but clean up will be interesting ...

Departed through the pass at North Minerva Reef approx 1100L. Nice close reach towards the Koro Sea

Still anchored in North Minerva but intention of departing towards Savusavu today. Gave up waiting for decent winds to sail to Savusavu but had a nice time snorkelling and spearfishing here.

Anchored North Minvera. Intention is to depart tomorrow for Savusavu

Anchored in North Minerva waiting for a weather window to Savusavu

Still anchored in North Minerva Reef awaiting a weather window with some wind to get to Savusavu. Gribs show 5.4m swells outside the reef. A bit bouncy in the the anchorage but not worse than Auckland Harbour ferry wake.

Anchored in North Minerva

Slowly moving to North Minerva waiting for better light for the pass. Combination of light air sailing and motoring last night.

Motoring over glassy swells

Busy day sailing taking advantage of the wind lasting longer than predicted. Shifty winds and generally light. Motoring at the moment as light winds dead downwind.

Slow going in light wind downwind. Running wing and wing.

Very light winds throughout the day. Too light to even keep the 0.5 oz spin flying. Motored - maintenance and home schooling day. Winds picked up at sunset for a gentle close reach at first and now a comfortable beam reach. Trying to make the best of this wind as it looks like it will get light again before Minerva. Mexican dinner: Kauwai ceviche and buritos on tostadas (no tequila though)

Winds light as forecast. We had 6 to 8 kt TWS all day so it made for a nice spinnaker flying day. Motoring now in very light winds.

Nice start to the passage with favourable winds and slight swell (and two fish)

Departing Pier 21 Auckland 1200L

Anchored of Auckland waiting for a weather window to head towards Fiji via Minerva.

Anchored off Russell to duck out of some of the gale force wind that is forecast.