Arrived Opua at 13:30 local time Saturday after 195 hours (65.5 hours under motor) and overall it was a good passage. The Customs, Immigration and Bio-security process was efficient with friendly officers and soon after we were tied up in The Bay of Islands Marina. Had a great sleep last night and will spend the next week with the Allpoints Rally and doing a few boat jobs.

At 5PM last night we were positioned about 25nm directly off North Cape. Wind and swell had reduced so we motored directly east for a couple of hours before turning straight for Opua. Cloudless night making for good star-gazing but very cold. This morning the sun is shining, seas are flat and we are motoring along the coast for the finish line. Smiles all round

New Zealand is welcoming us in her own special way by turning on the wind and wave machine. Slow progress on this last leg with a boisterous ride. Expect arrival in Opua will be late Saturday.

Frustrating night. After going through the cold front with a good rain shower to wash the salt off Gigi the winds were SE-S-SW and a strong current against us so struggled to make any miles in the right direction for many hours. You hate to lose any of those miles already in the passage bank.

This morning the wind is more consistent from the SSW, the sun is trying to peek through the clouds and we are back on course.

Some lovely sailing yesterday and last night with following winds and calm seas. Wind dropped at 3:40 this morning and to keep our speed up we are motor sailing. Its much colder now and we are wearing thermals at night on watch. Expecting the wind to pick up and turn southerly later today with gusty conditions. All is well onboard.

Lazy afternoon enjoying the sunshine and reading our books whilst motoring on a very glassy sea. No rolling or banging of sails so almost perfect conditions except for no wind. Wind picked up to 8 kts at 9.30 PM and we were sailing again. Gigi won't be breaking any speed records but the crew are much happier with the engine off. Cruising is of course "slow travel".

Great to turn the motor off yesterday after lunch and hear the water rushing along the hull. Had a clear, starry night with flat seas but wind dropped off again at 11PM so the motor was back on. Lovely sunrise, still no wind.

Lost wind at 3am and have been motoring since. Wind in last hour seems to be building slightly so we hope that we will be sailing again soon.

Motored from Port Moselle Fuel dock past lovely Amadee Island and through Bourail Pass. Cleared the pass at 1315 and had a good afternoon and evening sail with consistent winds of 20 kts. A little bumpy overnight with wind & 2 metre swell but we still managed to get some sleep. Lovely morning with reduced wind and swell and sunny skies.

Checked out the country and hope to leave the dock by 10 am to fuel up and be one our way. Had a great time in New Caledonia.

Port Moselle Marina, Noumea

Kuto Bay, Isle of Pines

Turtles popping up all around Gigi in the anchorage. In company with some ICA Rally boats and lots of local boats here also. Great to have fresh baguettes again.

Ouvea, Loyalty Group, New Caledonia. Motored from Lifou yesterday. Now anchored off the whitest sandy beach in extremely clear turquoise water. Ashore for sun-downers with the other 6 boats in the anchorage last night.

Arrived Baie Du Santal, Lifou. Check-in formalities scheduled for tomorrow as part of the special check-in organised by the ICA Rally. Here with 25 other boats.

Spent 6 hours yesterday drifting in glassy blue seas. Started slowly today but the wind has just picked up and we are sailing at 6 kts. Will need to slow down early evening as we can't arrive until 9 am tomorrow.

Past south of Tanna Island (Vanuatu) this morning. No wind and very calm blue seas.

Sailing slowly under clear blue skies

Great moonrise and as the full moon is so close to earth at present it was a very light night. Turned the motor off at 01:30 this morning and have been sailing along nicely since.

Departed Vuda Marina 11:00 yesterday after an efficient and quick customs clearance. Motoed until we were through Navula passage to beat the incoming tide. Very pleasant afternoon sail before the winds changed to be directly behind making it a rolly, noisy night. Turned the motor on again at 10:00 this morning.

In Vuda Marina with customs clearance booked for tomorrow.

Makogai Island - In company with 9 other boats for the first night. This is our third visit to this island. Still very pretty however the Mariculture activities are almost non existent now.

On a mooring outside the beautiful Leleuvia Island Resort

on a Copra Shed Marina mooring in Savusavu

The sun has risen and we have a lovely view of Gau which we sailed past earlier. 60 nm to Savusavu. Will probably need to delay our arrival until Wednesday morning.

The winds have turned SW allowing us a good course through the islands to Savusavu. Got some sleep during the night so the Gigians are feeling good.

Fantastic sailing until 5pm when we had squalls and rain. Gusty night with wind from behind. Too noisy down below to sleep.

Slower progress yesterday as we tried not to lose any ground in the northerly winds.

Light winds during the day just enough to sail. Very sunny and the air temp has really warmed up. Overnight the winds picked up to 20+ kts, down to 15 this morning. Passed the halfway point yesterday. ETA Savusavu Tuesday 19th

Sailed in sunshine during the day and have motored all evening under a clear and starry sky.

Gusty head winds are now lighter from behind. Making good progress and all are well onboard.

We really have left New Zealand! Went off the chart area and needed to change the chip in our chart plotter to the Pacific Islands. 2PM smiles all round as we turned off the motor after 17 hours of motoring. Great sailing all night

Motoring since 7.30 last night in light winds and slight seas which we expect to continue for a couple of days. Great to have Dean from "Local Talent" company during the night and what a stunning moonrise. Better sleep pattern already setting in.

A bit rolly with the wind behind us but a good start to the passage with sunshine and plenty of stars at night. Sailed all night under main only.

Checked out the country and will be on way shortly

Left Gulf Harbour Monday evening at 2015 motor-sailing before the northerlies strengthened and arrived in Urqharts Bay at 0820. Caught up on missed sleep before coming into Marsden Cove Marina where we will wait for a good weather window to head off.

Still in Gulf Harbour Marina

Doing the last minute jobs before we depart Gulf Harbour Marina this Friday