Kiapa

Kiapa

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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

Kiapa - August 4, 2016
Posted:
Happily anchored off the world famous Cloudbreak. Well, not quite at the surf break itself, but just behind the reef which picks up the swell. The blue dot in the photo shows our location and to the ... Read More
The blue dot shows where we are anchored. To the north is Tavarua Island, to the NW Namotu.
Kiapa - August 2, 2016
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Had a totally AWESOME spinnaker sail back to Musket Cove. We'll be here for a couple of days before Steve flies back to Western Australia.

Kiapa - July 31, 2016
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Have been anchored off Likuri Island (better known as Robinson Crusoe Island) for the last couple of nights. Went to the spectacular "cultural show" last night, which, through dance, told the story ... Read More
The Fire Dance was quite the sight to behold.
  • The dance which told the story about welcoming visitors all those years ago.
  • Exploring up the mangrove creek.
Kiapa - July 16, 2016
Posted:

Back at Denarau Marina for a couple of days to farewell my sister as she flies back to Holland and to welcome Steve who flies in from Western Australia.

Kiapa - July 14, 2016
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Anchored in 8m on a sandy bottom in a very protected little bay which forms part of the larger Somosomo Bay. Visited the chief of the nearby village with our bunch of kava and to our delight ... Read More
My fav little fishy, th Longnose Filefish.
  • Looks like an urchin, but it's actually a Crown of Thorns.
  • Andi, the 91 year old chief of Somosomo Village.
Kiapa - July 12, 2016
Posted:
Arrived back in beautiful Blue Lagoon yesterday - Lionel is still looking for Brooke Shields! Quite a windy day which meant Vera and I had loads of time to gas-bag while Lionel went kiting. But we ... Read More
Peek-a-boo to you. Vera chatting to a clownfish.
  • Wide blue skies and wide sandy beaches...... great for kiting.
  • Lots and LOTS of colourful little fishies.
  • Always a bit scary........
Kiapa - July 10, 2016
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What a FABULOUS place this is, way way at the 'top' of the Yasawas. It is incredibly beautiful, and oh so peaceful. We have snorkelled, explored the surrounding area in the dinghy, the village chief ... Read More
One of the many beautiful turquoise beaches.
  • Birthday afternoon tea with Ratu the Chief and Wenee his wife.
  • Champagne at sunset on Champagne Beach. Pure heaven!
  • Stunning, STUNNING beaches.
Kiapa - July 7, 2016
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So now we are anchored up at beautiful Champagne Beach (Yasawairara) and the eager chief of the village has requested kava tonight. I just hope the Kava does not turn our legs into lava... Tomorrow ... Read More
Kiapa - July 7, 2016
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After a beaut few days of 20-25kn winds at Blue Lagoon, we are headed up to Champagne beach on the northern most island of the Yasawas. Blue Lagoon provided kiting, kiting, and more kiting, as well ... Read More
Kiapa - July 2, 2016
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Well, Kiapa has finally broken free of its mooring at Musket Cove and collected Vera, Irene's sister who is visiting us from Holland. We are now anchored off the manta ray pass , waiting to interact ... Read More
Kiapa - June 18, 2016
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What a fantastic day! For the better part of this morning we were out at Cloudbreak watching the men's Fiji Pro Surf Competition. The conditions were perfect: big surf, no wind, warm sun, and a very ... Read More
Kiapa - June 16, 2016
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Snakes Alive!! Happily anchored off beautiful Namotu Island, combining going for a surf with watching both a beautiful banded sea snake sniffing out Kiapa's back step, and going out in the dinghy to ... Read More
  • Kelly Slater in a barrel. Yeehah!
Kiapa - June 8, 2016
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surprise surprise, back in Musket. Waiting for surf

Kiapa - June 3, 2016
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Anchored off beautiful Namotu Island. It looks like they lost quite a bit of beach and some trees as a result of Cyclone Winston, but the water is as turquoise as always and the surf just as good ... Read More
Kiapa - May 30, 2016
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We're baaaaaccckkk at Musket Cove, our winter home, and loving it already. On the way out here from Denarau Marina we deviated to Namotu to check out the surf, and consequently Lionel and I both had ... Read More
Kiapa - May 26, 2016
Posted:
BULA!! Oops, we missed a day's log! Must be because we have quickly moved on to 'Fiji time'. Well, what a totally fantabulous ending to our passage back to Fiji. We furled the screecher, dropped the ... Read More
Fiji on the horizon and we finish the passage under spinnaker.
  • The big-eye tuna we caught on day 1.
  • On one of the really calm days Lionel decided to service our dunny! Go figure!
Kiapa - May 24, 2016
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One of the frequently asked questions asked of cruisers is 'How do you spend the time when it's your watch?' Over the years I've heard all sorts of responses: from sitting diligently at the helm ... Read More
Kiapa - May 23, 2016
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What a rip-snorter of a run we had from Minerva yesterday up until 4am this morning! 202nm in 22 hours! But bugger, wouldn't you know it, as I came on to my shift at 4am the wind died, so we are ... Read More
Kiapa - May 22, 2016
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After too a short stay at Minerva Reef we are just about to get underway again, and while we would have preferred to stay for a few more days, as is often the case, the weather dictates our movement ... Read More
Kiapa - May 21, 2016
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Happily anchored in Minerva North with about 16 boats. Domino kindly offered the entire fleet drinks on board. What a party! Kiapa may head off to Fiji tomorrow morning. We are hoping for a two day ... Read More

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