It took a long time, just under 2 weeks in what should of been1200 miles and10 days... But hey! I had to avoid that storm blowin' around New Zealand's North Cape! So I diverted to Australia's Norfolk Island to sit it out for 24 hours. I had my 61st birthday solo in a flat, glassy, calm water in the middle of the Tasman Sea. Listened to a lot of music. Read some. Studied an enormous amount of weather charts about my situation. Didn't break anything. Forgot to dress up on Halloween like King Neptune? Cooked some good stuff. Motored maybe 4 - 24 hour days, sailed 8, anchored for 1. Had the wind peak at 39 knots. (Mostly 15-20 knots). Currently, I'm a few hours out from being greeted by the New Zealand customs. Now I'm looking forward reward to ordering food at a restaurant with cloth napkins. Overall, it was a good trip. But nothing sails to weather like a 747, so sometime in late November I'll head back to San Francisco for a couple of months, leaving the boat at the dock in Whangarei,

The epic journey is over. Enjoy a belated birthday dinner.

too close for us to hear now. 155m to opua, eta tuesday afternoon after marathon ride from New Cal

eta Monday or tues - good timing

anchoring at Norfolk for 24hrs

near Norfolk and hoping for NZ late Wed

Engineering Flowchart is working... Looks like I will be departing Fiji Thursday for Opua...

Hoping to depart Vuda Marina, Thursday? For Opua! (Just fixing a little transmission issue before departing!

Moved via Suva and the South side, to Vuda Marina. Hovering at the Marina, getting used to fine Bar Food and drinks. Following a few small repairs, the Yasawa's are up next!

Stuck at Paradise Resort! The weather window says we should depart, but it is to nice here with the hotel offerings for the Yachts! 4 Moorings and Happy Hour at the Bar! Recommended Highly!

hove to waiting for good light to enter Vanua Balava, N Lau, Fiji

anchored in Fulaga

Departing Savusavu for Fulaga! Savusavu has been a great place to eat, drink and restock! Will return here after a tour of the Lau group. Departing Wednesday for a direct motorsail straight to Fulaga while the wind is light. Sabine is on board and ready for swimming and hiking.

all well and thanks to GHR for passage wx

all well and arriving tomorrow morning

achored besode Blue Note and they confirm there IS a flashing llight at N Minerva

10m form s Minerva and will be at N Minerva by dusk

170m to N Minerva

wind 20 at 4am, then 0, then went S

Minerva eta Friday

great radio signal

Departing Marsden Cove today heading to Minerva Reef, then Savusasu Fiji. Prepared for a few days of motoring at first, and then some wind. Hope to arrive Fiji around the 21st of May... We shall see!

Now hoping to depart Whangarei for Fiji, Sunday, May 10? The delay means I actually might polish the fiberglass cockpit? But, I'm sure I can develop another excuse to delay that project yet again!

Waiting in Whangarei for weather to sail to Fiji