Mirabilis

Mirabilis is a 43ft steel Finot sloop owned by Mike and Danica Stent. Mirabilis joined the family in 2010. We spent ten years living aboard with the Marlborough Sounds as our main playground. We've done a few bigger trips to Rakiura, Tonga, Wallis & Futuna, Fiji, Vanuatu and New Caledonia. This season we are back on the water again and sailing with our two boys (Arlo and Coen) around the Fiji islands. Home port is Mana, NZ. Mirabilis is named after the nudibranch Jason mirabilis. Nudibranchs are rad.

Posted: Tue, 1 Oct 2019 - 12:09

Stopped in at New Caledonia’s iconic lighthouse island Phare Amedee on our way back to Noumea. To my delight, despite being highly touristy, this wee island is riddled with sea snakes and even has an

Posted: Tue, 1 Oct 2019 - 00:00

We spent a lovely day exploring Casey Island with Kaia, a Kiwi/Hawaiian couple (who we first met in Tonga in 2012) and their gorgeous wee 3 year old who non-stop tells you stories of all his

Posted: Mon, 30 Sep 2019 - 00:00

After passing by here a couple of times already, we finally entered Baie de Prony. First stop was Anse Majic where we were smartly greeted by the crew of Ranginui, a YIT boat. There is nothing like

Posted: Sat, 28 Sep 2019 - 00:00

We spent the night in Baie Ue after being stopped in our tracks heading to Base de Prony by a 25kt headwind and 4kt current coming out of Havannah Passage against us. Before moving on we jumped in

Posted: Fri, 27 Sep 2019 - 00:00

Ilot Maitre is a lovely wee island close to Noumea with free moorings so is a perfect first stop once you finally escape the shackles of port life. The island is popular with the kite surfers with a

Posted: Wed, 25 Sep 2019 - 00:02

Picked up a very special guest, Mike’s mum (and more importantly Arlo’s nana) and spent a lovely day in Noumea enjoying the tourist attractions. Mike was also able to fix our anchor windlass. Yay, no

Posted: Sun, 22 Sep 2019 - 10:26

Back in Noumea after a gorgeous sail from Ilot Mato enjoying town comforts and awaiting our next guest and delivery of boat parts - this time Mike’s mum and parts for our windlass which has just

Posted: Fri, 20 Sep 2019 - 07:00

We have spent the last week scooting down to Ile des Pins (named for the tall narrow pine trees that dominate the coastal landscape) to pick up friends and then working our way back. We stayed in

Posted: Sun, 8 Sep 2019 - 08:20

We are back on the grid for better or worse. We had a dream run on our crossing (Arlo's first open ocean passage) from Vanuatu to New Caledonia sailing the whole way with no pesky engine and smooth

Posted: Fri, 6 Sep 2019 - 21:10

Off into the night we go. We have spent a fabulous two months exploring Vanuatu which has exceeded expectations which were high to begin. We will be back as there is so much more to see. New shores

Posted: Sun, 1 Sep 2019 - 20:38

Back in Vila after a rather boisterous overnight sail from Malekula. The forecast 18kt NE revealed itself to in fact be a 25kt E for a good while there. Strong wind and very rough sea the entire way

Posted: Fri, 30 Aug 2019 - 01:39

Finally got in around midnight. Had good wind, no wind, wind with big waves, no wind with big waves ( that one sucked ) and right when the finish line was in sight, ie the Anchorage, strong winds

Posted: Thu, 29 Aug 2019 - 21:40

Beautiful day for sailing today. We had planned on just a day sail but the going was too good so we are pushing on. Will pull in at Southwest of Malakula tonight and await the promised northerly to

Posted: Thu, 29 Aug 2019 - 09:49

HOMEWARD BOUND!!! We are heading home at long last. It's just that home is a bloody long way away. Stopped here for the night, very calm non rolling Anchorage even in a decent se blow. Just

Posted: Fri, 23 Aug 2019 - 20:33

We've arrived at pretty much or northern most point of the trip. We were meant to head across past the Amabe volcano ( ACTIVE ) but it would have been a night sail in a strongish southerly with a sw

Posted: Wed, 21 Aug 2019 - 14:55

Sailing Vanuatu is continuous shifting baselines of my definition of paradise. We are now on the east coast of Santo Island tucked in between two islets inside a reef happily sheltered from the

Posted: Fri, 16 Aug 2019 - 13:00

Well that was a rather interesting sail up the coast. Total downwind sailing with the boat hitting 9knts with the help of a wave! We were constantly surfing between 7.5 and 8.5 knts, while I was

Posted: Thu, 15 Aug 2019 - 19:12

Almost decided to continue on to Santo yesterday and arrive in the dark but decided against it and instead Anchor behind this little island to get out of the building wind and waves. A bit of a roll

Posted: Wed, 14 Aug 2019 - 21:15

Lovely day sail to Banam Bay on the east coast of Malekula Island today. Just a short pitstop as we continue to push north tomorrow. It's Mike's birthday tomorrow so by god we better have good

Posted: Wed, 14 Aug 2019 - 17:25

Don’t listen to anyone who says to skip Lamen Bay! This bay is the ultimate turtle experience. The bay is full of large turtles feeding on the seagrass. We were not lucky enough to snorkel with the

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Mirabilis

Mirabilis

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