Back at Pier 21 and settling into the routine of work most of the time. Fiji seems a long way a way. I am enjoying a continuous supply of Ice Cream though.

Had a great sail down the coast today. It is lovely to sail in flat water with good wind. Also had a double strike which will feed us for the next couple of days, fresh fish yum.

We have had a lovely couple of days here at Kawau, swimming and walking, we are probably moving south tomorrow.Now for those of you that have been paying attention you are probably under the misguided thought that since our return to NZ we have visited Sth America and Central Australia all aboard Obsession. Actually it was tired fingers and inaccurate entry of GPS positions, I am struggling to correct my mistakes but allow me to reassure you we are only sailing down the Northland coast.

Great stop at Tutukaka, good to catch up with friends and family. Heading south on a magic northland day

Great to be back cruising in NZ, had our first swim today all be it brief and chilly. A lovely day to be on the water and in Whangamumu.

Had a great time catching up with friends and family. Filled the fuel tank watched the AB's play now heading south to Tutukaka. Great to be sailing back in NZ waters.

Well here we are back in NZ after another slow but good passage. We finished on a real high screaming into Opua on the strong N/NW which saw Obsession reach speeds that she is not familiar with (Lester says I have to mention the 9.1knots we reached) . Thank you to GHR for watching out for us. Now we shall enjoy some Opua time

Last night at sea and another goody, great sunrise. Carefully watching the fuel and once skipper is up I think we might put the engine on. Looks damp ahead.

Another stunning night at sea, a full moon, flat water and current in our favour yeah. Had a slow but lovely day yesterday although spent alot of time calculating disel useage vs revs and did our last onboard fuel transfer. So fingers crossed we have enough. 165nm to the BOI and all is good on board.

Well yesterday was a challenge between 6am and 8pm we did 37.5nm on our course, four tacks which are a four letter word on our boat. We were expecting head winds but not 20-25knots of them. The boat handle it well but we were not going home. But they are the joys of sailing and today is another day and we are both still smiling. Still wind on the nose but less then 5 knots and we are slowly plugging into them and once again heading home.All is well on board.

Just coming out the other side of the cloud/front. Had great sailing overnight and a beautiful night. Now we are having a taste of NZ weather, yeah. All is good on board and Obsession is dealing well with the weather along with the crew.

all well despite conditions

A busy day here aboard Obsession yesterday, we crossed the half way point and celebrated with showers and our last fijian Papaya, yum. Then we were fuel transfer technicians for awhile. We finished the day by sailing passed a whale carcass to say hi to the locals, there were lots of locals saw some hugh kingfish. I must say was not so keen on the smell or the oil slick it was putting out. Had another beautiful night at sea and got to turn the engine off midway through. Looks like another beauty today.

A beautiful day and night at sea yesterday and what looks like the begining of another one today, long may it last.The temperature is dropping. Not sure how these trouser things work though, all very strange. Next I will be putting socks on ugg.

Not the fastest trip we have had but very comfortable and Obsession is the leisure model. We turned the motor off yesterday morning and have enjoyed the tranquility of sailing ever since.Long may it continue.

Still chugging south, all is well on board. Seen lots of fish life but as yet have not been tempted to put a line over. Once skipper is up I am hoping the motor can go off. Lots of other boats out here with us.

WOW what a lovely start to the passage. I have had a little manicure/pedicure, done a bit of baking and all is very good. We were farwelled from Suva by two large turtles which was cool. All is well on board.

Time to say good bye to Suva, the more time we spend here the more we enjoy it, we will be back. Had a small tech melt down but the skipper came to the rescue so hopefully we are all back on board this is the teat run.

Getting ready to depart tomorrow and head home. Not sure we are ready for the cold weather but I am sure we will get use to it.

Go the All Blacks, a great start to the morning. Still enjoying the delights of soggy Suva, the TV is getting a good workout what with the RWC and the Fiji Open on. Good fun to catch up with some of the people we have met this season at the Womens Expo. Now getting things ready to head south once a window appears.

Still enjoying the delights of fresh food, yum. Other big news is we can watch the rugby on the boat T.V. so go the All Blacks.

Well finished our time in Makongai with a Meke performed by the local school, official for the visiting "cruise ships" but yachties were invitied too. It was good fun. Yesterday we headed south and had a fast and boisterous sail into Suva. Obsession covered more ground than she usually does in a day and we celebrated this fact with burgers at the yacht club. All is good on Obsession this morning.

Still enjoying the delights of Makongai. Watched clams attempting to reproduce, seen lots of turtles, got up close and personal with some reef sharks. Have repaired the wind indicator after it intimate encounter with a brown boobie. All good here

We were rolled out of Namena, but had a great sail to Makongai with sunshine and blue skies. Had a great tour of the area yesterday chilling out today.

A window presented itself to try and explore Namena so we will have to head back to Koro to explore it properly. Had a great sail from Koro and explored the island yesterday, hopefully the water today but we have woken up to a rolly anchorage and rain so will see.

So the time had come to farewell Paradise, but not without sighting an ornate ghost pipefish, very exciting. Had a lovely trip to Koro which included some sailing,which was a treat.

Had an awesome time here in the water. Saw somethings that were on my diving bucket list. Very relaxing diving and awesome staff both diving and at the resort. But the time to move on is fast approaching.

Had some great snorkeling around Viani bay. Have now moved to a mooring off Paradise resort, been given a great welcome and looking forward to cocktails in the pool.

Had a great day out on Rainbow reef, lovely coral lots of life. Off for a curry night ashore tonight.

Viani Bay

The weather has meant it is time to move on. A nice motorsail to Viani Bay. Hopefully some diving and snorkeling to follow.

Had a great time at Albert Cove in and out of the water. Now moved onto Matagi, another spot that looks beautiful, will spend the next couple of days exploring

Had a great sail upto Albert cove. Tomorrow we take the dingy to Nuku to let the local police know we are here. A lovely looking spot.

Went into the village to introduce ourselves, what lovely people. Then came and explored North Kioa.

Naqaiqai bay, off to explore Kioa today

Had some great snorkeling here. Due to lack of wind been able to snorkel the outside wall. It has been great to get back in the water. Today the water has come to us so might be filling the water tanks.

All stocked up, had our share of curries, Pizza and Hamburgers so time to farewell Savusavu. Been great to spend sometime back in Savusavu, but also good to be back in the water. Off snorkeling this afternoon.

After a little holiday to France, well Futuna is part of France, as crew on Blinder(if you want to see photos check out Blinders YIT site) we are back onboard Obsession in Savusavu. We had a great sail to and from Futuna and are definantly not use to travel at the speed Blinder does but it was great fun. We are now reprovisioning and getting ready to explore the NE of Fiji.

Had a great overnight sail into Savusavu. Caught a pair of Mahimahi on the way so fish for breakfast lunch and dinner. Very strange to be back in the activty of a big town but does give us unternet access which is a first in 10 weeks so thanks for all the comments on here we have just got to read them.

BBQ on the beach, lots of time in the water visiability is awesome so all is good. Propane running low so heading north soon.

Well we have left Vulaga, we were farewelled by pilot whales which was cool. Now in Namuku-i-Lau and just spent a lovely morning in at the village, a very productive village with lots going on. The 50min walk there and then again back was a shock to the system.

Yes still here, although has been a bit chilly, down to 20C, but we are all coping and having fun. The cold wet evenings of the last two nights have allowed us to have movie night aboard Obsession, we have started the Lord of the Rings series.

Still having fun above and below the water. Done some great snorkeling, had a seafood extravaganza and now have clams from the anchor chain for tea. Life is good. Oh lets not forget the Kava.

another beautiful day in Fuluga

This week has been all about snorkelling found some new places and seen some very cool things and had some great weather.

another beautiful day in Fuluga

Still having fun in paradise. Had a great snorkel and ate lobster, life is good.

Fulaga still!

Ops I have been told I made a mistake with our last longitude, no we are still in vulaga not heading for New Caledonia.

Struggling to leave Vulaga. Had a great time crabbing, not seen crabs so big.

Life has been hectic here. Ladies were taught how to weave yesterday whole the men helped work on the school dormitory and we all finished with a game of volleyball which involved lots of laughter.

a much better day in Fulaga

All good here, enjoying the warm water. A new bunch of boats arrived today.

All good here, enjoying the warm water. A new bunch of boats arrived today.

All good here, enjoying the warm water. A new bunch of boats arrived today.

Still having fun in Fulaga although been a little windy this week but it has not kept us out of the water.

Still having fun in Fulaga although been a little windy this week but it has not kept us out of the water.

Had a lovely sunday in at the village with our host family. Snorkelled the pass today, sharks and turtles. Think there is a singing competition and volleyball tournament coming up which should be fun.

Having a great time in Fulaga. Met our host family, she is one of the local teachers. Had a great day yesterday at the village picnic great way to catch up with everyone. Moved over to the village this evening as we are off to church tomorrow.

A lovely trip out to Fulanga, we motored the first 18hours on glass calm seas where at night the stars were reflected in the water before the moon rise. The second half was a gentle motor sail with SSE winds of 10-15knots. We have now had our first tropical swim in the warm waters and are chilling out with a drink. All is well on board.

nearing Fulaga but hard to hear

Lovely morning heading east towards Falunga. Good bye to Suva but we will be back.

Clearance went well and said goodbye to crew. Enjoying being back in Suva and the fresh fruit

Great to be at anchor awaiting clearance. All is well.

It amazes me how the wind always changes in the middle of the night and usually on my watch, how does it know that I am on watch. All good on board hope to be in Suva tomorrow.

Suva here we come. Tuna finished or shared and back on passsage. All is good onboard.

All is good on board, had the front pass over about 10:30pm now we are all facing the other way. Hoping to head to Suva today.

Not sure if the previous message got through. Now in Minerva about to embark on our first of many feeds of yellow fin tuna yum. Lovely day here and lots of company in side the reef.

Lining up like planes at Heathrow waiting to go into Minerva. Had a star party last night all the stars in the galaxy came and put on quite a show. All is well on board.

It is amazing to think you are on an ocean when the water is so flat, it was like a lake earlier this morning.Hope to be in North Minerva tomorrow. All is well on board.

Another beautiful day, got the Jennikar up yesterday which was fun but now back to the hum of the motor. We have not had a night without lights on the horizon but last night was the record with four set of boats lights for company.

Still slipping along but have had to turn the motor on overnight and unless the weather has changed it could be our sailing campanion for a few days, ahh that lovely motor hum. Fishing line has just gone over the back so fingers crossed.

Another lovely night at sea. Still poled out and winging it. Obsession is racing along and loving it.

Had a great start to the trip Obsession is romping along. Seen dolphins and sunfish. All is good on board

In Opua picking up last minute supplies etc. Heading to Fiji tomorrow.

Had a great trip north after a busy time in Whangarei. Anchored in the lovely Pipi bay waiting for the right weather.

The Iron Genikar got us up the coast but a beautiful day out on the water. Now enjoying the beauty of Smugglers.

Had a great summer now time to start heading north. A lovely day back on the water today and hopefully the easter bunny will find us.