Panthera
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After Felix was “written off” by the insurers following our mis-adventure in Bundaberg, we (Helen and Ben) purchased Panthera from fellow 2017 Rally participant (and friend) Jim.
Panthera is now based at Fairway Bay, where we are preparing to go on the ICNZ Pacific Circuit Rally in late May
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Recent Updates
Panthera - October 22, 2019
Posted:
UNPLANNED STOPOVER AT NORFOLK ISLAND After sailing what seemed like half way to Australia we finally got the wind shift to take us to NZ ... but unfortunately there not enough strength in it to get ... Read More
Panthera -
Posted:
ABOUT TO LEAVE NOUMEA
Our time in New Caledonia is rapidly drawing to a close, so we are again enjoying being at Port Du Sud Marina. We are ready to depart today: Sail repaired and back up TICK ... Read More

Panthera -
Posted:
SOUTH EAST GRANDE TERRE - ILE NEMOU & CAP TONNEDU
Talk about a dream sail from Lifou to Ile Nemou - perfect conditions for the Code Zero! We were SO glad that we waited the extra day in Lifou. We ... Read More

Panthera -
Posted:
PASSAGE TO LIFOU ... and A WEEK IN LIFOU
The passage to Lifou was, in nautical terms, “pretty rubbish”! The winds and seas were higher than expected, and the sea state extremely lumpy. This all ... Read More

Panthera -
Posted:
LEAVING PORT VILA FOR NEW CALEDONIA
We are have cleared out of Port Vila, and sit on anchor awaiting an early morning departure for Lifou, New Caledonia. Part of getting ready has been emptying the ... Read More

Panthera -
Posted:
WE ARE AT SOLA!
Today we have collected our new Cruising Permit that will allow us to visit islands on the way to Port Vila. Richie, the Customs Officer was kind enough to allow me to take his ... Read More

Panthera -
Posted:
ESPIRITO SANTOS (SANTO), VANUATU
Three standouts from our week in Santo:
First the easy (when you know how to do it!) but protracted “Clearing In” process.
Step 1: Email in “Advance Notice ... Read More

Panthera -
Posted:
OVALAU AND YADUA ISLANDS
.... AND WHISTLE STOPS AT KORO & MAKOGAI ISLANDS, VOLIVOLI, BLUE LAGOON, MANTARAY PASS & DENARAU
We made a conscious decision to spend longer at fewer anchorages this ... Read More

Panthera -
Posted:
TAVEUNI AND BEYOND!
After two nights at the stunning anchorage on Matangi Island we went on to Taveuni, in theory for a short provisioning stop … but it became one that lasted 3 days! This enabled ... Read More

Panthera -
Posted:
FIJI: THE LAU GROUP
After a relatively easy 2 night passage from Tonga we cleared into Fiji at Lomolomo in Vanua Balavu … another bonus of being part of the ICNZ Rally.
We were possibly the ... Read More

Panthera -
Posted:
TONGA
As we prepare to leave Tonga, we’ve reflected on some of the things that have made our time here special.
First the actual Rally … the shared experiences, support, fun and friendships that ... Read More

Panthera -
Posted:
WE HAVE ARRIVED IN TONGA
We arrived in Tonga on Monday - 6 days and 5 hours after leaving Opua. We made very good time, and were amongst the first group to arrive (maybe 6th boat here I think). We ... Read More

Panthera - May 21, 2019
Posted:
RE-RUN OF A MOVIE WE SAW IN 2017!
Here are the ICNZ Rally Members ready and waiting in Opua ... the emphasis being on waiting, waiting! A tropical low in the Pacific has delayed our departure for ... Read More

Panthera - February 26, 2019
Posted:
Panthera at Fairway Bay where we are beginning to prepare for the ICNZ Pacific Circuit Rally in May

FELIX - November 9, 2017
Posted:
HELEN & BEN SAFE ... FELIX INJURED! Bundaberg was hit by a terrible storm on Tuesday night - winds of up to 72 knots! Unfortunately Felix was a casualty of this storm when we broke away from our ... Read More
FELIX - November 1, 2017
Posted:
DAY 6 PASSAGE FROM NEW CALEDONIA TO BUNDABERG We are safely anchored in the Burnett River in Bundaberg ... arriving in the dark and too late to either clear in or go to our Marina berth. It was ... Read More
FELIX - October 30, 2017
Posted:
DAY 5 PASSAGE FROM NEW CALEDONIA TO BUNDABERG Hurray we have some wind and have been able to turn off the motors and sail for most of the day! While I slept this afternoon Ben and Currance spent ... Read More
FELIX - October 29, 2017
Posted:
DAY 4 PASSAGE FROM NEW CALEDONIA TO BUNDABERG Our hitchhiker left us at 6.00am (leaving a rather large and smelly calling card!) after spending all night with his head tucked under his wing - didn't ... Read More
FELIX - October 28, 2017
Posted:
DAY 3 PASSAGE FROM NEW CALEDONIA TO BUNDABERG The wind continues to elude us and we've been motorsailing on a silk-like sea all day. We are motoring almost directly into what little wind there is ... Read More
FELIX - October 27, 2017
Posted:
DAY 2 PASSAGE FROM NEW CALEDONIA TO BUNDABERG The wind dropped overnight and its been motorsailing on a beautiful flat sea ever since. Perfect whale watching conditions if not sailing conditions ... Read More