as by now you know due to the snitch at opua that we are in after a fast and sporty trip at times . PS note that Carola are just at the nine pin have them on my AIS

on the home stretch 65 to run to 9 pin reckon on being on Q Dock around 1900 hrs making this our best passage so far with doing it under sail. Done and dusted in 7 days

just over 60nm to te magical 30 sth seen a gradual decrease in wind strength over night to just 10kts this morning so out goes more rag and wALLA one of davids clouds appears wind now at 18kts. Crew very happy to be sailing maybe just maybe we wont require the iron sail for once.

all is well on board, seeing mostly blue sky, waves continue to knock us around, crew all bit fatigued, 18:30, Happy Thanksgiving all who celebrate this holiday, 350/1100 nm

Had good 24hrs ,with 664 to go we are now pointing in the direction of Opua and this will improve as the high moves over winds have come up with moderate seas though we did come through some very short choppy stuff around 2200hrs All well aboard

Having a good trip so far enjoying the calm conditions . which allows us to make reasonable headway

left Suva at 1300hrs for Opua in pleasant sail conditions having done 100nm making Kadavu about 45 astern our SOG is being affected by a current

Today is check out day and rush around getting the last stuff that one thinks they may need/want for the trip back sth.there is 3 others here that are heading off as well

Move back down to Bulliya Island have woken to a pretty much a cloudless day what better place to spend it.

Still tucked up at Namara island in Kadavu as we sit out the systems that are presently in Fiji.

Have moved locations now at Namara Island at Kadavu with the hopes of checking out the reef systems around this area.

A damp overcast day here at Naqara on Ono island with light rain . we intend moving back up to Namara Island at some point during the day as we start our move back toward Suva later in the week

very still morning 0 wind moved around the corner still at Ono island in Kadavu shall stay in here for a couple of days then look at moving back up through the the islands toward the top pass

Staying in the Naqara area on Ono island at Kadavu as we can simply just move around the corner into the village bay if and when the wind direction heads into the nth. either way looks like a day of jobs aboard with rain in the air.

We have relocated over to Ono island ahead of the pending system that is heading our way in a nice sheltered bay over the hill from Naqara village. spent time here last season and yes the crown of thorns has made its presents felt here a quick look around proved that more work to be done. On the bright side there is a high presents of turtles.

Still at Bulliya Kadavu proving to be a good spot to sit out blows from sth through to NNE

Still parked at Bullya island Kadavu may look at a change in the near future as pretty much covered all sites here .

Looking like another stunning day here will decide where we go by dingy later

still parked at Bullya island Kadavu provided good sheltered protection from the weather that we have had over the last few days. The chief in the village here is interested in any information that will help him understand the health of the coral reefs so that kept me busy looking on the net

Have being seeing a few turtles while out and about around our anchorage here in Kadavu, why mention them you may ask , well we received video footage from Paws in time of a Mahimahi that they caught and opened it up reveal some 25 baby turtles. These poor things up against it from the get go.

moved back over to Bullya Island yesterday after wind shifts had us seeking a calmer anchorage. Had the local and NZ custom authority's come aboard to check out our paper work. Good to see that attempts are being made to catch and reduce the movement of people and there illegal substances by moving through the Pacific with the Cruises.

made the short hop across to one of our favorite spots/Islands of Vurolevu also happens to be where the Mantas do there feeding thing so with any luck providing they are still around shall go and have a swim with them.

Hot and muggy night after a great day yesterday rain came in around midnight. did sevusevu yesterday and scored some fruit while there, certainly well organized village .

we have made the move, now over at Bullya island we spent quite a lot of time here last year with a good anchorage.

I did a removal of crown of thorns here. So hit the water to check out there reef, what I saw was looking healthy, though found 6 of the nasties which I removed.

looking to shift today wind has started to to back toward east, cloud started filling again last night.

Much better day the sun has put in appearance and wind has backed off some what . Supply boat is due in today, so that should take care of the entertainment for us, as lighters to and fro loaded to the gunwales.

The village of Naqara is nestled in a bay and surrounded by hills on 3 sides, these were planted in pine 40yrs ago some of which are now to millable size though still small to our reckoning. there was a bit of a opps with a fire and it got away and has taken out near on 2/3 of them, luckily there village did not surcome as well. The land is not suitable for Kava so that cant be a underlying factor in the accidental burn, after all Kava is now at 130 a kilo.

We made a move from Namara island, a decision trust on us by the 25/30 kts of win that made our little spot slightly uncomfortable. Now in the quite of Naqara on Ono island we get the wind here but not as bad , but anchorage is good the folk are great and water calm. Once the winds pass on and things settle we will head back to our little group of islands.

A gray old day so perhaps may not get out to play today, we dingy over to Dravuni yesterday having not been in there before doing a delayed sevusevu. What a great set up they have there with good anchorage and pretty laid back folk.

Namara is still holding our interest, may move on once current weather conditions settle

Liking Kadavu still hold up at Namara island finding some nice spots for snorkeling I removed a lot of crown of thorn's from around these islands last year and like to think that has attributed to the coral that I am seeing.

Have already picked more off this time.

today looks like starting out like yesterday windy apart from that fine, in the afternoon wind eased back making it a very nice warm afternoon, making for good snorkeling conditions here at Namara island

After checking out the coral around where we are finding it in not to bad of shape reckon staying around Namana for afew more days. the water is clean as well

Arrived down at Kadavu from Suva about 1600hrs after a good run in a 15kt SSE which had us motor sailing, had to make water so used that as a excuse. Anchored up at Namara Island in the company of 2 others and spotted 2 others parked by the village on Dravuni island. So we are not all fleeing from Fiji just yet.

getting ready to pop down to Kadavu soonish today for about 3/4 weeks until time catches up with us and we star planning our trip back to NZ.

It is Fiji day today so we have a public holiday and lots of merriment me think and they love there fireworks , so plan on a stroll around town to see what the good folk get up to.

should be moving out of Suva in next few days just awaiting our visa extention . always interesting in here taking in the hustle and bustle of the place.

busy Suva was made even more packed with the arrival of the rather large cruise ship. Still managed to get our application in for visa extension.

hoping to get all our official requirements out of the way over the next couple of days then out of here, undecided as where we will head next. depends on wind strength and direction.

been a year since we have visited Suva it is all go, except for the the sunk and sinking wrecks the are dotted around the landscape. it is still a busy place with lots to see and catch up with.

Suva

today is the day we are departing this great island of Matuku heading to Suva for visa extensions and stuff doing a over nighter.

planning to to depart Matuku on late monday evening for Suvu arriving there Tuesday morning.

enjoying this drop of weather here at Matuku had the folk come out of the woodwork as there supply ship came in rather a big event for them

our day here just got better and better as it went on yesterday, giving us great diving out on the reef. a interesting thing occurred here in the late afternoon we spotted a contact on our AIS nothing wrong with that except it was 2542 NM away at 60s and 179e a fishing boat.

Matuku proves to be a quite anchorage as there is no fetch though the wind does rush down over the hills

still at Matuku did the sevusevu yesterday and meet the very friendly folk in the village that made us welcome. today plan to get out to see what Matuku has to offer in the way of diving/snorkeling and in particular creatures of interest.

Now in Matuku island ( Daryl and Sonya's favorite spot)surrounded by the high hills and the bird song being Sunday when we arrived have yet to go and introduce ourselves. The school bus/boat called by and said Hi well bula actually, There 2nd words were do you know Daryl and Sonya. Looking forward to our time here .

we are departing Falunga today and doing a over nighter to Matuku arriving there in the morning, our time here is something we will long remember and thank the people for making us so welcome going to miss them.

today looks like a repeat of yesterday, so its back out to the outer reef system snorkeling in the pools that are left by the receding tide.

what a day we have woken to, looking forward to taking a walk through to the outside where we are parked there are about 3 places that the water come through into the inside lagoon. One is able to walk pretty much around to the village once the tide drops down, some interesting rock pools left on the retreating tide al so a large sandy beach.

we moved over to the sand spit area yesterday. There is 3 of us in Falunga still that is untill a rather large ketch came in fairly late yesterday ( not Jonathon as expected)

We went into the village yesterday to pick up some carving, if one is looking to purchase or look at what they do here it is well worth the effort. The work is of good quality, our xmas presents are sorted. that is until we decided to keep two of the items for ourselves. If they don't have what you would like then ask and they will more than likly do it for you and can have it made with in a few days if not by the next day depends on your request.

good morning from Falunga our time here drawing to a close with about a week time thinking of moving on. we were boat 90 to visit this year and the season is not over our host's are great ( same ones as Trev and Jan)George and Mia have taken us in, just great great people. still got more to get around and take in over the next week.

Oh Falunga how this place grows on you, the people, the relaxed atmosphere, all one needs is time to take it all in. We are off clamming today with our host should prove interesting

I can see now why those that make the effort to come out to Falunga find there anchor is reluctant to part company. we have time on our side so can just kick back and take in as much as we can.

relocated to Falunga and I can clearly see why one can get lost here and forget to return to cruising. Blown away by the hospitality. nope this will do us for awhile.

enjoying the settled conditions here at the Yagasa cluster enabling us to move around quite freely

one more Island to check out in the yagasa group and I am sure that it won't disappoint may move onto Falunga tomorrow, making a note that one must return to here.

enjoying our time here at the Yagasa cluster taking in the pretty much untouched scenery prepared to spend more time here to dive and snorkel.

now in the Yagasa Cluster which are reported to be as nature meant untouched there is fisherman that come here from time to time. Very keen to look around all 4 islands that make up this group.

planning on moving on from Komo today doing a 9mn across to Yagasa

still in Komo Island what a plesant spot has some of the best coral that we have found and great people so glad we called in here .

did the 20nm hop across to Komo island yesterday heard that it is a great island and the smallest occupied one in the Lau so off to meet and greet today. PS thanx for the kind words yesterday it has been a great journey .

currently at Oneata island very friendly place good anchorage just gets rolly from half tide on

still in the delightful bay at Susi unfortunately looking at departing this afternoon to get outside the reef so as to do a overnighter down to southern Lau. Oneata Island is our intended 1st stop.

now over at Susi furtherest settlement in vunua balavu to the east and where we made water for the village last year will be great to catch up with them here

decided to delay our move until today so it is around the corner to lomaloma for stores and to see how they have coped with their rebuild as their village was all but destroyed, then over to susi for the night and catch up there as I made water for them last year.

relocated yesterday down to alittle bay ? called tota a great anchorage may head from here to Loma Loma tomorrow intending to move on from Vanua Balavu before the Oyster boats arrive.

tucked up in the northern side bay with the yacht club such as it is now after winstone amazed at how much the trees have recovered here last year there was barely any foliage and the clean up of all the downed coconut palms is well underway with planed replanting over the next year. a further 6 years after that before there is any return.

now tucked up at the yacht club in Vanu Balavu after a very relaxing passage across from Taveuni

on passage to Vanua Balavu with eta 1630 this afternoon. Northern Lau group Fiji.

departed taveuni for venu balavu this morning not sth lau as you thought eta around 1630hrs

didn't manage to take your advice as crew had late flight out but are starting to get underway soonish

farewelling family today as they head back to NZ enjoyed having them aboard. lookout lau here we come.

still in Savusavu until most likely the weekend when it is hoped that winds will be favorable for us to head out to the lou group

now at the island of Nanema taking in the diving and bird life

we have relocated and over nighted in naqaiqar creek proving to be a great spot woken by bird song so nice to hear alass moving on today for ? fawn harbour

have come around to catherine bay rambi stopping off to swim with the many mantas that feed and stop for a clean resulting in some great footage loving this island for its great anchorages evan though a bit rolly at times with the arrival of davids sw winds and now s when they decide to get a hurry on

still tucked up in albert cove Rabi looking at moving back around to Cathrine bay today sometime catching the manta rays in the process

now in Viani bay planning on diving the white wall to take in the soft corals with Kupere

in savusavu still awaiting the arrival of family who get here today. plan on heading out tomorrow up taveuni way.

up in fawn harbour enjoying the hot pools and walk in there amazing bush and stream . heading back to savusavu today where there is very poor coverage but at least I can follow grandsons progress in the worlds 29rs at LA

we are back in savuavu for afew more days taking in a show festival week and a jam session should be fun

looking at moving on today to Namena isl for a few days

still tucked up in our bay looking at moving on tomorrow down to Namena isl to check out the reserve.

still sitting in this quite bay a good enough place to pass the time intending to check out the reef system today.

have moved out of savusavu now set up camp in Wainui bay 22nm west toward coconut point

in savusavu not able to pick you up well . moving out of here today toward the west

in savusavu enjoy the place and the people while awaiting our cruising permit has been a wet and windy lst few days but hey thats savusavu

we are approaching savusavu should be in around 1000hrs fiji time at least managing to sail the last little bit with conditions pretty much as David predicted with winds up to 12/14 kts se from last evening

approaching the pass through the northern Lau expecting to be in savusavu around 1300hrs tomorrow motor sailing still

finally underway to savusavu fiji from naeafu and looking like a nice day

looking at departure to fiji today dependant on the passage weather before decision is finally made.

a pleasant morning here in vava'u appears that the worst of the system has passed leaves us to find tv for the all black test tonight

still parked up out at the ark a nice place to hide from the conditions delaying our departure to fiji until situation improves

enjoying the last few days in vavau before move on , just as the whales start arriving damm

moved out of town back at the ark , base ourselves here while weather is settled do day trips from here as it is our last week planning on heading to fiji on saturday

in neafu to re stock and the kings birthday getting prepared for departure to fiji sometime soon

chilly wind blowing this morning so shall stay tucked up here in 16

now over in anchorage 16

awaiting the wind to settle down before moving on from this nice location

still here at the ark

doing back flips well done team nz what better place than out at the ark in vavau

parked up at the ark very comfortable in the knowledge that we have good coverage of the A C and whow now 6-1 up. Spital has all but been spat out

from vavau woken to a much quieter day

as you predicted a grey old day here in neafu

reporting from in neafu harbour after a windy night the king is coming next week everyone is busy cleaning up.

still parked up in tepana area finding it hard to move on

still in same spot along with several others

at anchorage 10 vava u very pleasant listening to the birds

at anchor at the wonderful tauanga island vava u

0605 nz time the sun is here. should finish doing the clean up today

on a mooring in Neiafu Vava u well rested and out to catch up with the good folk up here today.

eta at hunga pass into vava u 0900hrs made good progress overnight currently motor sailing cruise liner has entered vava u in front of us so guess it is going to be hectic trying to check in

made good progress now passing tongatapu 24 nm from hungatonga there newest island just put motor on to ensure we clear a sea mount

made great progress today and have a eta off hunga tonga around 10 tomorrow and expect to be in vava u thursday morning this report is been esent at 1900 hrs as have not been able to get reports away in th mornings

departed nth minerva for Vava u yesterday enjoyed some nice sailing wind dropped away around 5 this morning so now motor sailing eta vava u thursday

booming radio so it is great to have Ron as a relay. I guess Sheryl does the sailing while he is on the mike!

have departed minerva for vava u after spending such a good time there the change in the weather dictated that we should move on enjoying some light air sailing and reckon on making vava u thursday.

anchored which is great as Ron is a good relay station for Gulf Harbour radio. Thank you

enjoying the stopover at nth minerva while awaiting for the wind to shift around to a more favorable direction tomorrow is looking likely

at nth minerva plan to stay until monday or favorable winds arrive to continue on to Vava u well rested after quite night.

sloppy high tide conditions at N Minerva. I really appreciate the relay from Southern Lights Ron

beating their way to n Minerva with arrival later today. Ron does not sound happy with conditions so they will be pleased to be there.

thanks for relay to Southern Lights Ron

278 sth of minerva hope to make it there friday depends on the wind staying in a friendly quarter

275 to Minerva where there will be quite a city population

slowed our progress as to allow the system to pass

all well. relay from Navire and unusual that we cannot hear from 29S

making reasonable progress as we head toward the 30

looking to check out todaY

looking at saturday departure

holding pattern

still the same

still at Pihia posible departure Friday/Saturday

moved into Pihia

standing by

looks like we are here until !!!!

still here in standby

like everyone awaitng next window

ditto

sitting at Waitangi still

parked up at waitangi for the sailing here tis weekend

still in holding pattern

parked up Onewhero BOI trying to stay warm

in holding pattern Opua awaiting next window to Tonga

At the Nook Whangarei Harbour wait for haul out at Norsands weds