Nice quiet marina with heavy chains to attach to on the seabed if there is cyclone warning. No damage last year when cyclone Cook went close by in April. Very reasonably priced and not crowded.

Decision made. Booked Saraoni into Port Ouenghi marina near Tontouta Airport - very cheap, safe (relatively) and well run. Gives us a chance to start a circumnavigation of Grande Terre, the Loyalties and Vanuatu next year without waiting for another ww from NZ. Useful having EU passports here in New Cal! Will then sail the boat back to NZ next year earlier rather than too late like this year! Now off to Isle des Pins for a holiday while the trade wind dies somewhat.

Still several yachts waiting to go to NZ. We are still undecided. Took a hike up 1200 metre Mount Mou to take our mind off weather watching.

Thank you David and Patricia for your useful info this season. Have a great summer.

Have been anchored in Baie de Moselle, Noumea over the weekend. Decided to make a decision on Friday 1st if we wait for a good passage to NZ or head to Australia. Still nice weather here.

On mooring at Maitre Island; Glad didn't leave for NZ with the last lot. Bashed for 10 days to Noumea from NZ in 1987. Never again that far. Position of high axis bad for New Cal to NZ passage because of leeway and current, too close to wind and too windy. May be sailing to Tassie via Queensland.

Lovely weather in Noumea. Windlass installed so now looking seriously at either suitable weather for passage to NZ or Australia.

Finishing windlass installation. Can't see any suitable weather window to NZ yet. Might try Australia next week.

New windlass arrived; motoring back from Baie Papaye to Noumea Hope no-one else caught up with well advertised subtropical low. 2 rescues are enough.

Anchored in Baie d'Orphelinat, waiting for new windlass. Headwinds all the way to NZ for the next 10 days. Saraoni says no.

Climbed the 250 steps up to the top of the lighthouse at Amadee, New Caledonia yesterday.

Can't see any useful weather window in the next 2 weeks to NZ unless we beat or tack.

Back in Baie d'Orphelinat, Noumea at anchor.

At Amadee Island, New Caledonia. Going to climb the 250 steps up to the top of the lighthouse this morning.

Amadee Island, New Caledonia. The only yacht here with the turtles.

No ww in sight to NZ so we're off to Amedee for the day.

In mouth of Riviere des Kaoris, Baie du Prony.

Went to Mato Island in the lagoon and then sailed right into the Baie de Kaoris in the Prony inlet.

Heading to a couple of lagoon islets today for snorkelling.

On mooring at Isle Casy, Prony. Paid respects to Casy's abandoned, but seemingly well fed old dog yesterday, Off to Isle Mato today. No ww in sight to NZ! It's like May in reverse.

On a mooring in Anse Magic, Baie Du Prony. Making most of last few days of calm weather before next bfh arrives.

A pleasant anchorage in the lagoon. Plenty of rafts of noddy terns.

Still on mooring at Isle Maitre, gripped by "la grippe"

On mooring at Isle Maitre with a fleet of others. Pleasant benign weather so will trip around Southern Lagoon before returning to Noumea for clearance out

Staying another day and then heading to ilot Maitre, Amadee, Ouen and Baie De Prony and then returning to get our custom's clearance in about 10 days.

Spent the day yesterday climbing Mont Dore. The most beautiful views imaginable of the southern lagoon from 800 metres. Still more things to do before heading to New Zealand.

Arrived in Noumea yesterday in time for quarantine and customs. Dropped the anchor in Port Moselle but the marina directed us to the visitor's berths in Port Moselle Marina as soon as we called them on Ch 67. The quarantine officer came on board looking for things like ants. The custom's document was completed in the marina office but the officer did not come to the yacht. We walked to the immigration office on Tuesday to fill in an arrival form. It closes at midday.

Beautiful day as we transit Havannah Pass. Pass in mellow mood with little sign of disturbance. May anchor on way to Noumea, depending on tide through Canal Woodin.

Considering heading towards Havannah Pass today. Approximately 200 miles. Timing it to catch the incoming tide.

Another day in the timelessness of Angelowhat Bay, Aneityum. Good store for basics, useable internet, nice hiking.

Anchored at Anghelowhat still (Aneityum). Will be here until bfh shoves off.

Comfortable anchorage here in Angelowat, Aneityum. Heading to New Caledonia on Friday.

Lovely flat anchorage off the village of Angelowat, Aneityum. Lots to do here for hikers and snorkellers. Followed a villagers track into the forest and found some lovely Vanuatu kauris. Pacific Jewel cruise ship showing up on the AIS and the villagers are getting into action.

Beautiful day. Cleared immigration and biosecurity yesterday. Weak internet signal.

Course 260T 5.5 knots. 9 miles from Anelghowhat Bay on Aneityum. Vanuatu Customs have kindly given permission for us to stop here. Not sure whether to stay or go on to the Loyalties or Grande Terre while anticipated big fat high rolls through down under next week.

Sent from Iridium Mail & Web.

Course 250T 5.5 knots. On passage to New Caledonia. now 125 miles to Aneityum

Course 250T 5.5 knots. On passage to New Caledonia Sent from Iridium Mail & Web.

Course 250T 5.5 knots. On passage to New Caledonia Sent from Iridium Mail & Web.

On passage to New Caledonia.

Meltdown of MPPT solar controller will be keeping us in Vuda Point Marina for a few days while we re-wire our electrical system; No damage to instruments but about 10 metres of electrical wiring to replace plus heavy duty battery cables. No idea what caused it as thick smoke obscured the area but once cleared found a large melted area in the solar controller box; It was a 20 amp MPPT seemingly more than adequate for a 250 watt solar panel but we are upgraded to a a 30 amp.

Motor sailed from Beqa Island (pronounced Mbenga) to Momi Bay on the West side of Viti Levu. Light to moderate SE wind to begin with. Late afternoon up to 20 knots at times but didn't reach strong wind warning criteria. Could have sailed all the way if we had left earlier but wanted to get to Navula passage before dark. Well lit passage and Navionics for Android was more or less accurate.

Anchored in Malumu Bay, Beqa Island. On our way to Lautoka, slowly, then New Cal.

Anchored in Kavala Bay, Kadavu island, Astrolabe. Went for a hike yesterday and found the Kadavu Musk parrot. The Vunivaivai store isn't open on Sunday but is well stocked. The internet (vodafone) is fast. The chief is Seventh Day Adventist so he doesn't drink Kava but asked us for fish but we didn't have any. Nice people though. Some of the locals call Kadavu little New Zealand. The scenery resembles Great Barrier Island. Lots of trails for hiking.

Moved along the inner side of the Astrolabe reef to Vurulevu Island. Hoping to look for the resident population of manta rays. The once a month visit from the cruise ship The Pacific Jewel has just dropped its anchor off Dravuni island. The most recent Navionics for Android was (almost) spot on navigating through the reef areas from Naigoro pass to Vurulevu island.

Anchored in the lagoon off the Naigoro pass on the east side of Kadavu. Went for a drift snorkel in the pass. Beautifully clear water and rich in coral.

Anchored in Nagara Bay, Ono Island, Astrolabe Lagoon. Great dive with Mai Dive yesterday at Alacrity Rocks west of Ono.

Lovely sunny morning here. Hope to do some diving this week. Cave exploration and mantas nearby too.

Anchored in Nagara Bay , Ono Island, Astrolabe lagoon. looking for manta rays when the weather clears up. We haven't shared an anchorage with any other yacht for more than a week.

Heading to North Astrolabe lagoon

Spending another night on Ovalau and then heading to the north Astrolabe reef while the weather is calm.

Anchored in Rukuruku Bay. Heading 2 miles down the coast to enable easier access to road to the crater village of Lovoni.

Anchored in RukuRuku Bay, Ovalau. First Fijian humpback sighted this morning, two pods of dolphins yesterday. Friendly locals. Hiking to Lovoni Village, in a crater in the centre of Ovalau tomorrow

Anchored at Levuka, Ovalau . Heading for the Astrolabe lagoon in a day or 2.

Moored in Dere Bay , Koro. Not fully recovered from cyclone Winston, 2 moorings available.

Sent from Iridium Mail & Web.

Anchored off Cousteau Resort near Toronui; Wet, windy and unpleasant yesterday. Off tomorrow to Makogai we think.

Heading off soon for parts unknown

On mooring in SavuSavu. Mooring field chocka but tow quieter after exodus of cruise ship.

On mooring in SavuSavu. Reasonable passage from Tonga. Got i before the strong SE winds started up. Last in this place in 1975. Now unrecognisable but fun!.

too staticy to hear Allison's report.

On passage from Vava'u to Savusavu. 80 nm to go. Threaded the needle through the Northern Lau under a full moon last night. No navigational anomalies. AWOB.

On passage from Vava'u to Savusavu. 200 nm to go. AWOB.

On passage from Vava'u to Savusavu. 315 nm to go. AWOB.

Nice protected anchorage (no 10), fruit bats, Tongan whistlers, tropic birds, anemone fish on nearby reef, good holding sand bottom (!), only boat here. Back to Neiafu today, prep. for Fiji departure.

Quiet, well protected anchorage no.10. Had to leave Tapana anch. no.11 yesterday in a hurry when wind came from S to 20 kn. Poor holding there on narrow shelf.

Anchored in No 5 Lotuma Bay, All alone.

Hiked up Mt Talau yesterday.

On a mooring in Neiafu, Vava'u. Off to another location while the weather is still calm if doesn't start to rain later today.

On a mooring at Neiafu, Vava'u after a whale of a journey from the Ha'apais yesterday.

Early start for Vava'u from Foa in the Ha'apais.

Still anchored off Pangai, moving N this p.m.

Anchored Pangai, looking to move on soon

Anchored at Pangai

Anchored off Pangai with 4 other yachts.

Anchored off Pangai, 12 whales seen yesterday, west of Lifuka and Foa. Seemed to be just hanging around.

Nice calm conditions at Uoleva.

Anchored uncomfortably at Ha'afeva. Calm conditions yesterday but only 3 whales seen far off. Might try Tofua volcano today.

Anchored in front of the "Royal Nomuka Yacht Club" (commodore: Don McIntyre) on Nomuka Iki in the Ha'apais. Long sail from Tongatapu yesterday but saw around 15 humpback whales, some quite close. Some were breaching, others tail slapping and spy hopping. All slowly moving north. Got good pic of huge tail fluke near Nomuka Iki

Left Tongatapu for Nomuka Iki in the Ha'apais

Anchored at Pangaimotu with 2 other yachts and a launch. Will leave for Nomuka Iki in the Ha'apais tomorrow after trough departs.

Back at Big Mamas

15-20 knots ESE 100% cloud cover, 22 degrees.

Anchored off Fafa island. SE 15 knots, cloud cover 30%, 1017 Bar. 23 degrees

Anchored off Big Mamas. 5% cloud cover, less than 5 knots S. 21 degrees. 1015 bar

Heading north to Ha"apais soon.

Still anchored off the small boat harbour. SE less than 5 knots, 5% cloud cover, 21 degrees, 1015 bar.

Perfect tradewind weather in Tongatapu.

Perfect tradewind weather in Tongatapu.

They report from Tongatapu that there was no earthquake yesterday despite reports. no wonder no one felt it!

Oyster wreck latest, beware of Fiji charts.

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11881860

Safely anchored at Nuku'alofa. No wind. Very efficient check in.

30 nm Tongatapu . Sent from Iridium Mail & Web.

145nm from Tongatapu today. ETA Monday morning. AWOB

Heading for Tongatapu today. ETA Monday morning.

Sent from Iridium Mail & Web.

Still anchored at N. Minerva with 3 other yachts. Re-anchored yesterday at N end of lagoon for long anticipated front, of which we will be glad to see the back of, plus no regrets saying good bye to the big, fat high. Escape planned tomorrow a.m.

Anchored at N. Minerva with 3 other yachts. Comfortable but windy. Will make a move after the trough passes (on Friday) to Nuku'alofa leaving early Saturday. Wind relented at low tide yesterday sufficiently to allow us to snorkel around a wreck.

Anchored at N. Minerva with 3 other yachts. Comfortable but windy. Will make a move after the trough, probably to Nuku'alofa leaving Saturday a.m.

Sent from Iridium Mail & Web.

Sent from Iridium Mail & Web.

Anchored at N. Minerva with 3 other yachts, including Vela and Sequoia. Reasonably comfortable here but not reef exploring weather. It has been far too windy. Will make a move after the trough, probably to Nuku'alofa leaving Saturday a.m.

Sent from Iridium Mail & Web.

Anchored at N. Minerva with 3 other yachts and 2 motor launches. Reasonably comfortable here but not reef exploring weather. Will make a move after the trough, piggy backing on the next high which seems a more respectable size.

Sent from Iridium Mail & Web.

Anchored at N. Minerva with 3 other yachts and 2 motor launches. Reasonably comfortable.

Sent from Iridium Mail & Web.

waiting fr passage to Fiji

70 nm to N. Minerva at 04.00 Minerva time. Might have to put foot down to get into lagoon before dark or Suva here we come!

300 nm to S. Minerva at 0500 NZST Sent from Iridium Mail & Web.

452 nm to N. Minerva at 02.00 NZST Lovely sailing yesterday. Now back to motoring. All well on board.

Sent from Iridium Mail & Web.

all well

538 nm to S. Minerva at 0530 NZST All well on board.

650nm to S. Minera AWOB Sent from Iridium Mail & Web.

Left for Fiji via Minerva . light WSW wind AWOB

Anchored off Paihia waiting for the 2 main weather models to agree on a suitable passage to the tropics! In the meantime sorting out Iridium Go! codes

Waiting for a weather window in BOI to Fiji or somewhere else warm. Maybe end of this week?

Waiting for a weather window to Fiji or somewhere else warm. Maybe any time from Thurs to Sat?