Noon readings from Dec 4.

SCOOTS has arrived at Marsden Cove Marina as of 7 pm Dec 4! After a very interesting weather day. We'll clear with Customs tomorrow morning then move upriver to Town Basin Marina. Wow it's weird to be on a stationary boat...

Noon readings. Scooting along at 8-9 knots on a beam reach in lots of W wind. Waves frequently washing our deck, occasionally our cockpit. Discovered some hatches that weren't tightly shut. It wouldn't be a trip to NZ if we didn't have some saltwater in the cabin. :/ Hoping that the promised NW wind will fill in soon which should make life more comfortable. We changed our destination to Marsden Cove Marina. Still looking to arrive afternoon 4 Dec. SCOOTS can smell the barn....

Sailing again! Dave on s/v Rewa is still sailing along nearby; it's nice to have a friend to chat with on the VHF out here. We're considering changing our destination to Marsden Cove instead of Opua, to take advantage of the favorable winds at arrival time. All well on board.

Since our last update, we've transited a front thrown up by the big Low in the Tasman. It gave us the wind we had been lacking for the past two days, sustained N winds of 18-22 knots for most of the night with just a little rain. This moved us along nicely with our two headsails. The seas were only about 1.5 m, but they made for rolly conditions. This morning, as we sailed through the last of the front, we had quite a bit of rain, and a couple of gusts over 30 knots, but that's about it. Now, on the other side of the front, we have almost no wind and we're motoring again. Hoping now for the predicted West winds...

Another beautiful sunny day and starry night. We're wearing pants and long sleeves on our night watches now. We must truly be tropical people...I was surprised to find that the temperature is 77 degrees! I thought it was colder.

Beautiful weather! Wind has backed around and is now on the nose. Expect to motor into it most of the day. Still looking at a Dec 4 arrival in Opua.

Left Denarau yesterday, on our way to Opua. Lovely sailing conditions.

Still waiting at Denarau Marina for a weather window we like.

Waiting at Denarau Marina for a Thursday departure to Opua. Today is the Diwali holiday.

A lovely day to sail across the Bligh Water! We're now anchored off the beach of Nananu-i-Cake Island, on the north shore of Viti Levu

Anchored in peaceful Bua Bay after a day of changeable weather: light and variable leaving Savusavu, 20-25 knots as we entered Nasonisoni Pass, continuing and adding 1.5m seas to bash into after we exited the pass, then returning to light and variable late afternoon

We've been enjoying Savusavu for the past week so far. We'll be moving to Denarau by Oct. 10.

We've been slowly exploring the islands of the Koro Sea...Leleuvia, Ovalau, Makogai, Koro, and now Taveuni. We are very comfortably moored at the super-yacht-friendly Paradise Taveuni Resort.

Anchored at Leleuvia Island in the Koro Sea

Anchored at Leleuvia Island in the Koro Sea

Arrived in Suva Harbour 30 June @ 1400. Outside the reef, seas were 3 meters and wind 25-30 knots E/SE. Motor not working, so sailed in and anchored under sail. Inside the harbour, flat seas and 15-20 knots. :) All very well on board.

Diverting to Suva due to weather. Arriving today.

All well. Sensing the barn.

Happily on a beam reach

All well on board.

Enjoying a serene downwind sail.

Having a rollicking ride. All well.