Got in to Scarborough Marina around 0800 this morning. Looks like this will be home for a while.

Coastal cruising in Australia - moving from Bundaberg to Scarborough.

Got to Bundaberg between 0800-0830 and started the check-in process. So far - no issues.

The wind is still blowing and I'm still sailing. Wind is expected to be the same all the way to Bundy. ETA 1 Nov in the morning. All's OK.

Wind has been up around 20 knots since yesterday, so I've been sailing since yesterday. ETA 1 Nov. All's OK.

Had nice wind up until 0200 this morning, been motoring ever since. Should get more wind this afternoon. LOB: a term used by sailors meaning Lost On Board. That's what has happened to one navigation chip. The one that's missing has data for New Zealand and Australia. I know I had it when I left NZ because I definitely used it on departure. And before getting to the islands I took it out and put in the memory chip for the islands. Now I'm trying to located the NZ/Oz chip before arriving there, but so far I've not found it in all the obvious places. Need to keep searching in all the not so obvious places. ETA changed to 1 Nov. All's well, except for the lost memory chip.

The wind died yesterday and didn't pick until mid morning, which meant I motored all night. ETA 31 Oct, but this is becoming more doubtful with each slow day. All's well.

Yesterday afternoon the wind died, so on came the motor. At sunrise the wind picked up, so off with the motor. Wind is out of the west so I'm close hauled. Forecast has me sailing close to the wind for the next 36 hours. ETA 31 Oct. All's well.

Slow going, but I'm enjoying not being in a hurry for once. I haven't used the motor yet but the geneker is getting more play time now than it has in the last few years. ETA 31 Oct. All's well.

Today is completely different than yesterday. Yesterday the wind was 25-30 knots with 2 meter seas. Today the wind is 6-8 knots with 0,5 meter seas. Yesterday I had only the head sail and it was reefed. Today I have full main plus geneker. Current forecast has winds less than 15 knots for the remainder of passage. It's been a long time since I've been able to sail in light winds and not have to hear the motor in order to stay ahead of the weather. ETA to Bundaberg is 31 Oct. All's well.

I've done the check out dance (actually, an agent did the dance for me) and will be departing in a few hours. Expecting the passage to Bundaberg to take 7 days.

First stop in NC. I haven't check in yet and I hope I don't have any thing to worry about. The only place to check in is on the other side of the island and everyone says it's OK to stop for the night first.

A lot more motoring than sailing. To be expected in these conditions. All's well.

Slow sail to New Cal. No, I'm not complaining 'cause this sure beats the conditions I had coming to Vanuatu

Back in Port Vila. Waiting for a weather window to either head south to Anetyium before sailing to New Caledonia or sail directly from here.

Made the jump from Port Stanley to Port Sandwich. Now waiting for favorable weather to go to Port Vila. Sunday is looking good at the moment.

Back in Port Stanley waiting for the prevailing winds to change so I can head south to Port Vila.

At the 2nd largest city (town) in Vanuatu, Luganville.

In Port Stanley to wait for the north wind and rain to pass by.

Moved to Nopul on Ambrym. There's a 3 day festival starting tomorrow, should be fun. There is also another volcano here, will have to see if this one is better than the one on Tanna.

In Port Sandwich on Malekula

Uliveo Island, part of Maskelyne Islands in Malakula, Vanuatu.

In Lamen Bay on Epi.

Left Port Vila this morning for a nice sail to Havannah Bay.

Back in Port Vila for a few days.

Left Pt Resolution, Tanna this morning for an all day sail to Dillons Bay on Erromango.

Made it to Pt Resolution in 24 hours. Sailed for the first 12 and motored the last 12 hours. This bay is rolly so I set a line from the stern to the anchor rode so as to be able to point the bow into the swell instead of into the wind. A few other boats thought this was neat and soon followed my technique.

Leaving Port Vila tomorrow morning for an over night sail to Pt. Resolution on Tanna.

Got in to Port Vila after 1300 local and anchor all set at 1400 local. It's still a little breezy in the anchorage, but I'll take 15 knots any day compared to 30 knots. Now to relax and wait for my official check in tomorrow (Monday).

Didn't get as much sleep during the night as I usually do since I was pretty close to a couple islands as I was making my way to Port Vila. Only 35 nmi to go. Which will get me in around 1300 local time. Except for the big waves, All's Well. And getting better each mile I get closer to dropping the anchor.

Change of plans: Original plan was to make first landfall at Pt. Resolution, which is only 15 nmi away. But the wind and seas are still over 20 knots and 3 meters and by all information available would not make for a pleasant anchorage. So, I've decided (along with Al) to proceed on for another day in this S%#@ (slop) to Port Vila for the promise of a much more comfortable anchorage.

How do I put this? The last 36 hours kinda sucked. The wind has been in the 20's, which I can handle. It's the subsequent waves that's a PITA. They're 3-4 meters, closely spaced, and coming from more than one direction. These really tosses the boat around and everything in it, including your's truly. The best part is it'll be over today. I should be anchored within the next 8 hours. Other than that, all's well.

Another good day and night of sailing. Winds are forecast to pick up today from 15 knts to over 20 knts. ETA still Sat, which is tomorrow here. All's well.

Another 24 hours of sailing. The gybe north put the seas directly on the stern, this made for an uncomfortable ride with the 3-4 seas pushing the stern this way and that, plus a few more directions. The wind and seas eased overnight and things are better. Still have an ETA of Saturday, but depending how long the light winds last I may have to move it to Sunday. All's well.

Was able to sail all day and night. Boy, do I missed the motor .. NOT. No squalls last night but the wind has eased a bit. Should be turning to the north when the wind shift to the SE later today. ETA Sat 30 Jun with 450 nmi to Vanuatu. All's well.

Been sailing since yesterday morning. Had a couple squalls last night with winds to 40 knts. After the second squall the wind dropped all the way down to 4 knts. Had to get the wind back by starting motor. ETA to Vanuatu Sat 30 Jun. All's well.

Motor all night. Wind has picked up but somewhat on the nose. Might consider sailing. But primary goal is to get far enough north to beat the next cold front tomorrow. All's well.

Motored for the last 24 hours. Wind picked up to the low 20's at midnight. Hope I've gotten far enough north to beat the worst winds. Should kill the engine if things looks good when the sun comes up. All's well.

Left Marsden at 1015. Winds light and I expect to be motoring for a while. All's well.

Yeppie! The weather looks good for a Saturday morning departure. I estimate the sail to Vanuatu will take 7-8 days.

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