When leaving Savusavu we discover that the wind angle is not as predicted. We try to sail as close as possible to the wind but soon realise that our route to the Namuka and Yagasa islands in the Southern Lau is not sailable. A tack brings us to Vanua Balavu for the second time this season…
Once again its time to do provisioning in Lautoka and a good chance to check out the opshops as well for new clothing Also we bring parts of the bimini to Marchall sails for replacement of the worn transparant windows. It will be ready by the second week of October before we sail to New Zealand.
After a stop in Lautoka at anchor again at Vuda point outside Vuda marina. Back after a year in this familiar place. I help Patti to bring her and her luggage ashore and onward to her boat on land. Everywhere I go people recognize me and that feels very welcoming, like home. Thank you Vuda staff!
After a beautifull sail from Ogea to Lomaloma on Vanua Balavu island in the Northern Lau group we pick up Elaine who is already enjoying the island for a few days. Welcome on board! The three of us sail to the wide “Horse bay” just before “Plantation bay” where we anchored last year…
Patti has arrived in Savusavu from Vuda marina! We will provision for a month then sail to the Southern Lau on Thursday. Patti wants to do an art project with the school children of Ogea and I will help Dutch sailor Umberto with putting up a mainsail donated by Dutch sailors I met in New Zealand…
The extra blanket needed at night clearly tells us that the New Zealand winter is approaching. Time to set sail to the tropics again! The offical end of the cyclone season is April 31 but we have to wait patiently for more than 3 weeks for a suitable 8 day weather window to appear…
The months without Stella pass quickly because I keep myself quite busy helping other people with their boat jobs. Malaka Queen is still on anchor near Port Whangarei with the occasional 12 nautical miles return trip up over the river to Smugglers Cove to clean the hull and to run the watermaker…
The sun was rising at 6:15 as we sailed with the wind behind us nicely out of the Bay of Islands New Zealand. Leaving in a rush with the only weather window we could see before my flight in 10 days time. The passage looked a bit challenging with the last two hours of tacking in 25 knots gusting 35….
Beaufort wind scale 5 to 7 broad reach to beam, a bit inconsistent. Mostly reef one in genoa but sometimes reef two and a half when it is gusting forty. A bit more heeling than is comfy but grand, we make great speeds. The odd wave splashes on our sofa and by the time it is dry it happens again….
After 2 two restful weeks in the marina it starts to itch again. Where shall we go? Burton Sails Tauranga truly are a quality company and they keep their promise: the sail is back so lets go! Escaping the marina with the invaluable help of lads in a dingy that stopped us from bumping into our neighbour….