From Levuka we sail to Astrolabe reef to get a glimpse of it before sailing back to Denarau Viti Levu Fiji. A cruiser in Fiji told us that there are big manta’s to see in the narrow channel between Drawaqua island and Navita island and hopefully we will still have time time to explore Ono and Kandavu.
Too bad we got sick! Covid like symtoms. Probably got infected in the bus from Nadi town a few days ago when visiting customs for a “facilitation letter” for my brother Michael who comes soon to sail with us to New Zealand. The infection disabled Stella for a week and Stefan for more than 14 days….
Ahoi, land ahead! At dawn the first contours of New Zealand become visible. The gentle wind that brought us here all the way from Fiji has now turned into a stiff headwind. We should have stayed in the lee of the east coast for shelter. Engine on. Speed over ground only 2 knots, what to do ?….
The anchorage at Kawau island, a former mining area, is a large deep bay called Bon Accord harbour with many jetties. It is well known for its walks and we will all look forward to that, time for a good workout. The nearby floating jetty is a safe place for the dinghy and it is easy to step on land.
Sailing to Tauranga in the bay of Plenty for quite a few important reasons: to have our headsail repaired, to catch a glimpse at the interior of New Zealand for the first time and to meet a highschool friend who immigrated here many years ago. Stefan has not seen her for 46 years….
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….
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….
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….
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 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…
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…
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…
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!
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.
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…