2011 New Zealand – Fiji – Vanuatu – New Caledonia to Australia voyage Blog

Musket Cove, Boat Projects yet again…..

June 21st, 2011 Dear F&F, After Sandrine arrived at Vuda Point, the three of us went provisioning with our favorite taxi driver Abdul and then off to Musket Cove with the best of intentions to cruise the Mamanuca and Yaswawa Groups of Western Fiji. Kate will leave soon and wants to get in some more …

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Castaway Island, Navadra Island, s/v Wetnose and YES, boat projects yet again!…..

June 23rd, 2011 Dear F&F, We fueled up, left for Navadra and passed \”Castaway Island\”. This is where Tom Hanks movie \”Castaway\” was filmed. We also were on the path of a literally UNCHARTED Island and reef which if we hadn\’t been paying attention (but of course we were), we would have run right over. …

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Waya pit stop…Manta Ray Bay Island….

June 25th, 2011 Dear F&F, We left for the trip to Waya Island, most southern of the Yasawa\’s early as to travel the 30 miles and get settled. Kate was in \”her office\” (sun tanning of course) and Sandrine was listening to music. I did my weight workout and all was good. We arrived at …

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Malololailai…..

June 1st – 9th, 2011 Okay, say Malololailai ten times real fast! Betcha\’ can\’t do it….:) Dear F&F, We picked up mooring and checked into Musket Cove. The reefs here are something to be very wary of. They\’re often just awash and you can\’t see them. Glad the electronic charts are spot on here. Diving: …

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New Zealand to Fiji….A synopsis

May 31st, 2011 \”I Get By With a Little Help From My Friends\”…. The Beatles Dear F&F, We\’re in Vuda Point Marina just south of Lautoka where we checked in. I thought this song was appropriate as Kate is from Essex near London. Kate was great in the watch, sailing, cooking, companion and everything else …

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Yesterday…..

May 25th, (Eastern Hemisphere), 2011 – 8:30 p.m. Our Last Night at Sea…. Conditions: 18 degrees 45 minutes SOUTH 177 degrees 20 minutes EAST Wind: East, 30 knots (It\’s still blowing!) Swell: East, 2 – 2.5 meters (We\’re getting some reef protection) Heading: 340 True Speed: 5.5 knots 3 reefs in the main, no head …

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Galileo…..

May 24th (EASTERN Hemisphere again!), 2011 – 10 p.m. local time. Conditions: 21 deg 20 min SOUTH 178 deg 19 min EAST (zig zagged the date line). Wind: 25 East Swell: 3 meter ESE (more East). Heading: 340 deg T Speed: 8.5 knots (a bit bumpy again, but quite livable) Barometer: 1017 Day 6 run: …

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Magic Carpet Ride…..

23 May, (Less than 20 miles from the Eastern Hemisphere), 2011 – 9 p.m. Local Time Conditions: 23 deg 54 min South 179 deg 30 min WEST Wind: 15 to 25 knots, ESE Swell: 16 feet, 4 meters ESE Heading: Changed course to 315 T, we\’ve changed ports to Lautoka, Fiji (near the repair yard …

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Catch the Wind…..

May 22nd, (Staying with this date though we are currently in the WESTERN Hemisphere), 2011 – 11:30 p.m. local time Conditions: 26 deg 13 min South 178 deg 15 min WEST Wind: ESE, 25-35 knots Swell: ESE, 3.5 meters, bumpy! (Kate\’s getting the adventure she came out here for!) Heading 020 True Speed: 6.2 knots …

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Night Moves…..

May 21st (Eastern Hemisphere – but not for long!), 2011 Conditions: Bumpy!… 28 deg 57 min South 179 deg 43 min East Wind: 23-30 knots ESE: We\’re in the trade winds now, re-enforced by the South Pacific Convergence Zone fronts to our north. Swell: ESE, 2.5 – 3 meters Temp: 66 degrees F – 18.9 …

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