Smelling the barn so get the welcome hug ready Michelle. 45nm to Tauaranga with eta 1700

Sat phone now back in action. AWOB

All well, temporary fix on Backstay, sailing ok although rough. Planned route is to head a bit towards north cape and then south towards Tauranga. ETA approx Saturday / Sunday all going well.

on their way again. left Raoul yesterday morning

will leave Raoul within a couple of days when repairs complete for passage making.

Raoul island at anchor to sort out a few issues. Incl backstay. Calmer tomorrow

Hove to. Has a bit of weather to deal with. After the front will get sw but when that clears the wind will be more favourable

all sounds good. Lance came through really clearly today. A bit of weather ahead.

decided to deal with the weather and on their way home

In Minerva heading south when the winds change probably next week.

On mooring at beluga dive club arrived 11pm last night cleared customs 0900 this morning had a great passage, looking forward to the first good nights sleep but only after a local meal with a few beverages.

all well, nearing the end.

Left N Minerva yesterday and on their way to Vavauu.

4 boats in N Minerva. Two have been there for a week. One is going onto Fiji - the others to Tonga

all well on board. great radio. Lance booms in.

eta in about 40 hrs - so Sunday. There are about 3 boats there in N Minerva at the moment

all well. Have had a lot of motor sailing and looking forward to wind picking up. great radio signal today. Sadly that meant the chinese fisherman are coming in too.

heading 006T at 6.2kts motorsailing wind 203 at 8kts sea slight, everyone looking forward to some warm weather still in tracky's and jumpers

had a good night averaging 6.5 kts with a nice sw wind of about 16kts. This morning we are heading 002 T at 7.1kts have 18kts from the sw 1.5mtr swell from the wnw 50% cloud cover and 1010 on the bar , hope our wind holds out for another day or so, looking forward to some warmer days.

Left Tauranga 10:00 hrs under motor heading 010T at 7.0kts for Minerva reef wind variable 8kts sea slight nth swell 1mtr clear overhead 1005 on the bar hoping to pick up a bit of breeze late tonight.

Loading up today Tauranga , clearing customs tomorrow 0900 for the kingdom of Tonga yahoo here we go

Winds easterly 22kts rain 100% could cover 1005 on the bar. Passing Mayor island nearly home , welcomed home to rain and cold winds What were we thinking lets turn around and go back haha.

Big thanks to David and Patricia for the great weather updates regards Lance and michelle

eta Tauranga 1500 tomorrow. A really clever use of the weather for their route home

thanks Anne on Sofia for the relay.

via A train relay as they are now in my skip.

great prpgres. Gt a bit of wind, up to 25kts in the front but short lived. The destination is now Tauranga.

good progress and all is well

on their way to opua. Will have a front sliding up to greet them but not a bad one.

Completed our overnight trip from Fulanga. Now Anchored at Dravuni Island inside the Great Astrolabe Reef Kandavu. Winds ESE18-20 knots throughout trip. Great to have winds behind us! Sunny, minimum cloud cover. Lovely white sandy beaches and good hike this morning. 1 x yellowfin tuna!

Arrived in Fulanga lagoon. Winds ESE 15-20 knots, especially windy at night. Overcast. Water Temp 24 degrees alot colder! Low lying island so winds blow all the time. Anchorages reasonably calm. Hosted by Sockie and Ba from main village, wonderful hospitality throughout our stay for 5 days. Caught 2 walu!

Motor sailed down to Namuka I Lau Island, beautiful lagoon enclosed pointing to the NW, anchored in 3 metres of water off beautiful white sandy beach. Sunny, hot and clear skies calm anchorage. Paradise!

overnight anchorage at Komo Island, winds 20knots ESE and rolly, not that pleasant nights sleep.

Brisk sail down to Lakemba Island in the Southern Laus. Winds ESE 15-20 for most of the day, cloudy at times, showers on arrival. 1016ha

Caught a lovely short billed spearfish and mahimahi on the way, plenty of fish to share with the locals.

Moved around to Bavatu Harbour on northern side, beautiful anchorage, sun is out again after a day of showers and rain. SE winds outside 15-20 knts. Sharing anchorage with 3 other boats.

Motorsailed most of the way down to Vanua Balavu, Northern Laus, light air ESE, calm seas. Caught a nice mahimahi and breifly hooked a marlin on the way. Arrived Ships Cove Bay of Islands 4.30pm, good run. Clouding over, brief showers and SE Winds Strengthening. Sharing anchorage with "Hey Jude" Super Yacht.

On a mooring at Paradise Resort, Vuna Point, Taveuni. Great hospitality, sunny, crystal clear water, calm.

Caught our first Wahoo in Fiji YUM!

At Copra shed Savusavu ESE 6 kts sun up not a cloud in the sky 1017 on the bar stunning day

Lovely anchorage in Albert Cove, Rambi Island, blue lagoon sheltered from SE winds, overcast with occasional periods of sunshine and a few showers.

Anchored at Also Island, 100% cloud cover, occasional showers, winds SSE 15 knots. 1012 mb. Lay day today. All well.

Anchored Vango Bay off the point and Tutu Island, weather wet, winds SE 3 knots 100% cloud cover. Travelled outside the great reef today, caught a small black marlin, 2 barrcuda, fish for dinner YUM!

anchored at Kia Island, beautiful sunny. SE winds 10-15 knots, barracuda for dinner!, Whale visited us in the bay.

At Anchor Palmlea resort 50% cloud cover se 8-10kts

Hard to hear as the japanese fishing fleet has found it great to broadcast on 8753 which is rather close to 8752 - and they have lots of power! Good to hear Michelle though.

At anchor Lekubi pt Vanua Levu 100% cloud cover light rain winds se 25 with gusts to 35 in squalls not a very nice morning 1011 on the bar

At Anchor Sawa i lau island winds ese 16-20kts 1014 bar 70% cloud cover

At anchor nanuya-sewa (blue lagoon) winds 15 e 10% cloud cover 1015 bar

At anchor Somosomo bay 10% cloud cover winds 15kts from 150T

At anchor at Malolo island sunny ,hot 3 knots of se wind

great progress

good progress and all is well.

speed 7.6 knots, course 353T, nice day 15 kts of se sunny and hot...

front went thru about 2am last night

In shorts and Ts now, hot as, water temp 23 degrees, sunny day and light southerlys

great radio signal now that they are above 30S. Sounds like a much better sail today.

course 345T travelling at a speed of 7.5 knots at 7.46am

Departing NZ enroute to Fiji. Speed 9.2 knots, course 340 magnetic, breezy, up to 42 knots of SE at times 4-5 metre swells, flying!

Arrived Safely Tauranga Bridge Marina cleared customs 8am

Feeling the cold! ETA 9am Tomorrow Tauranga!

No wind and flat calm ETA late Thursday Motorsailing

light winds now slowing down. Will be motor sailing home in these conditions

They had a nice day today and starting to feel the cold!!! Lance said they had to scramble for some warm clothing and shake all the mould and other things that had been hidden for months.

Naturally, there was no sympathy from the radio operator still shivering the Far North-haha. From Annette Far North Radio

thanks to Seeker for relay

southerly coming

had front go thru a couple of hours ago. ETA Wed in Tauranga

4.5 knts, expecting a strong southerly front to pass through bringing 25-30 knots from the south on the nose, will slow progress.

if weather keeps up will be in long shorts!

all going well

All ok

l

Motorsailing

Slow going on the nose. Nearly along side Anatom Island tacking to the east at 5.2 knots wind 142deg and 14kts, all well, having roast rooster for dinner

All well, light and variable winds last night motor sailed till 11pm and been under sail since. speed 4.7kts, wind 098 at 8.5knts 20% cloud cover

on passage to tauranga from P Vila with great radio signal and thanks from GHR for relay

Departed port vila en-route to Tauranga nz eta approx wednesday the 7th october

Anchored in Port Vila

Heading into Vila for next few days waiting for weather window to head back to NZ

anchored in behind the point at Ranwoponte pt Ambrym nice anchorage in se winds

Anchored

Heading southwards towards Port Vila in next week.