Moonlight
Sorry everyone. Bill arrived 0300 on Wed 28th February. I drove from Out Of The Bag at Maryborough arriving at Port Of Bundaberg about midday expecting formalities would be over only to find that Customs Officers had not arrived until 11a.m. I sat with Bill while Customs went on with their procedures. The sniffer dogs were on Moonlight and became a bit interested in a bag we have had for many years while travelling. The dogs were likely confused by all the smells associated with the grungy down at heel looking bag. Apart from that all was good onboard, although I am still sweeping up dog hairs from their time onboard. Wednesdays the Quarantine Officer does not work so at about 3pm Bill was escorted back down to Moonlight on the Quarantine Dock by the Customs Officers and I had to drive back an hour and three quarters to Maryborough. On Thursday 1st March I drove back up to Port Of Bundaberg arriving at 11a.m as the Quarantine Officer was just finishing up. Then it was the turn of Wayne whose job it is to prepare the paperwork to import Moonlight into Australia. Finally we were able to relax on Moonlight and catch up
Avg: 8knts
24hr: 192.8nm
at 1700 abeam of Cato Reef
COG 253 True
SOG 6.6 knots
Distance to Go 192 All Good Onboard
AT 1500 the Coast Watch plane, Border Force boys, over flew Moonlight and called Bill on the VHF Radio. Bill said it was good to see them. Shorty afterwards a big squall passed over leaving west winds behind.Probably good to speak to someone too after a solitary week at sea.
Avg: 5.2knts
24hr: 125.6nm
Good sailing conditions overnight.
COG 240 True
SOG 4.8k
Been lots of work in light conditions main up, main down, main up, down up, to reduce flogging of main in light conditions and seas. No doubt Bill will be tired by all exercise.
Following with great interest
Avg: 5.3knts
24hr: 127.4nm
COG 240 True
SOG 4.9 knots
Motoring since 0400
All Well onboard
Avg: 33.5knts
24hr: 803nm
Moonlight at 1800 Sunday 25th is now in Australian Waters.
COG 250 True
SOG 4k
Slow sail, short chop making sails flog. Annoying and hard to sleep
Distance to Go 311 nm
Avg: 6.3knts
24hr: 151.5nm
Lovely day of sailing
COG 240 True
SOG 5 knot
22 nm to belona Reef
DTG 420 at 1800 24th Feb
Avg: 7.4knts
24hr: 177.8nm
COG 258True
SOG 5k
Distance to Go DTG 548
Sailing
All well onboard AWOB
Glad to see you’re chugging
Mate good to see the progress
Avg: 13knts
24hr: 311.2nm
COG 260
SOG 5.5k
Reaching speeds 7k overnight
Clear skies
Distance to go 607nm
Reaching comfortably
AGOB
Avg: 14.4knts
24hr: 344.6nm
Wind dropped at 0400 left shitty seas.
COG 260 True
SOG 4 knot
0700 24th Feb Distance to go 479 Motoring
Best speed overnight 7.1 knots
Every mono's dread zephyr wind, big swells with short chop on top
Avg: 4.2knts
24hr: 100.7nm
COG 260 degrees True
SOG 4.5 k
Distance to Way Point off Bundaberg 790
Bil was motoring at the time of report, sails up and down all day again No wind at time.
All Well Onboard
Mate hope you are enjoying
Avg: 10.1knts
24hr: 243.1nm
Course over the ground 266 degrees
Speed over ground 4k
Sailed overnight headsail only to stop main flopping flogging around
67nm to Petrie Reef
126nm to Grande Pass
Should clear New Caledonia reef area (over top of New Cal) late Thursday.
All good onboard
Avg: 55.1knts
24hr: 1322nm
0700 local time Bill reported
COG 259 True
SOG 4 knots
Motoring with gentle breeze starting to fill in
All Well onboard
Distance to Waypoint 731
Last night when he passed Petrie Reef there were big overfalls and a current against him 3knots, it was bit rough and spooky as it is New Moon so pitch dark difficult to see anything. Conditions settled when he had passed the reef.
Avg: 5.3knts
24hr: 127.8nm
Been motor sailing most of day, very hot. Tried ever sail combination to catch any wind assistance. Probably pleased sun has gone down.
At 0600 Aus Eastern standard time, that means Qld time
COG 256
SOG been averaging 4 knots in light NE during night. Currently Westerly wind
Seas 1/2 metre smooth
Distance to Bundaberg 950m
Squalls light up to 12 knots
We were towed on to a mooring this afternoon in shallow water off Irriki Resort where it is very calm and sheltered, as the engine will run, which we are grateful for for the charging of the batteries, but it will not go into gear. No it is not the gear box apparently according to Vijay the mechanic. He will dive on the prop tomorrow as he thinks it is a problem between the stainless prop and the bronze propellor corroded connections. He will be here at ten a.m. tomorrow so we’ll know more then. He says he will use a net in the event that he drops something. In the meantime Bill is having a lovely messy time servicing the winches -he’s onto the third one - but he’s pleased with how they run after he’s cleaned them up. He has two to go.
Avg: 819.5knts
24hr: 19667.4nm
Anchored Port Vila at 1500 local time.
Pooped!
31 days, 4 hrs 3026nm (divide by 31 days....hmmm... slow!)
Probably had fireworks here last night, darn.
Lovely sail today.
Happy New Year Gene and Bill
Avg: 4.1knts
24hr: 99nm
Beaut sunrise first day of the year!
Sailing down wind poles out headsail Bill off watch probably suggest spinnaker when he comes up.
18nm to end of Efate then 20 up to Port Vila.
HAPPY NEW YEAR to all. We trust it will be a good one full of health, happiness, good times, family and friends!
Much love Bill & Gene
240nm from Port Vila
FYI hand steering only.
Thurs am early bracket holds new u beaut auto pilot attach very dodgy way, came loose...sigh... no indication til failed. Will be straight forward repair. Meantime exhausting job steering esp since lots rain and wind.
AWOB
Mate I’d have a good look on
Chin up. U have been thru
Avg: 5.9knts
24hr: 141.8nm
End week 4 not too flash
Going nowhere 2days Xmas & Boxing Day
Total week 480nm worst day -4nm!
Wind arrived Wednesday pm in 18hrs did 216nm
Moonlite sails well in wind
Heading 220T ENE 8k
Squalls about lots lovely rain this am
Gonna stop Port Vila, Vanuatu then whooska says weather guru Mark, Aus
Avg: 3.2knts
24hr: 76.7nm
Wind again end 27th day
Wind SE10k 5.5k seas 1m 80%cloud
Course 236T
Going to stop Port Vila Vanuatu
Lovely night, gentle breeze
6k
Moonlit water, stars, calm sea,
Listening to Xmas music on radio national NZ
Watching for Santa.
Love to all
Merry Christmas to Alana, Ahlia, Juliette, Margaret & Kevin, Simon & Kirsten, Cooper n Pippa.
Merry Christmas to Ben & Lucie, Renee, Emily, Eloise & Joseph, Marcelle & Max, Maija, Amelia & Aria. Claire & Rob, kids & grandkids.
Merry Christmas to all the lovely friends near and far, wish we were there to share the prawns n ice cold beer. See you soon.
Gene n Bill
Avg: 1278.2knts
24hr: 30677.1nm
End week 3 21 days + 28 days from Panama
Ghastly week. 515nm but kept away from low.
Last few days squal lots wind, rain.
Sunny now, hatches open.
Lay 'a hull' last night n drifted 12nm probably more than sailed during the day.
Quite comfy.
Sailing nicely now.
3.2nm to date line.
COG 225 SOG 6.2k NNW 18k 1.5m seas
75% cloud
1750 to Bundy
Diabolical night. Heaps of rain n wind.
Avg: 5.1knts
24hr: 123.3nm
Pouring rain not a breath of wind.
Good overnight, no squall then 1 massive shower
Progress slow yesterday squalls n lulls all day.
50k in 1 but short duration
Avg: 2.9knts
24hr: 68.4nm
End 18th day out of Marq
2123 astern
Slow progress trying our patience but necessary as low below us affecting wind
Consistent wind NNW direction, strength up n down.
No squalls, 1 rain shower.
AWOB
Plenty food water gas to cook but wish for landfall Aust.
Looking Nth cloud higher lighter thinner. Looking Sth cloud darker thicker esp on horizon.
Last night lots of stars, wonder if be the same tonight. Hope so.
Thanks for the updates. Slow
Avg: 8.8knts
24hr: 211.5nm
00 00 UTC 14/12
End of week 2
COG 273 SOG4k, slow!
10% cloud, less than 1m seas
Weeks distance 871nm
Due North of Tokelau by 100nm
Enjoy the school holidays!
Avg: 5619.1knts
24hr: 134859.1nm
End of day 9 passing above Northen Cooks.
NNE8k managing 4.9-5k despite light breeze.
Hot sunny
AWOB
Long way to go yet
Avg: 3.8knts
24hr: 90.7nm
End week 1 out marq.
Week run 962nm
Thanks Sue n Brian 4 message
Congratulations Renee Hons 2018
Avg: 6.7knts
24hr: 160.2nm
Had to slow down, reduce sail. big following sea was uncomfortable. Better now tho.
Check Sth n West of us 25nm Karoraina Island.
Explains the birds.
4700m deep here
266T 6k ENE
1738 to go
Elaborate on the birds please
Destination? Slow down? That
Underway 24hrs @ 11 11 utc 2pm local 1 dec.
266T 6k, E18 2m seas 10% cloud
distance to next way point off Samoa 2155
Daily run 156
Good luck guys and safe
Avg: 7.2knts
24hr: 172.7nm
Anchor down!
27days 4hrs 50mins
Interesting scenery
Small village
Checking in and resting!
Well done, how good is it to
Avg: 6.6knts
24hr: 158.3nm
299nm to go but wind eased overnight. Progress a tad slow but as it is only Wednesday morning we should make Friday eta.
Avg: 7.4knts
24hr: 178.2nm
Last 4 days 166, 166, 161
wind died at sunset, veered NE before midnight gybed, last 24hr 136nm
Wind return breakfast.
255T
6.5-7k
437nm
Looking forward to getting to Nuku for wifi & emails, fresh fruit & veg and a still bed to sleep in!
Avg: 11.9knts
24hr: 285.4nm
End Week 3 total 1100nm av 157/day.
Pos at 1900 18.11.17 5d54.3S 125d15.5W
COG 255T SOG 8.6k E 22/22k 1.5-2m swell 10% cloud
900 to Nuku
Daily run 166
Sailing wind on wing
Reef hail & main
AWOB
Bacon n egg blast chased eggs round pan
Difficult to sleep, good speed but rolling, noisy in follow sea.
Seas really testing
Some good 2.5m and why is it always has to be a rogue one closer to 3m! Just when think need to take another reef they soften off again.
Avg: 4.3knts
24hr: 102.7nm
1900 UTC 15th Nov,AWOB - All Well On Board
1547 to go
Dreaming of Steak!
Avg: 15.5knts
24hr: 372.3nm
At the end of 15days COG 251 T SOG 7.3k Wind SE 12k
Past halfway 1850nm
AWOB All Well On Board
Not much sunscreen used this trip. It's cool out here.
Interesting fact : after 2 weeks OOTB 1860nm Moonlight 1800nm but on week 3 OOTB did 1500nm! Not sure Moonlight can match that!
Happy birthday Bill. Hey gene
Mate following your progress.
Avg: 8knts
24hr: 191nm
Happy 17th bday Hazel. Happy 71st bday Bill.
Long lazy swells, light SSE breeze, spinnaker flying. Clouding over again...sigh.
2257 to go a end of 12th day
Happy birthday dad - just
Happy 71st Birthday Bill.
Avg: 9.9knts
24hr: 237.4nm
1900 UTC
Thanks for all the bday wishes. Bill got peppermint chocolate & red wine.
Thanks Mark for weather update we look forward to a good run next week. Hope we make sweet spot. LOL
Slow night, breeze died down, not much this morning either.
Back to doing 7k
Avg: 6.5knts
24hr: 155.9nm
11th nite out finally clouds gone. You should see the stars, sky absolutely clear. Very bright stars shining path on sea. Stunning. Will Cross equator tomorrow!
Avg: 13.5knts
24hr: 323nm
1900 UTC 6th Nov 2017
COG 250 T
SOG 7
wind SSE 15k
1-1.5m seas
70% cloud, finally some sun.
AWOB (All Well On Board)
Day run 155. Current with us now for 2 days instead of against.
2745 nm nuku hiva
FYI crochet going well.
Happy happy birthday Tangles
Hi, looking good, take care :
So glad to know you are going
Awob
Avg: 6.3knts
24hr: 152.3nm
UTC 1900 3/11/17 4deg 09.61 N 88 D 38.89 W
COG 251 T SOG 5.6k
Wind S 18k 1m seas 100% cl last 4 days
3176nm Nuku Hiva
All well onboard. 2137 UTC 1537 Saturday 28th Oct Panama time
Hope good weather and all
Great to hear you were able
Anchored behind the Protection of Amador Causeway. Moonlight had green fur on water line from Shelter Bay marina and many fish yesterday eating it all way. Boobies would dive down with a great splash right beside us after the fish. Big noise. Lots of fun. They dive quite deep. A few fishing pelicans too. I love the way they hit the water in a steep dive and bob up very quickly cos of their fat body. There is a new dingy dock now at Isla Perico for getting ashore. Huge improvement from last year when we tried to stay dry getting ashore after tieing the dingy to a rickety collection of floating polystyrene platforms, half sunken dinghies, and a few drums cobbled together. It was a miracle if you kept your balance and your feet dry. The anchorage area is called Las Brisas (breezes). There are a lot of local boats, yachts, fishing boats, big posh charter boats and work boats in the area. There is a bus service or you can take a taxi to the city via the Causeway.
Sounds lovely Gene and great
Welcome into the Pacific.
We are at The Flats. We are the only boat here at the moment. It is ten thirty p.m. Wednesday. The Measurer is coming tomorrow to measure and inspect Moonlight. We arrived in the dark. We have been here a few times before, twice with OOTB once to be measured and once to start the process of going through the Canal. Bill did two in Blue Dream as well. Therefore we were familiar with the lay of the land as it where, so coming in with many ships everywhere was not a problem.
Going to The Flats this afternoon, to be measured tomorrow.
Moonlight is just behind the little island you can see. It is a small but very sheltered marina. You can see the marina complex and the dirt road to the little village of Cacique.
Enjoy your crossing!!!!! Good
Moonlight is sitting at Panamarina at Panama On the Caribbean side waiting for us to arrive, Transit the canal and sail her across the Pacific. Sue and Brian on Sea Rose are right near by, as are George and Rebecca on C-Level and Corrine and Gerwald on Bellatrix are expected any time soon.
Just discovered I can send
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