Wind picked up last night and we had a few squalls with lightening and heavy rain. Big change in sea state

Still motorsailing along in light variable winds, sunny skies and flat seas. Hoping for more wind today to give the engine a rest. All well aboard. 300 miles to go to Bundaberg with an ETA on Halloween morning.

Motored all night into light westerlies. The sea is eerily calm

Went through Dumbea Pass en route to Bundaberg around noon yesterday. Had a sleigh ride in strong ESE winds until midnight when it backed to ENE and eased. Currently motorsailing in light easterlies. ETA in Bundaberg is Halloween morning. Beautiful full moon last night. All well aboard.

Anchored in Noumea waiting to leave for Bundaberg on Thursday, 25 October. Wish we had more time in New Caledonia but will just have to come back next year.

Rough night of squalls and high winds but hoping it will ease a bit today. All well aboard. 140 nm to go to Port Vila.

Passed through several squall lines last night with winds to 30 kts. The seas have also become rough and choppy as we enter the area of the New Hebrides Trench. We have decided to skip Tanna and go directly to Port Vila for check-in. The weather forecast does not look great for volcano viewing so will fly down from Port Vila or Luganville at a later date. All well aboard. 300 nm to go to Port Vila.

We lost the wind yesterday so have been motor sailing most of the night but it has picked up this morning. Had a few squalls to wash the boat off but no wind in them. It is finally warming up and we are shedding clothing layers. All well aboard. 350 nm to go to Tanna.

We continue to have very pleasant conditions for the passage. The wind picked up yesterday and we were able to turn off the motor and sail in variable ESE wind. All well aboard. 490 nm to go to Tanna.

We are currently motor sailing in light wind and calm seas. Enjoying the sunny days and moon-filled nights but it would be nice to get a bit more wind. All well aboard. 640 nm to go to Tanna.

We continue to have light southwesterlies, sunny skies, and calm sea state. The wind speeds are variable but picked up last night so we were able to turn off the motor and sail. All well aboard.

Departed Marsden Cove for Vanuatu around 1pm yesterday. Apart from the ice on the dock in the morning, we had very pleasant conditions for our departure

Currently in Marsden Cove finishing pre-passage tasks for a departure tomorrow morning, Wed 27 June. We are sailing from NZ to Port Resolution on the island of Tanna in Vanuatu, 1040 NM.

Arrived Opua early this morning in very pleasant 15 kt NE winds. We were pleased to see a "long white cloud" over the island as we approached. It is great to be back!

Very pleasant night with ENE winds and calms seas. We are starting to smell the barn with only 150 miles to Opua. All well aboard.

25 kt most of the night with rough seas but calmer conditions this morning. Definitely getting chilly and we have unearthed the fleece and socks. 315 miles to Opua. All well aboard.

Sea state has calmed down a bit which is a great relief. 475 miles to Opua. All well aboard.

Making progress but have slowed down to minimize the bashing in rough seas. Looking at a Tuesday ETA in Opua. All well aboard.

Very rough and confused seas making it a bumpy ride. All well aboard.

Cool and cloudy today. Hoping the winds will go more easterly so we can fall off to a more comfortable point of sail. All well.

Got a late afternoon start yesterday. Had 20+ kts and rough seas during the night

Leaving Port Vila for Opua this afternoon after we clear Customs and get fuel. Looking forward to getting back to NZ!

Had a brisk and fun sail from Epi to Efate yesterday in 15-20 kt easterlies. Currently anchored in Havannah Harbour but heading into Vila today to start the project list for the NZ passage.

Anchored in Lamen Bay on Epi. Finally some blue sky and a cool breeze so hope we are out of the trough. Have seen no other boats in days so it seems we are the last ones here.

Currently anchored in Gaspard Bay in the Maskelynes and going to Lamen Bay in Epi today. We continue to make our way south to Port Vila and hope to escape the trough conditions soon.

Leaving this morning for Port Vila with stops in Malekula and Epi. Hoping to get out of this trough.

Motored down to Luganville yesterday. Still trough conditions here-hot, humid, gray, and windless. Segond Channel is like a millpond!

Back at Thion Island after a wonderful time in the Banks. Heading back south to Port Vila for the passage to NZ.

Motored around to Vureas Bay yesterday. Not too roll-y here right now. Heading into the village this morning.

Anchored behind Ravanga Island on east side of Vanua Lava. Lovely spot with nice village and good snorkeling.

Checked in with Customs in Sola and spent the day meeting and chatting with the friendly people here. Very roll-y anchorage.

Fast but bumpy passage yesterday from Port Olry to Lakona Bay in Gaua in 20-25kt SE winds. Anchorage is very rolly so continuing up to Sola today.

Anchored at lovely Thion Island at Port Olry. Great to read SV Chameleon's report from 2008 in the Rocket Guide. Leaving for Gaua tomorrow AM. We would appreciate if David could cover the weather in the Banks for the next few weeks. Thanks!

Very pleasant overnight sail. 20 nm from Luganville

Doing an overnight to Luganville to meet guests. ETA at entrance to the Segond Channel is tomorrow AM. Will get a mooring at Aore Resort.

Arrived safely in Port Vila on Friday morning. We are enjoying exploring the city.

Just coming up on the south side of Efate as the sun is coming up. Should get into Port Vila by late morning or early afternoon.

Somehow got the jib snarled up on the furler so spent several hours unwinding it last night. Back on course again with an ETA of Friday PM.

Departed Momi Bay yesterday around 8am. SE winds between 20-30 kts and very rough 3-4m seas from all directions for most of the day. Wind and waves seem to be settling down a bit this morning. Crew is a bit green but all is well aboard.

Left Vuda late so anchored in Momi Bay for the night. Leaving now for the passage to Port Vila.

Leaving Vuda today for Port Vila Vanuatu.

Arrived Musket Cove yesterday about 5pm. It's wonderful to have sun and blue skies after gray damp Savusavu!

Dodging the cargo ships as we pass the Suva harbour approach. All well on board.

Finally leaving Savusavu! Carl has recovered from the Fiji flu and we are anxious to get around to the west side for the passage to Vanuatu. Departing early tomorrow morning and either will go non-stop to Musket Cove or stop for a night in Suva.

Arrived Savusavu late yesterday afternoon and anchored at the Cousteau Resort for a long sleep. Going into the town harbor this morning to clear in.

Same conditions as yesterday

Continuing to motor sail in light southerlies. ETA in Savusavu is late Tuesday afternoon. All well.

Departed North Minerva around midday yesterday and motorsailed in light southerlies through the night. Hoping to get into Savusavu on Wed morning. All well.

Front passed yesterday with winds of 25-30kts. Kiwi Rescue called from the Orion as it passed over Minerva on the way to Jungle who foundered on the reef 150 nm north of us. Leaving today for Savusavu.

Waiting for the front to arrive. Wind and chop continue to build so we have been rocking and rolling in the reef. Wind currently at 035 TWD.

Wind continued to back to the north last night making it a bit bumpier inside the reef this morning. All well aboard.

Enjoying life on the level in North Minerva. Hoping to continue on to Savusavu after the front passes.

Worked on autopilot all day yesterday and found problem

Anchored in North Minerva around midday yesterday

Made good time in reinforced trades last night. We are now about 5 nm from South Minerva and are proceeding to North Minerva to anchor. All well but tired.

Made slow progress motor sailing in variable winds last night. Tired but hanging in there.

Our autopilot failed yesterday morning so we have been hove-to to diagnose and fix. The problem is in the mechanical steering system, not autopilot computer, so we have decided to divert to Minerva and work on it there. It's about 285 miles to Minerva so we figure we have only have 2 days of manual steering ahead of us! Other than this delay, all is well aboard.

Made good speeds in strong consistent southwesterlies yesterday. Backed to the south last night so now sailing downwind in 3-4m seas. All well on board.

Spent a wet, cold and rough night in the front beating into NW winds. Lots of squalls and rain. We are out of it now and zooming along on a beam reach in big southwesterlies and clear skies. All well on board.

After a slow day under motor slogging through lumpy seas, the westerlies filled in last night and we have been slipping along under full sail in flat seas. A welcome change! All well on board.

Departed Marsden Cove about noon yesterday in light southeasterlies and clear sunny skies. It was a beautiful day and we were able to sail for most of the afternoon. The wind shifted to SW during the night and dropped below 10 so we have been motor sailing. Unfortunately, the sea conditions are lumpy and confused so we are both a bit queasy. All well on board.

Planning to leave Sunday AM for Savusavu. Frantically finishing pre-passage tasks. Spent Thursday sailing in Bream Bay to shake down. More glitches in the crew than equipment :-)

Enjoying Queen's Birthday in Whangarei Town Basin. Looking to depart at next weather window.

Arrived Opua around 1700 yesterday evening. Fast last day on a beam reach in westerlies. Total of 7 days from Vuda to Opua. Overall a fast and easy passage. And nothing major broke on the boat!

Missed the worst of the front yesterday with light rain and max wind speed of 25. Got a call from NZAF Orion who was taking a census of the boats on their way in. Expect to make Opua this evening with 75 miles to go as of 0700 this morning. All well on board.

Very nice downwind sailing in northerly winds yesterday. Able to get more boat speed as the winds built to 20kts over night. Still racing to get in by Wed night before the gale. All well on board.

We are diverting to Opua instead of Whangarei. We have pedal to the metal to get in by Wed night. Motor sailed through the night in light winds and were able to make more southing as the wind backed to E and NE. All well on board.

Passed through the front at 1600 yesterday. Max wind 28 kt and the boat got a good wash. Now motor sailing SE through the southerlies and will turn S when we get a more easterly wind shift predicted later today. All well on board.

Motor sailed through the high yesterday but wind is picking up this morning. Waiting for the front later today. All well on board.

Very pleasant sailing conditions. All well on board.

Rough seas leaving the islands and overnight but calmer this morning. Day 1 of a passage is always tough...

Rough seas leaving the islands and overnight but calmer this morning. Day 1 of a passage is always tough...

Leaving Vuda for Whangarei today.

Leaving Kadavu for Vuda this morning.

Waiting for better weather to go to Taveuni for hiking.

Had a very pleasant sail from Viani to Buca Bay today. Lovely protected spot but we have been getting the occasional williwaw blasting down the surrounding hills.

Had a nice passage to Viani Bay on Saturday. Doing some needed boat projects but looking forward to snorkeling and kayaking here.

Leaving JM Cousteau anchorage tomorrow morning for Fawn Harbour

Hooray! We're here, just waiting for official business hours to clear customs. Overall, a good passage: 1200 nm 7.5 days. A few days of rough seas but the wind was always in our direction.

Another romping night in big wind and seas. 134 miles to go to Savusavu. Will time arrival for Wed AM.

All well aboard

Great day and night of classic trade wind sailing under a full moon. Much warmer now

Unpleasant night in the trough

Motor off yesterday; pleasant sailing in 15-25 kt SE winds. Carl has come down with a cold but all else is well aboard.

Still motor sailing in light variable wind. Wind moved to SE overnight so hopefully can turn off the motor today. All well aboard.

Left Marsden at 2pm and have been motorsailing in light and variable SW winds with occasional rain. Wind starting to build more now. All well aboard.

Leaving for Fiji tomorrow - 14 June

Planning a Saturday (11 June) departure to Savusavu from Marsden.

Hope to leave for Fiji in first weather window after 10 June

Projects, projects, projects!!! Hoping to leave Whangarei for Tonga someday soon...