Tied up in Whangarei Marina, downtown Whangarie. Came up river with rain, plus lightning and thunder to the north.

Safely tied up to the Q dock in Marsden Cove. One of our most "memorable" passages, if not THE MOST. Motor sailed the last 18 hours or so. Now start the clean up and repairs. Thanks to all for the kind words on YIT, greetings at the dock, and good thoughts, that most certainly helped us along.

We are getting closer. Had strong(20k ish)SE head winds near cape Brett so tacked back and forth making little headway toward Marsden. We decided that we would have only been making 2-3k at best under power on the rhumb line and then would have been into fuel issues, so that is what and sort of why. Should be in at sunset at Marsden, we hope.

Strong headwinds last night around Cape Brett, so behind a bit. Maybe 2000 tonight arrival.

We should be in tomorrow sometime between 1000 and 1400, depending on how we hit the tides in the Hatea River, and how much wind chop we get. Right now we are averaging 5k, on the rhumb line direct. All is good aboard.

motor sailing, hope to be in tomorrow noon, what a different day

As we expected and you assured us, conditions started to dramatically improve about 1200. Wind died, seas still up but much much better.

We turned towards Marsden at around 1615. Seas a bit large, but wind is down and we are hoping the seas will follow quickly. Plus we are now at least heading more or less in the right direction. Are hoping for SW winds later today or tomorrow for better sailing angle.

(They are Sounding happier and the conditions will continue to improve. At least they are now heading for marsden.)

one of our worst nights ever at sea.

Well, we think it is official, we are not having fun anymore!! But all well aboard.

bashing along, but plan to heave to after weather, 122 to Opua

await the special 40m sked.

this during ham net time. Via relay from gary VK4IBC. 200nm to go. It will seem like 2000 i guess!

had a wind shift about 0130, N to S, but no dramatic speed change

We have been motoring since 0545, not what we expected for today, but better than getting bashed. Are hoping to get some sailing in this evening if it continues to build(maybe wishful thinking). We do not have enough fuel to motor the whole way in, especially if we get any sort of head seas,Ha Ha. It Will be close, so we are hoping to sail so we have a bit of a cushion. Skies are milky, hazy

Sounds like conditions are gonna be not very nice, we will take you advice and try not to close the coast too soon.

Motor sailing again, pretty rolly as we chug along, in beam seas. Preparing the fan to be hit.

Wind picked up FINALLY around 1330 and has been good sailing ever since 6.5-7k. Will tuck a reef in the main tonight, but will do our best to keep up speed. Hope to be at 30s around 0500 in the morning, if speed holds through the night. Still holding out hope of going into Marsden, but from our waypoint at 30 00s 176 30e Opua is 30nm closer so we would save 5-6 hours if beating. We will see ho

still on course for just avoiding the low but has the fronts to contend with.

very frustrating night. Quite a strong adverse current, that we are motoring into, burning fuel, but now making much headway

Hmm. The race is on. Will they beat the low. Stay tuned for the exciting finish to this saga.

much more comfortable, "the calm before the storm". Still trying to come up with a strategy for the low we will sail into. Temps coming down.

Seas have settled a bit, but still pretty lumpy. Wind has clocked, so we are on more of a beat. Nervously watching the low forecast near NZ on Thursday.

by ham net time speed was up! 6.7 knots with 720 nautical miles to Opua NZ.

Doing well and full sped ahead. with 720 nautical miles to Opua NZ. This report from the ham net at 2100 UTC

making headway in quite uncomfortable sea conditions. Finally see the sun this morning. Had to slow down so we wouldn't pound so hard for most of yesterday.

getting used to being at sea again. On passage to Whangarei

Motoring out of the reef in Fiji.

Let the spending begin, in Vuda Point Marina. "Cooks Night Off" last night. Will be looking for a slightly earlier wx window to NZ because of travel to the US.

Arrived in Saweni Bay yesterday just after noon after a great downwind sail inside the reef. Anchored in a 20k N wind throwing a big sea into the bay. Quite "boisterous" until about 1600 or so, when the winds went to the S, moderated and the bay settled

25nm from Lautoka

25nm from Lautoka

25nm from Lautoka

25nm from Lautoka

25nm from Lautoka

25nm from Lautoka

25nm from Lautoka

25nm from Lautoka

25nm from Lautoka

25nm from Lautoka

25nm from Lautoka

25nm from Lautoka

25nm from Lautoka

Anchored off Nananu-i-ra. Still on N coast of Viti Levu. Lots of pretty flash homes on shore.

Anchored in Toba Basaga Bay on the N side of Viti Levu, walting to a small waterfall today, we hope.

Anchored after a great sail from Ruku Ruku. Will wait till we get some better sun to work our way around the N. side of Viti Levu

In Ruku Ruku on the W side of Ovalau.

Same spot in Makogai

Anchored at Makogi, a bit rolly

Back in the "big city". Anchored in Savu Savu, will provision up, fuel up, extend our visa, and enjoy multiple "cooks nights off" and be here for at least a week.

Anchored in Nasasobo Bay, just W of Viani Bay

Motor sailed down from Katherine Bay, very light winds, and variable. Wind filled in late in the day from N- NE, right after we arrived. One mahi on the way.

Snugly anchored in Katherine Bay. We wanted to visit a friend here, but he is in Suva. Shared some of our mahi with a local fisherman in the bay.

Anchored in Katherine Bay. Wanted to get out of the very deep anchorage in Albert Cove, for incoming front.

Albert Cove, Rabi. Had a great sail yesterday once we rounded the point. Mostly E-ENE winds. Fishing was very productive. Two Mahis to the boat, the bigger one landed, plus one rainbow runner which we had for dinner.

New anchor spot will wait for lighter breezes to go around Undu Point, will do laundry at the very nice stream in the meantime.

Anchored next to an Island that we cannot pronounce(correctly), spelled Tilagica. Very nice morning. Good motor sail yesterday, caught(finally) a very nice mahi and filled the water tanks with the RO machine.

Moved from Tivi to what the locals call Bula Bay. Went up the Wainakoro River yesterday in the repaired dinghy, got a bit more diesel, outboard gas, cookies, a new cooking gas regulator and cold drinks. The shop here has one of everything, except the eggs were "finished".

Moved the 9nm to Tivi Island. It is well protected, and no noise from the timber mill(just the sugar cane trains). Will try to make a temporary fix to the dinghy here

Still in Malau, successful trip into town yesterday, will move a bit more east to Tivi Island today, after cooking gas tank refill. Still haven't seen any significant rain.

Left Kia, now in Malau taking the early bus to Labasa for supplies and a bit of diesel. Sad to leave Kia. Still recovering from Michael's climb to the top of the hill on Kia where a really old canon is located along with great views of the Great Sea Reef

Still anchored in Kia, has been quite nice. Some very short showers on Fri night. Mostly clear, no sign of the trough out here.

Made it out to Kia Island. Had a visit with Save and did Sevu Sevu. Will go in and visit the island school today.4.3 rooster index.

Very pretty morning. Had dinner at Palm Lea Farms. A fun evening of way too much food. Hope to move out to Kia today or tomorrow.

at anchor on the north side of Vanua Levu. Lots of burning yesterday, we guess because the wind was finally down a bit. We are hoping to get to Palm Lea Farms today, if the breezes stay light.

Wind down so far this morning. Been quite blustery for the last few days. If the wind stays moderate we will move on to Palm Lea Farms and visit Joe and Julie.

Windy and gusty night and morning. must be orographics. Second place we have been close to land with strong winds. Out of cell phone range for a few days til we move again.

Anchored off Navigiri. Will go ashore tomorrow morning for Sevu Sevu. Hope to get up Fiji's longest river, the Draketi, in the next few days.

Anchored in Naviqiri, saw friends we met last year. Will be a warm day today.

Anchored in Koroinasolo Bay, a bit breezy and cool but well protected, shallow and good holding. Will visit the school today, did Sevu Sevu yesterday. The most informal yet!

Anchored in Baulailai Bay, great downwind sail yesterday to here.

Nice down wind sail toward Nabuwalu. Decided to carry on after looking at wind direction there. Now in Bua Bay, wind is 18-20 SE but flat seas. Just like the last time we were here.

Anchored near Nasonisono Pass. Passage yesterday afternoon. Tried to catch the tide on the pass, but it was at least two hours early! Breezy night, 100% cloud this morning.

Waiting for winds to moderate, then off to the clockwise circumnavigation of Vanua Levu. Anchored off the Cousteau Resort. Nice to be out of town, but no more "cooks nights off" for the near future.

On a mooring in SavuSavu. Safely arrived here at 0840 local time. (Clearance was a breeze, as expected.) After a VERY boisterous last 18 hours. Lots of squalls, wind SE 20-25 and 2-3m swell from the same. Looking forward to more than 3 hours of continuous sleep and a chili/chicken meat pie from the Hot Bread Shop.

dodging fishing boats right now but good sailing overnight, a bit of drizzle, not great vis, but only 120nm to go

sailing, slow going compared to the start of the trip. 246nm to go.

Just started motoring after a VERY slow night downwind sailing, 355nm to go to SavuSavu

came through the front yesterday around 1230. Wind shift 1430. Settled finally around 1900. Sailing with poled out heady.

wind turned north last night around 1900 or so, been sort of "running in place" till they become more favorable for making our way north

just jibed the poled out heady, Barbara finally shed two layers of woolies for the night watch, looks to be really nice sunrise

good signal today

really slow sailing all night, we did just start motor for GHR weather and nets

On ham net via George VK4gsf

still sailing nicely. We are telling ourselves it is getting warmer.

Sailing nicely since yesterday afternoon, but hasn't warmed up yet.

In Marsden Cove, staging for trip to Fiji. Sure hope wx forecast holds.

Sailed all but 10 miles to Urquharts Bay, on our way to Whangarei, NZ. Had a great sail, 6.5-7k most of the way, till the wind died. Will start the last minute preps in town when we get there later this week.

Back over to Smokehouse Bay from Kiwiriki, for showers after riding out TC Cook. Luckily the storm was farther east and weaker than forecast so we did fine. Will look for a window to get back to the Hatea River and Whangarei next week. Happy Easter!

Winds swung to the E, so moved to Kaiarara Bay. Might do a walk or maybe a dinghy ride into town if the drizzle stops.

Anchored here to ride out the remnants of Cyclone Debbie. Lots of rain and gusty, but not too uncomfortable. Might head back to Smokehouse for hot showers today.

Safely anchored in Smokehouse Bay. After a very pleasant motor here. Flat seas, clear skies and lite winds(sailing would have been better) but we never saw the forecast showers. Hope the water system is working here for hot showers.

Anchored in Urquhart Bay. Hope to get to Great Barrier Island tomorrow. Really glad to be out of town and on the hook again.

FINALLY, back in the water. At the dock in Whangarei Marina. Recovering and getting ready to try and get to Great Barrier Island early next week. Really glad the haul out is over, but we did get most of what we had planned finished.

We are currently hauled out at Docklands 5 in Whangarei and will be for at least 4-6 weeks. All good, just routine maintenance and new bottom paint.

Whew, pretty breezy last night 25-35 sustained, NNE. A fair amount of rain that is much needed. Will wait here til Tuesdays haul out at Docklands 5. Hope the wind settles today, still 15-20k from the SW which is not the best direction for here in the Nook.

Anchored in Tutakaka Harbour. Blustery this morning, but had a very nice sail yesterday from Whangaruru. Will let this wx pass and try and catch the forecast northerlies Saturday morning.

Tough slog south, should have waited for the late afternoon northwesterlies. Anchored in Whangaruru, Puriri Bay. Will most likely move tomorrow, but later in the day to Tutukaka.

Comfortably anchored in Whamgamumu. Waiting for a bit more settled wx to keep working our way toward Whangarei. Hope Docklands gets the lift fixed soon, so we can get our haulout overwith.

Tucked in, being REALLY lazy. Wx has been glorious. Head back to Opua Monday for final heady roller furler fix, then will head south toward Whangarei for a haul out. Russel Boat Club Tall Ships Race today at noon.