We are back in NZ cruising down the coast towards Opua to check-in. It was a good night sailing until just after midnight when we turned on the motor and motor sailed into NZ. It's great to be back!!!

A good day sailing and making good progress. We are expecting to get into Opua sometime tomorrow early avo. We have a beautiful sunny day with easterly winds between 12-19kn and half metre SE swell. One more night and we are home - Yay!!!!!

Another night of pounding and very little sleep, but the finish line is only a day and night away. So we have made good ground and that's the main thing. Most of the night was 17-20kn easterlies on the nose. Still about a 1m E swell and we have a beautiful sunny day today, so can't complain.

Another long day of crash and bash, but making headway. We have about 289 miles in a straight line to go until we get to the Bay of Islands. 16-20kn ESE (on he nose) with a sloppy sea (just perfect!).

The crew was wondering if Sue was keen for lunch in Opua on Saturday?.

It's been a hard night of on the nose sailing, lots of banging and not the best sleep. Oh well, we are predicting just over a couple of days to go. We have had 19kn easterlies with 1m E swell. Another fine day, with quite a bit of cloud. We are crossing our fingers for a NE wind to kick in. Won't hold our breath tho. AND not long after the first Mahimahi was caught, we got another one. Fresh fish last night and fish curry tonight.

A day of mainly sailing, a little bit of motor sailing. The highlight was Wok pulling in a Mahimahi, which we will have for dinner. 11kn SE and 1m SE swell. We are ticking along ok. The wind is expected to pick up tonight, so hopefully push us closer to home

The easterly winds finally kicked in, so we tacked and are heading slightly more south. Not the best of nights sleep, as the wind is stronger 13.5kn SE and on the nose, but it's nice to be making some progress. It rained a little bit overnight and It's a bit cloudy today with the odd back cloud, A 1M SE swell on the nose which makes it a bit uncomfortable, but not unusual - homeward bound!!

Another beautiful day going not very far. A bit frustrating with the lack of wind, but hoping that the easterlies kick in very shortly. We have 6kn SW winds with 1m SE swell. We have had the motor on and off intermittently during the day. Currently motor sailing. All good on board.

A nice calm night of motorsailing and everyone getting heaps of sleep. Still heading mainly east and hoping that when the forecast wind kicks in, we will get a nice run into New Zealand. Sounds good anyway. Not much wind at present - only 9 knots S and 1m SE swell. Looking forward to heading in the right direction and getting home. (Paul says hi to Sue)

Sailed all morning and just before lunch turned on the motor and have been motorsailing ever since, heading ESE - slowly dog-legging to NZ. It's been a fine warm day, but that should slowly change. Not bad conditions wth 2m SE swell. All happy on board.

A good night of light sailing between 10-13 kn SE with a 1m SE swell, slightly in the nose. As we have Paul Ranum with us as crew, we have managed a little more sleep than usual which is nice. They both sound like they are sleeping well. Maybe another day of heading in the wrong direction. Could be a long passage!!

Trying to get as east as possible, but feels like we are heading to Fiji. There is only one advantage - it's not getting any colder yet. SE breeze - 10-13kn and 1m SE swell. All crew happy and well.

Hi Guys, we are just about to leave isle of Pines, New Caledonia shortly. It's been a fabulous season, but we are looking forward to seeing friends and family back home. We are going to have to head east a little bit this time and it won't be a quick / easy trip, but there hasn't been many great Windows to head home so far, so we are taking this one. Look forward to seeing everyone. xxxxx

Baie d'Citron

We had a great sail using the Gennaker, until about 2200hrs and then motored the rest of the way to New Caledonia. We have just come through the Havannah pass and heading towards Noumea to check in today. We have been fortunate with the full moon all passage and this morning was a gorgeous sunrise - a nice welcome!

Not a lot of wind and fairly calm seas until about 11.00pm when the wind got up to between 10-12kn and was on the right angle for a Gennaker run. It's been a lovely day of gentle sailing. We will pull down the gennaker when it gets dark, Still no fish at this stage. Still in track to get to Noumea by Friday avfternoon - yay!

A quiet night with the exception of the motor. Not a lot of wind and fairly calm seas with a 1 m SE swell. On track to get to Noumea by Friday avo. Only one more night!

We sailed for most of the day until about 1500hrs, when we turned on our motor as we have finally run out of wind.

A good night of steady wind of 20 kn, but has now eased early this morning to about 14 kn E. Still moving along nicely with a reef in the main and just the stay sail, but we will make some changes when Wok wakes up. Still making good ground.

A big lazy rock and roll day, but moving along nicely with a reef in the main and just the stay sail - making good ground.

Bumpy night with between 20 - 27kn SE winds. First night is always the hardest with not much sleep for me. Wok managed a few hours with the help of Pihia Bombs.

Just to confirm correct dates, Fusio is leaving Fiji Monday 4th September not Sunday

Heading to Vuda Marina to check out, as we are leaving Fiji today for New Caledonia.

Still hanging around Musket Cove area with a little Kite Boarding, playing on the paddle boards in the surf & some trips to the outer reef for a snorkel.

Maybe heading for New Caledonia in a week or so.

Playing in the wind a Musket Cove

Ourselves Shenanigans and RhumCocoa had great morning and afternoon kite sessions at Nananu-I-ra Thursday. Friday there was no wind, so we all headed off towards Vuda Marina where we were meeting up with Richard Edlin our friendly boat builder. We spent a night halfway down and all had drinks on our boat and then arrived today at lunch time. We went Into the bar and had a beer with Richard - great to catch up. We are all going out to dinner tonight at the Marina. Both RhumCocoa and us are hanging out on our picks, so could be a bumpy night - all part of the experience!

ourselves and Shenanigans arrived at Nananu-I-ra Tuesday evening about 5.30pm and immediately had arrival drinks. We had a great afternoon of kiteboarding today (Wednesday) on the point, with the five of us all kiting together. Tomorrow is meant to have more wind, so bring it on=20

We spent 4 nights in Savusavu which was a fabulous time of socialising and going out for dinner each night which was soo cheap. $22.00 Fijian for a night on the town - not bad. We caught up with Pete and Wanda from RhumCocoa who had sailed from Tahiti, so that was very cool spending some time with them. Yesterday ourselves, Shenanigans and Sharp Focus moved on to Namena to do some diving, but it wasn't quite what it was before Cyclone Winstone - sad! Today Shenanigans and ourselves are sailing on to Nanunanu I-ra to do some kite boarding - bring on the wind!!

Its 3.45am and we have about 20 minutes to go before we pull up a mooring in Savusavu. It's been a great ride with always a little bit of drama attached, but all in all fantastic to be here. Looking forward to setting foot on land for a few days.

we have passed quite a few islands so far, through the Koro Sea and expect to arrive in Savusavu about 3am for a couple of hours sleep.

We turned off the motor at 2200hrs and had a fabulous sail through the night and it should continue until we get to Savusavu, which should be early tomorrow morning. Yay!!

Another day of motoring because of lack of wind. We are hoping that that changes sometime tonight. Nice day of sitting in the sunshine, although almost too hot to sit in it for too long.

A night of motoring due to lack of wind. We have been side by side next to Shenanigans all night. We have also had passenger all night at the top of the mast. Obviously a very tired bird, but he isn't suffering from constipation.

There is not much wind, so motoring at present. Had a fabulous time at North Minerva catching up with lots of other yachties, but now looking forward to getting to Savusavu in Fiji.

anchored at North Minerva. Spent the evening with Rob & Carolyn from Shenanigans with crew Ian. Mulling over the journey and trading war stories.

Another good night of sailing, but the wind was slightly more forward of beam, which makes the boat launch off the waves a little more. 40 miles before we reach Minerva, so we should be well and truly there before lunch time. Yippee!

The wind and big swells are persistent, meaning we are cruising along nicely. Unfortunately today, I managed to burn my arm making hot drinks when a big wave hit, so I have a couple of blisters to contend with, but not too serious. Still on track for North Minerva tomorrow, along with Shenanigans who are right behind us.

Another good night sailing and making good progress, but the big swells and wind chop still hanging around. Finally saw our friends from Shenanigans on the radar (AIS) last night. Hopefully get into Minerva similar timing. We are thinking Thursday. Bring it on!

Another good day sailing and making good ground, but the seas make it a tad uncomfortable.

A fabulous night of sailing and making good progress. We are just behind Bill from Liberation. Both of us slept well & hopefully only two more night shifts before Minerva.

Great day sailing and making good ground after a slow night. We have Bill & crew from Liberation just ahead of us and Mal and Pauline from Mahia, just behind us. We have been chatting frequently.

The winds have dropped a bit, so a slower sail last night, motored for a while. We both have caught up on some sleep which is a good feeling. Nothing eventful happened which is also a good thing.

great sailing day, making good progress, with a couple of reefs in the main - good cruising conditions. Hopefully a bit more sleep than last night.

sloppy seas with sw winds made it hard for sleeping, but great sailing with just a handkerchief main up. No foresail. Will catch up on some sleep today as the sea flattens out today. Both well on board.

good to get away. Good sailing but a bit sloppy. Hoping the sea calms down a tad so we can get a little bit of sleep tonight.

we have finally cast free of the Marina and on our way to Minerva Reef then Fiji. Had a great time in Opua with all the other cruisers, but time to go to a warmer climate.

Still waiting for cyclones to disappear. At the moment we are in Opua Marina doing a bit of socialising while this windy drizzly weather remains. Today we went up to Doubtless Bay with Irene and Lionel off Kiapa and had a kite surf. Lots of fun. The night before we were at Don Salthouse place having a party. Never a dull moment.

We are hanging out at Urapukapuka Island after spending the last two days at Russell. Last night we went into the Russell Boating Club for dinner and there was a band playing. Rob and Carolyn and Ian from Shenanigans were with us. Rob and I did a few numbers and we had a bit of a dance as well - a great night.

Anchored at Moturua Island in the B.O.I, waiting for cyclone Donna to pass by up North to make it a safe passage. Not a bad place to be though, hanging out with our friends Rob and Carolyn from Shenanigans and Phil and Patricia from Blue Bie. All going for a walk today around the island

Arrived in Opua yesterday and today caught up with some boatie friends. We are still sorting out some teething problems, but should be ready to go anytime after today when the weather window permits. There are some ominous cyclone systems coming down from up North, so waiting for those to pass.

currently cruising past Tutakaka heading for B.O.I

gulf harbour marina. Two days to go before leaving for Opua, Bay of Islands.