Irie II lost the race to Bundy. She decided to stay out sailing and wait for the line of boats wanting a marina berth and the check-in procedure to go away. Plus gave me a little time to clean-up, take a shower, etc.

Well this is a first in a long time, I'm actually purposely sailing slow to be somewhere. A sailboat going slow - that's an oxymoron for you. Like my power boater Anthony always say - Sailing is the only mode of transportation invented by man that if you left in the morning by evening you can still see the place you left from. Even with the time change I gotta wait for the officials to get to work so I can call them on the radio and get permission to enter the harbor and then go thru the check-in procedure.

One of the best 8 day passage I've made. Only got a little rain, winds never over 25, mostly under 10. When I had to use the engine it was at low rpms. Hope the passage back to New Cal and Vanuatu is this easy.

90nm to north of Fraser Is. then another 50 to the marina in Bundeburg. So Arrival on Thursday morning, Nov. 1st Will have to remember to reset my clocks since I'm in a new time zone. So far so good, the only thing broke is that damn Cap Horn wind vane autopilot - AGAIN! It' outta here.

What a difference a day make. what a difference a few hours make. After motoring and a little bit of sailing the winds went from 2kts to 20kts in an hour. Just like the gribs and the weather man said it would. That trough that had been predicted last week showed up on schedule. I had been going slower then normal hoping it would pass before I got close, but it's a big long one so I caught the edge, just a little rain before those winds hit. Me and little brother Sailing south of it hoping to avoid the heavy rains. So for so good. It should be pass before we get to the entrance in 300nm or a little over 2 dys at this speed.

AWOB - havent found any leaks yet.

Wind died about 0200, motor on. Nice calm seas, almost fun. Hoping for some wind so I can turn off that noise. 333nm to go.

AWOB. Been motoring since 2100 last night. still not a sign of any wind. Barometer rising up 2 in the last 4 hrs. 1010 now. Hope that mean wind come soon mon. But of course it's predicted to come from the direction I want to go. Not complaining.

AWOB. After a hour of fixing/rigging that old POS whisker pole and getting it set I got to sail downwind for 3 of the last 24hrs. Then what little wind their was switch to the way I want to go. So motor for most of the day and all night long. With Sunrise came windrise, a whole 6kts. Of course it's from the direction I want to go, but Woopee, all sails out, doing almost 4kts. Gribs wx fcst say I only have 18hrs of this before it start backing to the south and then to the east. So maybe some tacking in my future. Hopefully no more burning dead dinosaurs.

Only 500nm to go. ETA 1st of Nov.

I had planned on not using the engine unless necessary. The wind died and the boat layed beam to the swells, making for the most uncomfortable ride. So it was necessary to turn that noise on to keep the stern into those waves so I can have my morning cup of coffee. 586nm to Bundy and 3 days of this. Oh well maybe the seas will also die, then it will be dead calm. Not complaining, would rather have 3 knots of wind then 40.

AWOB, Just like the gribs said "winds are diminishing", Tomorrow might not be any, so enjoying while I can.

Off to a good start, strong winds and high seas in the 2 meter range. Making good speed for the first day or two. After that forecast is for very light winds for a few days. After that ??????

All checked out leaving in the morning for Bundy, Oz.

Made it to Noumea, New Caldonia around 1500. Started the check-in process today and hope to finish in the morning. In a marina for the first time since leaving NZ 5 months ago. Feel strange, boats everywhere. Big city lights. Big ships. Back to city life again. Almost can't wait to leave and go visit the out islands and reefs next week. That's if I get the engine mounts adjusted/repaired soon. Not to mention all the other boat projects needed, but they can wait, gotta have fun first.

All Good. Trying to make the pass first thing in the morning. If can maintain speed.

Winds still light all day/night. Motor on just before sunset. Still on schedule, since have to hear that noisy engine might as well make some speed, so we might be there Monday morning instead.

going slow, light winds, but at least got a favorable current. Motor might be coming on soon.

Fcst now for very light winds. Checking out today. Will leave Fri/Sat. Next stop Noumea.

On the Mooring in Port Vila waiting on the perfect wx window to sail to Noumea New Caledonia. Hoping before the end of the month.

Luganville, Esprito Santo, Vanuatu

Port Stanley, Malakula, Vanuatu.

Leaving Ambrym

New Island - Epi. Anchored Lamen Bay.

Moved to Epi Island, Vanuatu. Here for a few days with no internet. WooPee!

New anchorage Dillon's Bay, Erromango, Vanuatu.

Motorsailed from Port Vila to Port Resolution. Here to go look down the creator of an active volcano.

Hope nobody's worried, I've been sleeping for 2 days. Arrived in Port Vila, at local midnight Sunday. Although this wasn't the most comfortable trip it was the fastest. I average 6.2kts boat speed for a boat that will only do 7kts. Spent Monday doing check-in dance. Went back to the boat to take a nap and woke up 12 hrs. later. Almost caught up on sleep.

Survived another night. These high winds are kicking butt, but Irie II act like she's enjoying it. Should be arriving Port Vila just after sundown. Will be breaking one of my rules about entering at night because I don't want another night of this shit. Good news - only one layer of cloths. Temp finally high 70's.

Big waves, kicking butt. Boat rolled yesterday evening with boom hitting water and me flying across the cabin. No damage. So change direction so they are not coming off the beam, instead now aft the beam on starboard quarter. Now headed to Port Villa to check in, ETA Monday morning. Port Resolution just don't look good to me in this type of weather. The good news - I may be able to shed these winter cloths soon.

awob, A first for me, I actually seen both ends of a rainbow up close. Must have been at least 20 meters from the boat. Didn't see the pot of gold - must have been 2 miles down. had a few rain squalls doing the night, but no high winds wwith them. Getting warmer but not enough for shorts and t-shirts - maybe tomorrow.

David and Patricia and Mike - thanks for what you all do. Us lurkers appreciate it.

switch to windvane autopilot since elec. was running hot.

350nm to go.

D-shackle on traveler broke, replace with soft shackle. Ran into a couple of squalls doing the night. Winds over 30 but didn't last long.

640nm to go.

switch to windvane autopilot since elec. was running hot.

350nm to go.

switch to windvane autopilot since elec. was running hot.

350nm to go.

Well it may not be the perfect weather for a passage north, but it's good enough for me. Will be leaving NZ saturday morning for Tanna, Vanuatu. I should be able to make those 1000 miles in less then 10days.

Everything irie, Al

test

At anchor in Urquharts Bay after sea trials, then back to the marina and wait on the next weather window to Vanauatu.

Everything Irie, Al

Working on the list of things to do before departure. Depature Date was Mon. 28th, but long range weather forecast don't look great, so may wait on the next wx window.

960nm to go. 0nm travel. Rumb line 960nm.

Everything Irie, except for the butterflies. Al