We will have a new boat early January. She is MV Katherine, she's 5 years old and we're looking forward to a new direction.

MdO has now been sold, sad day but lots fantastic memories.

Final stages of buying the next boat, we are downsizing.

Back at Gulf Harbour and MdO is for sale, $250k, waiting for someone else to live the dream.

Anchored in Bon Accord Kawau. Awesome sail last evening. Great to be away again.

At Robertson's Boatyard Warkworth for a refit.

Back at Gulf Harbour. Another motor from Issy Bay.

Anchored in Islington Bay. Had good fishing and lovely walks at Te Kouma.

anchored in Te Kouma, heavy rain, hopefully will clear later today.

:position 36 49.36s 175 26.04e

anchored in Whangamumu on our way south after a great week in the Bay of Islands.

:position 35 14.99s 174 17.8e

Anchored at Lovely Roberton Island. Spent Waitangi Day at Waitangi, great occasion. Caught another fish.

Anchored at Whangamumu. Lunch at Poor Knights Islands, snorkels and explored coast and caves. Motored, no wind.

Anchored at Tutukaka. Caught very large kingfish. Saw sharks, lots of dolphins and pilot whales. Good sailing at times but lots of motoring as well.

Anchored at Mansion House Bay, beautiful afternoon.

Back at Gulf Harbour. Will head away again in a couple of weeks, hopefully summer will have arrived then.

Anchored at North Harbour, Ponui Island. Great sail from Gulf Harbour, but cold. Will stay a few days.

Home! Tied up at 1915hrs last night (Sunday), welcomed by Lynne, Grahame and Rik.


Arrived at Marsden Cove yesterday 0050hrs. Cleared Customs and left for Gulf Harbour at 0930hrs. Good sail, everything from no wind and sunny to 25kts, heavy rain and thunder.


It has been a fantastic time away.

Wind W 20kts , Seas 2m NW , 40% Cloud Cover , Co 159T Speed 7.0kts. Great sailing today , ETA Marsden Cove Marina 1159 Hrs today, Estimate Gulf Harbour late PM Sunday 6th Nov, Alls well on board MdO.

Relay via SV Freycinet II

great day, good sailing, sunny, 77nm to North Cape. ETA 0500 Sunday at Marsden Cove. all's well.

Co 135T Speed 6.5kts :position 33 27s 170 01e

270nm to Marsden Cove so sunday am eta

a wild night last night, but improved during the day. poor progress over last 24hrs but away again now.

Just laying Nth Cape 246nm,waiting for wind to go SW.

we're fine and excited about getting home soon. ETA Sunday. all's well.

Co 135T Speed 6kts :position 31 33s 169 34e

beating home but wind will back in about 8hrs. 406 to Marsden Cove

Saw whales heading north. Lots of sail trimming, 320nm to North Cape, ETA Sunday. all's well.

Co 132T Speed 5kts :position 30 53s 168 23e

eta late sat early sunday

Wind up and down all day, bit frustrating. all's well.

Co 126t Speed 6kts :position 29 49s 166 21e

eta late Saturday at Marsden

Pleasant day, motor sailing, better direction now. all's well.

Co 156t Speed 6kts :position 28 13s 164 29e

all well but want a favourable wind change! picky picky

Pleasant day after a squally night. Hopefully wind will go around tomorrow and we can head for NZ. all's well.

Co 210t Speed 7kts :position 25 54s 165 03e

good signal from Pam

Left Noumea this am, very pleasant sailing, all's well.

:position 23 19.3s 166 08.17e

Looking like a Saturday departure, all's well on board.

:position 22 17.17s 166 25.86e

Back in Noumea for provisioning. Had hoped to leave on Thursday but not now, maybe over the weekend or Monday . A bit longer to enjoy pastries.

Anchored at Baie Maa. Good to leave Noumea with a new starter battery for the engine. Tried Ilot Maitre but very windy , had a great sail to Baie Maa, up to 10 kts. Will probably stay here for a few days.

:position 22 12.66s 166 20.46e

Anchored out off Port Moselle marina, very crowded despite many boats leaving this morning for Bundaberg. Will clear Customs etc tomorrow. :position 22 16.86s 166 25.85e

will stay anchored here at Bonne Anse until Sunday then head to Noumea. Very pleasant and relaxing.

:position 22 23.1s 166 54.43e

Havannah pass and on their way to Baie de Prony

Great sailing since 2100hrs last night with started sheets. Passing thru Loyalty Islands Lifou and Mare. ETA Havannah Pass tomorrow am. All's well on board.

Co 180mag S 6-7

all well

left Port Vila at 0515 this am. Motorsailing all day otherwise very pleasant, sunny and hot. All's well on board.

Co 180mag S 5

left P Vila this morning for New Caledonia

All ready to leave first thing tomorrow Wednesday for New Caledonia . All good on board.

Back at Port Vila. Maybe leave for New Caledonia on Wednesday .

Thunder and lightning this am and again this evening. 1003.

Back at Port Vila, maybe leave for New Caledonia on Wednesday.

Anchored in Esema Bay Havana Harbour, good sail from Port Vila. Destruction from cyclone Pam in 2015 still very evident, boats still wrecked ashore , 12 on Iririka island PV, a large super yacht here, huge trees all dead and buildings destroyed, such a fragile existence. But the market is wonderful, bananas, pawpaw, mangos, raspberries, tomatoes, lettuce etc. Internet is almost non existent.

:position 17 33.1s 168 16.85e

Anchored in Port Vila at 1930hrs. Very good trip. All's well on board.

:position 17 44.2s 168 18.5e

Still motor sailing. Very pleasant. 70nm to go. ETA Port Vila 1800hrs today. All's well.

:position 17 53.3s 169 27.2e

Glorious day. Motor sailing all day, strong adverse current.

ETA Port Vila 1800hrs tomorrow (Monday) All's well.

:position 17 55.3s 170 49.7e

Cleared Navula Pass at 0715. Enroute to Port Vila, Vanuatu. Fantastic sailing, slight swell, warm and sunny, we're great. No internet until in Port Vila when can get SIM card on Monday or Tuesday.

left Vuda this morning bound for Port Vila

At Saweni Bay, dentist tomorrow and plan to leave for Vanuatu on Friday, weather dependant of course.

Back at Musket Cove, still lots of boats here. Catching up on jobs.

Anchored at Likuliku with an exclusive resort ashore. Dinghied to Honeymoon Island which we had to ourselves. Lovely. Weather fantastic as long as you don't want to sail anywhere!

Recovering after a great regatta week at Musket Cove. Will be around this area for the next few days.

Really fun time, last night our team won the quiz night.


Today we raced to the sandbank on MdO, great fun, heaps of short tacks to get thru the narrow passages in the reef and dodging other yachts. Weather continues to be awesome.

All go at the regatta, about 80 boats, weather fabulous, having a great time.

Anchored at Musket Cove for regatta week. At last weathers come right, just perfect, let's hope it lasts!

Anchored off Denerau, went to Nadi market today. Last night we were covered in ash and soot from nearby sugar cane fires. There are lots around here tonight, hope the wind doesn't change or another big cleaning job in the morning.

Back at Saweni Bay having off loaded Sea Mercy's gear see photos, refused and provisioned. Will stay a couple of days.

At Vuda Point Marina for a few days, dentist and shopping tomorrow.

Nearly at Sawene Bay, long hot day motorsailing between the reefs for 60 miles. We're fine and enjoying ourselves.

Anchored at Volivoli Point, great sail across today. Said sad farewells to all at Makongai, it was a great experience and our efforts were much appreciated.

Opening of the school went well yesterday. Big celebrations, dancing, feast etc. Those that have been here for the last 3 months have done an awesome job, overcoming incredible obstacles and difficulties. Saw humpback whales on the return from the village yesterday off the beach and thru the anchorage. Having a quiet day today.

School nearly ready for the offical opening next Wednesday. Two fine days in a row!

At last a fabulous sunny day after days of rain.

School progressing, painting, lining etc. 2 blocks to replace the 3 that were destroyed. One was completely blown away even the piles, one had a floor left and is being rebuilt from the floor and the 3rd a couple of walls which is beyond repair. Opening is 31st August so it's all go.

School progressing, painting, lining etc. 2 blocks to replace the 3 that were destroyed. One was completely blown away even the piles, one had a floor left and is being rebuilt from the floor and the 3rd a couple of walls which is beyond repair. Opening is 31st August so it's all go.

Hot and sunny. Yesterday had the day off so did housework, washing , snorkelled and explored the old leper cemetery and a few remaking buildings. Unfortunately the clam farm where they hatched 7 different varieties of clams has been destroyed but there are plans to rebuild it. All go on school again today.

Anchored at lovely Makongi , sadly lots of cyclone damage. Good trip across the Koru Sea. Limited internet, phone and SSB.

SE 15 95% cloud 1012hap

Anchored at Cousteaus ready for an early start tomorrow. Rain forecast to clear overnight. Wahoo for dinner thanks to Vern.

Will be in Savusavu until the rain clears (need to be able to see the coral reefs with the sun shining), probably Wednesday afternoon. Very pleasant despite the rain.

Loaded 4 x40kg bags cement on the back, in the black rubbish bags, these big strong Fijians are amazing, they picked them up no sweat. We're taking the cement to Makongi next week.

Very hot today, loving our air con. Loking forward to the rugby tonight.

Enjoying tapas, pavlova and wine on Sunday afternoon.

Enjoying Savusavu we've had nice hot sunny weather, but raining this afternoon. Things look OK after the cyclone now, less palm trees and the market has less produce as most fresh stuff is shipped in from Suva or from Labasa. Very few bananas or pawpaw.

On a mooring in Savu Savu, awesome sailing in last 36 hrs , we did 300 miles in 36 Hrs. Topped 11 Kts surfing down waves. All good on MdO

(Report relayed via Freycinet II)

Safely Anchored at Savu Savu at 1900 Hrs Local time , all well onboard.

Position relayed via Freycinet II

:position 18 00.5s 179 54.2e

smelling the barn as 85nm to go to Savusavu Nice timing and a lovely last 12hrs sailing. 101miles

Course 353M, Speed 7 Kts , Wind SE 10 , ETA Savu Savu Midnight Tuesday 26th, All well onboard excited about landfall tomorrow.

(Report Relayed via Freycinet II)

:position 20 48.2s 179 55.1e

ETA late tomorrow Tuesday. Alan has fixed the engine problem so it is ticking along well.

Course 352M , Speed 5Kts , Motor sailing in ENE 5 kts, Baro 1012mb. All's well on MdO , ETA Savu Savu Tuesday 26th late pm

(Reported relayed via Freycinet II)

Engine issues sorted, Glorious day, ETA Savu Savu mid week

(Report Relayed via Freycinet II)

Good Sailing wind ENE 10, Course 351M, Speed 6Kts, Barometer 1015 Mb, Tracking direct to Savu Savu,

(Report Relayed Via Freycinet II)

Course 012M, Speed 6Kts. Barometer 1013 Mb, Wind NE 10, now tracking direct to Savu Savu to investigate engine Issues.

(Report relayed via SV Freycinet II)

Pleasant Sailing , 12Kt NE wind, Barometer 1017 Mb, Course 347M, Speed 6kts, ETA Nth Minerva , Noon Sunday 24th JUly

(Report Relayed via SV Freycinet II)

Going well, Wind ENE 10 Kts, Barometer 1015 Hpa , Course 006M, speed 6kts , ETA Nth Minerva Reef Sunday 24th

Motoring , wind SE 6Kts, Bar 1018 Hpa., course 016 M, speed 6 Kts, all well on board, changed into shorts!

(Relayed Position Via SV Freycinet II)

Motor Sailing in SSW 5kts. Course 017 T speed 5kts , 352 Nm. to North Minerva, ETA Sunday 24th (AM) , All well on board.

(Position relayed via SV Freycinet II , Whangarei )

All OK , over halfway to Minerva, good sailing

(Relayed position via Freycinet II)

Weather : WSW 20-25

Hi All, MdO is doing well , currently at 33 41s m 175.55E (1200 hrs NZST), their on board email system is currently inoperative. I have received their position today via satphone message.

Left at 1200hrs, good to be finally away and heading to Fiji.

All's well. Reefed main with staysail.

Wind 25 SSW with gusty squalls. 1010.

At Marsden Cove Marina, hope to clear Customs and leave early this week. The weather windows change day to day.

Back on MdO after a wonderful time with family on Gold Coast.

Maybe a weather window on Monday 18th.

Flying to the Gold Coast as no weather window for 2 weeks.

Walked to the waterfall today, no jobs! Still waiting.

Looks like another week of waiting in the Town Basin. We're fine.

Still waiting at Town Basin Whangarei. All ok

Departure delayed, another Tasman/Queensland low developing would be on our route (unpredictable). We're fine, still polishing!

Maybe a weather window early next week.

Not leaving today. Weather not cooperating. Getting lots of polishing done, Town Basin is a very convenient place to wait.

Thursday 9th June looks like a possibility for leaving. We're fine.

Not going on Thursday, weather not great now. Looks like end of next week. Lots to do here.

Looks like a weather window on Thursday.

Still no date to leave yet. We're fine and finding jobs to keep us busy.

Will be in Town Basin until next week. Very convenient and pleasant place to wait.

Tied up at the Town Basin, Whangerai. Motor sailed all the way.

Will wait here for a decent weather window for Fiji.

Anchored in Harris Bay, Kawau Island. Pleased to be away at last, heading to the Town Basin, Whangerai to wait for a decent weather window for Fiji. Pleasant sail today, few good squalls that blew the cobwebs away, eased off now.

Hoping to leave for Town Basin, Whangarei on Sunday or Monday. Will wait there for a weather window.

Still at Fairway Bay. Looks like a stormy week ahead, so we'll wait before heading to Fiji.

Still at Fairway Bay, Gulf Harbour. Maybe a weather window Saturday 14th May for Fiji.

Preparations still ongoing. Maybe a weather window around 10th May.

At Fairway Bay Gulf Harbour getting ready for Fiji and warmer places.

Anchord in Bon Accord Kawau Island. Great to meet up with Mike, David & Patricia and some cruisers last night

Anchord in Bon Accord Kawau Island.

now at Fairway Bay Gulf Harbour, heading to Coromandel for Easter

on piles for a while in the town basin, very pleasant.

motored up to the town basin. going under the new bridge was very straight forward, no waiting.

arrived at marsden cove marina at 1530hrs after a pleasant sail from whangamumu.

anchored in pretty whangamumu, nice and quiet.

tied up at opua q dock at 0330hrs after a really good trip from vuda point, fiji. spectacular nights with a full moon and a cloudless sky, just magic. good to be back in nz.