Whistler is in Gulf Harbour.

Docked in the Bay of Islands Marina. Glad to have this passage behind us. We had been concerned we would not find a window before our Fiji visitor visas expired. Our 8th and fastest trip to/from Fiji, 6 days and 2 hours, averaging 7.4nm/hr over 1080NM. Like a good Canadian-built boat should, Whistler easily met the challenge of the boisterous conditions for the first 3 days. It was a sporty ride and then a beautiful sail for a couple days before the winds died and currents slowed us down. Dolphins and nice weather greeted us to the Bay of Islands! Now we turn our attention to cleaning, polishing, mounds of laundry and boat maintenance. The fun never stops!

About 40nm to go to Opua. Current and headwinds slowed us down. Motoring sailing. ETA Tuesday late afternoon. 157nm in last 24 hr. All is well on board.

Less than 200nm to go to Opua. ETA Tuesday. All is well on board. Excellent sailing. 185m in last 24 hr.

Less than 200nm to go to Opua. ETA Tuesday. All is well on board. Excellent sailing. 185m in last 24 hr.

En route for Opua. Winds were steady 17-22kt overnight. Declined a bit this morning. 193nm in last 24 hours. Clearing skies with clouds to NE. Shook out one reef in the mainsail this morning, one reef remaining, full Genoa, nice sailing. Good to see the sun. Less than 350m to go.

En route for Opua. 182 nm in last 24 hours. Cleared off overnight but cumulus clouds taking over. Squall potential. Winds dropped to 18-22 overnight but increasing again this morning. 186 miles in 24 hours. Two blankets and a sleeping bag on the bed, numerous layers with down jacket at night. I finally broke down and put on socks and shoes! Barefoot no more on this passage!

En route for Opua. 182 nm in last 24 hours. Conditions fairly consistent over the last 24 hours. Lots of cloud and threatening squalls but the moon was trying to shine through the clouds for a time and we were treated to some stars briefly last night. Gusts up to 27kt and lulls to 17kt. Cooling down, adding layers of clothing, needing blankets in bed.

Left Port Denarau yesterday around noon for Opua. A parade of boats with us. A record 28 boats checked out from Port Denarau and Vuda Pt. yesterday. Boat performing well in these rather boisterous conditions. Seas rough after leaving the past with some waves crashing over the coachroof and 30 knot gusts. Wind direction pleasantly surprised us, 70 to 75 degrees True.

Port Denarau. Planning to check out today with close to a dozen boats,. Many checking out at Vuda today too. We will have to be vigilant on the radar and AIS on this passage with so many boats leaving at the same time! Next stop, Opua.

Heading back to Port Denarau from Musket Cove. Assessing weather window to NZ this week.

Musket Cove. Heading back to Port Denarau today.

Port Denarau: Raining. Hoping to get an engine part replaced in the next day or two. Looking to take the next weather window to NZ.

Port Deanarau. Amazing lightning storm overnight and again this morning. Heavy rain at times.

Nice morning. Just left Nananu-I-Cake, headed for Port Denarau.

Grey and gusty in the anchorage, in the lee of this ENE wind. Kiting today is questionable as the winds are supposed to die out and rain is coming in a few hours. Already had a sprinkle. Heading to Port Denarau tomorrow and will be looking for a weather window to NZ.

Winds very gusty and shifting more E now. Some squalls.

Been very windy and squally here at Nananu-I-Cake. Showers have eased but not the wind.

Nananu-I-Cake. Wind and rain through the night and this morning.

Back at Nananu-I-Cake with Roxanne, Heatwave and Viva. Got in a bit of motorsailing on the west side but hit headwinds of 15- 20 knots along the top of Viti Levu on the way here yesterday. Whistler is covered in salt again. Definitely kiting conditions here today,

Musket Cove. Wind picked enough to kite yesterday.

Musket Cove. Windy yesterday for kiting.

Musket Cove.

Musket Cove. Monty got kiting at the sandbank yesterday. I should have taken my gear. Winds got up to 22 kt SSE during the day. Jim, our guest, got invited out surfing at Cloudbreak in the morning and later took a skiff with a friend to Namotu for a kite-surf. They even got invited to rig on Namotu private beach! Also invited for a Fijian Curry

at a home on the top of the hill overlooking the marina. Starting out calmer this am.

Light rain off and on at Port Denarau.

Moored at Port Denarau. Checked out Namotu and Cloudbreak anchorages briefly over the weekend. Back in port to get a few maintenance things done, provision and await arrival of our friend from Whistler.

Anchored again in Musket Cove. Gave up our mooring to a yacht whose windlass wasn’t working. Finale last night at Dick’s Place. Nice evening.

Now on a mooring at Musket Cove, (Thanks to Chara). Light rain here. Be a quick Round Malolo Race today. Whistler will not be entering. Not looking forward to a wet dinghy ride to shore for the Awards Night party. Hopefully it will be nicer later.

Musket Cove. Showers yesterday morning and afternoon. Regatta kicked off last night. A bit breezy but no rain, thankfully. Lots of familiar faces.

Port Denarau, heading to Musket Cove this afternoon.

Nananu-I-Cake.

Nananu-I-Cake.

Nananu-I-Cake. Occasion little squalls finally hitting this dry area but mostly great kiting weather.

Nananu-I-Cake. Yesterday was another good kiting day. Kite Point was pretty busy.

Nananu-I-Cake. First sprinkle and rainbow in 7 weeks here yesterday. Good kiting conditions.

Anchored at Nananu-I-Thake.

Anchored back at Nananu-I-Thake. Calm and clear. The anchorage is glassy, paddle boarding conditions.

Anchored off Port Denarau. Heading back to Nananu-I-Thake. Smokey around here!

Musket Cove. Lucky, wind came up the last two afternoons for kiting.

Moored at Musket Cove.

Port Denarau. Cool and cloudy this morning.

Port Denarau. Here for a few days.

Our last day here. Off to Port Denarau tomorrow. Got in some a brief kiting session yesterday but it was gusty and the wind direction was changeable. Hoping for one more session this afternoon.

Nananu-I-Thake.

We are hoping to eek out another few kiting days before we leave Nananu-I-Thake for Port Denarau on the weekend. Sunsets red from the grass fires burning on the mainland. The ash on the boat is a real drag. Great star-gazing last night with a moonless sky. I have resorted to wearing long sleeves, long pants and Monty even put on a hoodie last evening. Winds were calm first thing but are picking now! Our idea of paddle boarding has been abandoned. :-)

Nananu-I-Thake. Got out with Warren at Safari Lodge for a kiting downwinder yesterday.

Whistler moved yesterday, just a half mile away, for a better view of the sunset! Took a while to pull the anchor. Too cloudy for a good sunset last night and Internet is slower. So we might move back to the old spot nearer kite point. Lots of ash on the boat some mornings due to grass fires the mainland. Chilly nights. No kiting the last few days. Good weather for cleaning and boat projects. Could use a rain to wash the boat!

Monty cleaned the props and scrubbed the bridal and 10-15m of the chain that was covered in soft growth. A big job. Not many barnacles on the hull, thankfully. Also did a snorkel yesterday and saw a large octopus, some clams and oysters and a wide array of corals. Viz not great though as it was still a bit windy. Windy for kiting again today.

Nananu-I-Thake. Didnt want to leave while Patricia and David (Gulf Harbour Radio) were away! Another kiting session at Kite Point and downwinder yesterday. All good here! Hazy conditions giving us glorious sunsets!

40 days and 40 nights at Nananu-I-Thake, but who is counting! Great day yesterday with Warren taking us for a downwinder and then serving us a nice lunch at Safari Lodge. For me, the downwinder was like skiing Peak to Creek (Whistler Mountain) with 15cm of fresh powder. Wind could have been a bit stronger, but there wasnt much chop which was nice. Looks like we can eek out another few days of kiting here before the wind shuts off. Be a challenge to lift our anchor! Setting sun is red, haze caused by the volcano eruption in Vanuatu, we are told.

All is well at Nananu-I-Thake. Cool overnight, even had to throw a blanket on the bed! Lots of wind for kiting today.

Weather has been very good, with little rain. Recently had a few calm days. On Warren’s recommendation, we snorkelled by the sand spit (kite spot) which had lots of healthy soft and hard corals and schools of fish. Surprisingly good and so convenient to the anchorage! Another no wind day activity. Did a market run to Rakiraki yesterday. Good selection of fruits and veggies. When we got back, Warren (Safari Lodge) took us out to the reef for a downwinder. Monty kited for an hour but the winds were a bit too light for me. Winds are expected to pick up today for a few days. Boats come and go, as they transit east or west. Some going east frequently wait a few days or a week for trade winds to ease enough for that passage. So Whistler has not been alone here. Have had a few socials with friends on familiar boats and made some new acquaintances too!

Anchor well dug in here at Nananu-I-Thake. Been good kiting conditions. Calm and sunny this morning.

Happy Canada Day! Anchored in the lee of Nananu-I-Thake. Anchorage was busy two nights ago with boats stopping off on their way to the west coast. Monty got out kiting on the 7m (our smallest kite) yesterday. Were invited to a social on one of the World Arc boats (with a Cdn connection) that is hoping off the rally and heading to NZ this year. Very windy, but will try to fly our big Canadian flag today.

Hoodie temperatures this morning. Still at Nananu-I-Thake. MK got in her first kite lesson this season. MC got out for 2 sessions. Steadier winds yesterday. Hopefully another lesson today,.

At Nananu-I-Thake. Line of cloud to the north. Winds have arrived. Stronger winds overnight. Kiters are happy!

At Nananu-I-Thake. Winds rose enough to kite late yesterday. Light winds this morning again.

At Nananu-I-Thake. Got windy yesterday, so Monty got out for a kite with the Fusios.

Anchored off Nananu-I-Thake. Waiting for wind so we can kite. Maybe tomorrow?

Anchored off Makogai.

Anchored off Namena.. High cirrus cloud thickening. Some interesting finds snorkelling yesterday like a few large live conch. Probably heading to Makongai today.

In Savusavu. Heading to Namena today. Cooler temps now.

At Cousteau anchorage in Savusavu Bay. Heading to town to reprovision.

Anchored off the sand cay at Duff Reef. Monty got kiting yesterday. Cool spot. Likely head off somewhere today as it is pretty rolly in the anchorage.

Still in Vanua Balavu. Looking to move to a kiting spot sometime today.

Anchored in Ship Cove in Bay of Islands. At least 20 boats here in the Bay of Islands now. At sunset, some cruisers joined their dinghies together for a social in a wee cove and watched hundreds of fruit bats take off from their roost for their nightly patrol. The sky was filled with “flying foxes”.

Ship Cove in Bay of Islands. More World Arc boats arrived yesterday in the Bay.

Anchored in Ship Cove in the Bay of Islands. 30 World ARC just checked in at Lomaloma, Vanua Balavu, so we are seeing lots of boats anchoring around the bay. Seems to be room so far. World Arc’s next rendezvous is July 4 or 5th in Musket Cove.

Anchored in Ship Cove with 2 other boats in the Bay of Islands, Vanua Balavu. A few more boats anchored around the Bay. Warm and humid last night, lots of dew this morning.

Squalls now to north and east. They appear to be moving away ahead of us. Just waiting for good light to enter Vanua Balavu. Had 15-22 kt winds that backed around through the day and night. Uncomfortable short period southerly swell. Calmed down through the night. Planning to anchor in Bay of Islands tonight.

In Savusavu. Plans to move, just not sure where yet.

Trough passed over us around 9pm. Had a torrential rain storm with lightning and high winds (30 kt). Whistler circled the mooring a few times as the winds shifted direction. Filled all our water buckets in minutes. Heavy rain and high winds lasted for several hours. Just light rain now.

Savusavu. Nice morning.

Back in Savusavu. Very humid last night. Had some lightning and showers in the evening.

Lovely day here at Cousteau. Yesterday we completed our Advanced Open Water Dive course with Cousteau. Did a night dive to finish. Amazing critter life active in the dark. Came to the surface and the stars were out in full force. Fantastic experience.

The sky is clear above us and to the north but the trough with a distinct line of with thick clouds blankets the southern third of the sky. Hope it keeps moving SE.

We are still off Cousteau. Winds were more NE overnight and now back to E. Not a nice day. More rain in forecast.

Moved to a more sheltered anchorage by Cousteau resort. A few breaks in the clouds.

Anchored off the Cousteau resort, closer to the reef, so more exposed to the SE winds. Showery conditions around the bay, but not over us yet. Rainbows and turtles around.

Nice morning. Savusavu had a rash of break-ins (Digicel, Telecom offices, etc.) on Saturday night. Apparently a rugby match brings out the hooligans. We are moving out to Cousteau anchorage today.

Moored in Savusavu. Has some heavy rain showers yesterday off and on. Looking okay this morning. Several boats with quarantine flags arrived yesterday.

Moored back in Savusavu.

Left Paradise Taveuni on our way to a Savusavu. Seas are glimmering, skies clear with a few puffy clouds. Had a hard rain shower last evening. Kept us on board!

Moored at Paradise Resort, Taveuni. Hot, sticky day yesterday (33 degrees) but no showers over us. Put up the sunshade to get some relief.

Moored at Paradise, Taveuni. Beautiful day here. Caught a Mahimahi on the way here yesterday. White Wall dive planned for tomorrow. More photos posted on svwhistler.com. Will go back to Savusavu for the fronts on the weekend! Thanks!

Just left Savusavu for Paradise Resort, Taveuni.

Anchored off Cousteau. Another beautiful day here. Even put up the sunshade yesterday. Lots of dew on the decks this morning.

At JM Cousteau anchorage. A few boats leaving Savusavu stopped here overnight. Had 2 excellent dives at Namena with JMC yesterday.

Anchored by Cousteau. Had some showers yesterday but looks like it may clearing up today.

At anchor off Cousteau Resort. Had showers overnight. Going diving again wth the resort today.

Anchored off Jean-Michel Cousteau Resort. Going diving today.

Windy and a few showers overnight.

Moored in Savusavu. Survivor Australia is in town, filming just passed the airport for the next 3 months.

Moored in Savusavu. Winds picked up and had a few showers overnight but it is clearing up this am.

Had a few passing showers last evening. Generally fine weather. Had a visit with Curly yesterday and loaded up on some more of his lures. Want to knock off a few more little projects, freshen up our provisions and we will look at going somewhere. Going in an easterly direction will be difficult due to increasing ESE winds in the coming days.

Moored in Savusavu. Had a beautiful day yesterday. A few short showers with a stunning rainbow at sunrise. Last night, we enjoyed some of our Green Jobfish caught in the Naqelelevu Lagoon. No ill effects, so ciguatera free!

Happy Cinco de Mayo! Didn't like the waves inside and overcast conditions in the Naqelelevu Lagoon. Turned back at around noon. Winds were 18-20 from the SSE all day and most of the evening making for an uncomfortable swell and close reach. Strong current against us at about 1.8kts, and up to 2.8 knots at times, slowed our progress. Once we got behind Taveuni, the winds dropped to 10-15 from the SE and then ESE. Had a clear night with the moonlight and stars to guide us back to Savusavu. 15 miles to go. All is well on board.

3 miles to go to Naqelelevu Lagoon. Sun just up. Waiting for good daylight to approach the pass. Reefed genoa. All is well on board.

40 miles to go to Naqelelevu Lagoon. Doing a slow overnighter to arrive in daylight. Flying just the genoa. All is well on board.

Anchored in Katherine Bay with our sister boats. Showers passing through, some heavy. May stay here a few days to wait for the weather to pass.

Anchored in Katherine Bay with our sister boats. Showers passing through, some heavy. May stay here a few days to wait for the weather to pass.

Moored at Paradise Resort on Taveuni with our sister boats. Beautiful weather. Had a couple refresher dives with the resort today. Blue moon tonight!

Motor-sailing. Heading for Paradise Resort on Taveuni. Beautiful weather.

Had a nice warm sunny day yesterday. Wind has been picking up in the afternoons to provide some breeze through the cabin. We were invited to "movie night" on the foredeck of one of our sister boats last night. Neat how they set up their sunshade, a screen using a sheet and comfortable seating for 8. Doing some provisioning at the Savusavu market this am and plan to sail 50 miles SE to Paradise Resort on Taveuni Island tomorrow. Winds are calming down so it should be a fairly easy day trip. Looks like fairly settled conditions for the next week.

Arrived in Savusavu at 0800 and all checked in with Customs. We are the 7th yacht to check in to Savusavu this season. We are tired but excited to be here after an amazing 1266 mile passage. Flew our full main sail the entire time. Beautiful broad reach and later beam reach sailing with only 40 hours of engine time to assist our sails as we crossed a ridge axis. Just in time, a brief downpour in the wee hours washed the salt off Whistler before we arrived in port. Thanks to our weather router, Bruce Buckley, for his guidance. Two of our two sister ships are here and after a rest, we look forward to celebrating our great passage and arrival in Fiji with them.

150 miles to go to Savusavu. Sighted Matuku Island today. No major squalls last night and none so far today. 28 degrees in the cockpit. Reefed the genoa to slow down as we want to arrive in Savusavu in daylight. All is well on board.

No squalls last night and none so far today. 26 degrees in the cockpit. Sailing nicely, could go faster in these conditions but no rush as we want to arrive in Savusavu in daylight. Passed some birds and then saw a fish feeding frenzy, but were a bit too slow to get our lines in the water. Had a niggle but nothing landed. Saw whales from a distance at sunset, seems very early for them to be coming north. Been in touch with our sister boats by SSB. They are both well ahead of us by 100 miles. All is well on board.

We decided not to stop at Minerva Reef and altered course to Savusavu. If we stopped, we could not determine when we might have another good window ahead for sailing north to Fiji. It was also likely we would be all alone there. So we decided to cease the opportunity to continue to Savusavu in what should be good sailing conditions. We had several squalls to negotiate with moments of calm followed by down-drafts of 25 knots. At one point we hit 15.7 knots (SOG). We have sailed for 5 days and have only picked up 3 large commercial ships on our AIS, all more than 17 miles at their closest point of approach. Last night, a boat appeared headed on a collision course with us. I woke Monty and after a quick run around the cockpit, he decided to stay up and put his shorts! We determined the boat was moving at about 4.5 knots. We could only get the MMSI number on our AIS. I tried repeatedly to hail the vessel on the VHF but there was no answer. Once the boat name appeared on our AIS, I hailed it again. The skipper finally responded, saying only "Chinese". I asked if he was fishing, no answer. Then I asked if he was trawling to which he responded, "trawling". That meant we had to avoid his stern by up to a mile or more. I said, "We are a sailing vessel", but he did not respond. After studying his heading, we turned to starboard to try to avoid him but he then turned to port, so we were still on a collision course. We started the engines and turned hard to port, having to jibe our full main and genoa in 20 knots of wind. After a few miles we got back on our northerly course and sailing again, with the fishing boat passing 2 miles to our starboard. I went to bed with the adrenalin still pumping. Having a few more squalls this am but, otherwise, very good sailing conditions though a bit bumpy with waves on the beam. Good news from our sister boats in Minerva Reef. They are both setting sail today for Savusavu. So it looks like we will have a reunion there. All is well on board but we could both use more sleep.

Squalls overnight slowed our progress. Sailing nicely now. All is well on board. Getting much warmer. Shorts and T-shirt weather. Enjoying Chef Monty's cooking! Saw an albatross yesterday. To follow us on our tracker, go to svwhistler.com, click on See Whistler on the Map and then Whistler Delorme. Still debating a stop at Minerva Reef which is still day and a half away. Tempting to press on as it looks like a nice run to Savusavu, Fiji, and not sure when we will have another good passage north from Minerva.

Sailing again after motor-sailing all night in light winds. A squall to our west. All is well on board.

All is well on board. Motor-sailing.

Departed Opua yesterday. On passage to Minerva Reef and Fiji. Will be watching weather to decide whether we go to Minerva or press on to Fiji. All is well on board.

Docked in Opua.