My mate Shaun flew up to Fiji and then flew home after a week as the weather wasn't playing ball, he arrived again on the 13th of October, we cleared out for New Cal on the 15th and through Navula Passage around 1600, we motored, motor sailed and sailed, (caught a nice big male Mahi-Mahi close to New Cal), arriving four days later at Banc Du Vandegou passage about 1800, then dropped the sails to motor onto Noumea were we sneakily pulled up a mooring about 0200 had a few wines and crashed. Checking in at the marina the following morning was fun, it's very full at this time of year with all the cruising vessels heading south or west with the cyclone season approaching, quite windy in the marina, we got in without any damage, onto the immigration/customs, Me and Shaun had a couple of great day in Noumea, shaun has quiet good French which made it fun, have enjoyed my time here and will be back for sure, the difference between here and Fiji is remarkable, the Fijians are much happi...

  Thought I'd better start blogging again so here goes.  Sitting waiting for a weather window to sail from Fiji to New Caledonia, most likely sail on the 16th, started this journey autumn 2021 leaving Opua NZ for Fiji, Isabelle and me had a forgettable passage to Fiji then a fabulous winter cruising, unfortunately due to Covid we had to return to NZ for the summer, Isabelle flying back and me single handing home, which I prefer to be honest, me being a bit of a hermit. I set off again late May 2022 for Fiji with my sisters (Lynn) partner Rob, We ended up a little east on the way north so we stopped for a few days at North Minerva reef, catching a couple of nice fish approaching the reef to fill the freezer. Winter here has gone by fast, Lynn flying up and spending a few weeks on the boat, George and Em popping in as well, then a visit from Isabelle and then lastly my mate Shaun arriving for the passage to New Caledonia, I love Fiji and hope to be back here 2029 if not sooner. ...

Got a bit sick of all this Cat 1 bullshit, it's just not fair that it only applies to NZ registered vessels, also I can sail anywhere around NZ in a bath tub if I like but can't sail from NZ waters without Sailing NZ giving me the ok, so simple I registered the yacht in Poland.                                Before                              Now  

 Sailing North from Opua 2021, this was shot on one of the better days, poor Isabelle had a forgettable trip, auto pilot broke down after two days so had to hand steer most of the trip, boat handled it fine, fitted a new Coursemaster hydraulic pilot in Fiji and I've done two passages on it since, runs like a dream.