Tag: sailing

  • Goodbye Vanuatu: Numbaone!

    We enjoyed a lovely sail (as opposed to the bash we would have had the prior day) up to Peterson Bay, where we anchored in the outer lagoon, waiting for high tide to enter the very shallow winding reef entrance into inner Oyster Lagoon. With waypoints entered on our GPS, Calder and I on bow…

  • Vanuatu: Aore Island & Luganville Adventures

    Had a long daysail across to an anchorage between Aore and Ratua Islands. I had gone down for a nap and felt the motion of the boat change, waking me up. It felt like we were surfing…fast. I got out of bed and found that the wind and standing waves had built in Malo Channel,…

  • Vanuatu: The Rom Dance, Ambrym Island

    A couple days later we had a very quick, boisterous14-mile sail from Pentecost Island to Ambrym Island, with winds gusting to 36 knots on the beam. Into Ranon Bay, which is more indent than bay, and anchored in 15 feet of water; in these black sand volcanic islands the water is so clear and we…

  • Vanuatu: Maskelyne Dugongs & Pentecost Land-Diving

    Up just before sunrise and under way, downwind spinnaker sailing for 57 miles, flying fish all around. I said to Chris, “Look at that volcano!” to which he answered, “Which one?” as we were surrounded by a trail of volcanic islands. Caught a micro-skipjack tuna and let him go, otherwise no fish. Into Foreland Bay…

  • Vanuatu: Efate Island

    Into Mele Bay, we were met by the local crew of Yachting World Marina in their 14-foot yellow aluminum skiff at our mooring ball to greet us with smiles, waves, and to help us tie up to our home for 4 nights. Port Vila, the capital and largest city of Vanuatu at 53,000 people, is…

  • Tanna Island, Vanuatu

    Waking up at anchor in Port Resolution, Tanna Island in Vanuatu, my senses were filled with the sounds and sights of this jungle landscape. I heard children’s laughter, a cow mooing, roosters crowing. The shorelines were bustling with the activity of the morning. Around our boat, the local fishermen in their handmade dugout outrigger canoes…

  • Arrival: Vanuatu!

    As we sail along with our Code Zero and main, we notice something about the waves…hmmm, they look familiar. Have we been here before? Actually, we have – our current route to Vanuatu is now crossing our route last year from Fiji to New Caledonia. We know the winds are going to drop and feel…

  • Passage: NZ to Vanuatu Day 7

    Started out downwind sailing with our Code Zero, in variable winds of 13-26 knots. Overall making good time. More birds, land is getting closer. In the night, we go between the uninhabited volcanic islands of Matthew and Hunter, claimed by both Vanuatu and New Caledonia (France). We go over the southern arc of the South…

  • Passage: NZ to Vanuatu Day 6: Happy Father’s Day!

    Happy Father’s Day! What a glorious way to start this 24 hours; winds and seas have built to 15-24 knots, seas 1-2 meters, perfect angle – we are flying! And it is SO comfortable. We all fully have our sealegs, to the point where I’m down in the galley making meals for everyone like a…

  • Passage: NZ to Vanuatu Day 5

    As we look at the diminishing wind and our speed of 2 knots, we succumb and motor on one engine for a bit, helps charge our batteries as well. This is the first time we’ve motored this passage. I’m realizing that mellow passages make for boring blog entries, but I’ll take this notorious crossing from…