“Let’s Swap Boats” I was up early the next morning, chores to be done, beautiful day to be enjoyed in our fabulous anchorage. The washing to be wrung out and the bread dough set to prove in its own little proving oven under the spray hood in the warmth of the early morning sun, with …
Sixty Sixth Siganisucu I was wondering what to call this auspicious blog. A little assonance or alliteration would be nice, but what goes with the ‘B’ in Birthday I thought. Then I looked up the Fijian word for Birthday, perfect, siganisucu. I re-used Zu’s palm leaf basket to carry the plastic oval plate of sliced …
Around the Top to Balavu Harbour – 17:11.23S 179:00.5W The day after Tregoning’s departure, the big hole her absence left in our vista was suddenly filled with the luxury Motor Yacht Dardanella who literally crept over where Tregoning had been anchored as she followed her rib pilot vessel past us just a few metres away …
Latitude 16:31.75S Longitude so close to Greenwich 179:59.5W At the present moment (Tuesday 7th August) we are sitting in sheltered Shoal Pass on Vanua Balavu Island, beyond where I have reached in the log and I will tell you why I am taking this little aside route. At 6.00am, three hours ago, I could see …
With our friends Alison and Randall The promise of another beautiful day was creeping into the dawn sky and giant fruit bats circled over their daytime treetop roost next to our mooring field. I had awoken around 4.00am and knowing that I wouldn’t sleep anymore in the stifling cabin I closed the door behind me, …
Forward in a Suzuki 8 seater Minivan They were David and Rekka from Pino who herald from Canada and create internet games on board for a living, Betsy and Ken from dark blue hulled Alcyone retirees from the US and Andreas and Birgit and Rob (driver) and me (side gun). Monty at Budget sent us …
Paying Attention to the Wind In Savusavu Its 6.00am and I awoke to the sound of a vessel passing us on our port side. Strange as the main channel up to now has been on Zoonie’s starboard side. Have we turned for the first time in 7 days? Indeed we have, so up to now …
I mentioned The Black Ball Yacht Club in my last blog, well the organisers decided that the black ball that you see above the marina office should be put back into use and to that end they would make a recording of the daily event so as to draw folk forward to check their wrist …
Can’t sleep? Don’t count sheep, talk to the shepherd.” I read on a church billboard in Taradale suburb. Or pop up to the Mission cellar door for a very generous sampling of seven wines and a free engraved glass for $5.00 (£2.50) instead, which is what we did, enough to ensure a good night’s sleep …
It’s Nice to have a Plan Tui was quite literally blown and washed into Gisborne by land just as Cook and his crew were after two months at sea, but for him it was the natives who gave him a turbulent time while for us it was the weather. The initial interaction between Cook and …