| Lat | Lon | Boat name | Note | Created at | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 35º 50.22' S | 174º 28.128' E | Tregoning | Heading to Auckland tomorrow (Tuesday here) to check out the big city, get some boat stuff, maybe find some new sheepskin slippers, and some other stuff. It's been a very productive and relaxing week here, and looking forward to moving into Whangarei Marina at the end of the week. Very windy here, so lots of electrical power available, and that's good. | over 8 years ago | Show |
| 35º 50.22' S | 174º 28.128' E | Tregoning | Arrived at the Customs Dock at Marsden Cove Marina, Whangarei (pronounced Fangarey...) at 8:30 this morning (Monday here, Sunday there) after a fairly easy last day--the predicted gusts-to-30 SW winds would have been unpleasant, but we saw nothing above 15 knots all night. Very attractive entrance and a very nice marina...a bit sterile looking as the newish huge golf-course-type houses are still being finished, and I haven't seen the first thing planted yet. Customs officer has left us some forms to fill out, and then we'll be free to wander!
Getting to New Zealand has been the big dream since 1990...and it feels so good! | over 8 years ago | Show |
| 34º 16.602' S | 174º 8.4' E | Tregoning | Motor-sailing (that's where you use the motor, and have the sails up to pretend you aren't actually motoring...just in case a Kiwi is watching...) on a straight line to the entrance to Whangarei Harbor. Saw a beautiful wandering albatross this morning, and many more shearwaters as we get closer to land. Should be in the marina by noon tomorrow (Monday here...Sunday there..) | over 8 years ago | Show |
| 30º 34.698' S | 173º 14.898' E | Tregoning | Goofy south winds last night, so we've been pushed west again, but the winds died and we are motoring straight for NZ. Guessing we'll arrive Monday morning (Sunday morning for those of you a bit behind those of us around here...try to keep up). | over 8 years ago | Show |
| 27º 17.22' S | 175º 8.898' E | Tregoning | Yipee! Winds are lighter and from the ENE, and we can FINALLY turn south and actually head for New Zealand! It is SO much easier to get some good sleep when we aren't pounding into 3-meter seas. All is well.
I'm posting weather and location info to the "Yachts in Transit" website. If you Google that, you can sign up to follow Tregoning on that website, and I post to that daily (I'm guessing that only Rob might actually look for us on TWO websites...). And speaking of Rob, thanks to you we'll be the best informed visitors that Kiwi-land has seen in a long time...really?...stitches on the bench and back in the game? | over 8 years ago | Show |
| 22º 50.082' S | 179º 51.81' E | Tregoning | Crossed the Int'l Date Line this afternoon (AMF actually got a photo of the chart plotter on 180 00.0000 W!). Moving nicely SW and will keep this heading for a couple of more days until we turn left and go due south to NZ.
| over 8 years ago | Show |
| 21º 48.708' S | 177º 42.75' W | Tregoning | Winds coming more from the south, so going more west than planned, but conditions are good and all is well. | over 8 years ago | Show |
| 18º 56.358' S | 174º 26.1' W | Tregoning | Left Vava'u Group Tonga this morning on our way to New Zealand. Pretty bouncy so far, but going fast. | over 8 years ago | Show |
| 18º 39.63' S | 173º 58.932' W | Tregoning | We are back in town, getting a few things done before we head out Thursday morning (weather permitting) for New Zealand. Should take 10-11 days, so we're thinking we might arrive in Whangarei (North Island) on 17 October. NZ Customs requires a "Pre-Arrival" information sheet to be sent in, on which is a box asking what date...and what TIME you will be arriving...talk about optimistic! We're lucky if we can pick the week... It has been very enjoyable and restful here in Tonga, we look forward to returning here next year, and we are very ready to get to New Zealand and be in one country for a while.
| over 8 years ago | Show |
| 18º 41.382' S | 173º 57.528' W | Tregoning | Excellent! Great holding, sun, wind, and more electrical power than we know what to do with! Boat projects coming along nicely--we have retained the services of Bob McDavitt for some weather routing and suggested departure dates for our trip to New Zealand. This El Nino year has thrown the standard routing directions/timing for a bit of a spin, and Bob has been helping sailors safely transit from the tropics to NZ for several decades. Beautiful coral and lots of (small) fish in our snorkel yesterday, and installed a new zinc on the prop shaft to boot! | over 8 years ago | Show |
| 18º 41.382' S | 173º 57.528' W | Tregoning | We have moved from the harbor where we anchored the last few nights (and where the Spanish explorer first sighted Tonga) to the island of Opu. MUCH better holding in beautiful sand (anchoring in/around coral will never be my favorite...took a bit of work to get the anchor up yesterday without damaging any coral), and very nice steady wind for the wind-generator. Still cloudy... | over 8 years ago | Show |
| 18º 41.85' S | 174º 1.992' W | Tregoning | We finally were able to get our "city" chores done, climb the small mountain peak in the National Park, and zip over to Port Maurelle anchorage. Took several tries to get the anchor to set in the thin coral ruble over rock, but we are nicely settled now. Had a wonderful snorkle yesterday, with many new fish and visibility in the 75-100 foot range, and that's seeing clearly, not just dim outlines, and water a beautiful dark blue. Also visited Swallow Cave, along with a pretty good number of other visitors, with spectacular water colors and lots of fish. | over 8 years ago | Show |
| 18º 39.642' S | 173º 58.92' W | Tregoning | Still in Neiafu, Tonga, but getting ready to move to anchorages in the adjacent islands, probably tomorrow (Friday...here) or Saturday. Spent about 10 hours (by the clock!) trying to get updated versions of our routing software downloaded. Be VERY thankful if you have reliable internet access, and extra points if it's fast! | over 8 years ago | Show |
| 18º 39.108' S | 173º 59.172' W | Tregoning | hmmm...Rob, thank you again for your tsunami updates! Hadn't heard about this one, but now the radio is alive with tsunami discussion. The harbor here has had 1 meter tsunamis arrive here before, without any consequences to moored boats...we'll have an anchor at the ready, and the engine running, but apparently no need to get out of the harbor.
Had a great day yesterday "playing" cricket. OK, it was so muddy that runners couldn't run, the pitch was so muddy that batters routinely fell down swingin', Alison bowled a wicket (bowled somebody out!), I got a few runs in, and the whole thing was played after a long night of rain on the pitch...which also serves as the town pig's grazing field...and we played barefoot...I'll be checking for worms... | over 8 years ago | Show |
| 18º 39.108' S | 173º 59.172' W | Tregoning | Back in town after a peaceful Sunday, following the local custom (requirement!) of no work, no swimming, no nuthin' on Sunday. So we stayed in the cabin and entered log sheets, ran the water-maker, hung a picture, glued the frame of Ali's clothes cabinet...starting to sound like work... | over 8 years ago | Show |
| 18º 39.108' S | 173º 59.172' W | Tregoning | The Vava'u group of Tongan islands is turning out to be a great place--excellent exchange rate (1.8 tongans to 1.0 US$), decent prices, relaxed and outgoing residents, and a beautiful harbor...with cheap moorings. So far the schedule has cricket (yep, cricket) on Wednesday, the Tongan feast/botanical garden sometime this week, and possibly swimming with humpback whales. Yep, cricket... | over 8 years ago | Show |
| 18º 39.81' S | 173º 59.112' W | Tregoning | 3-night sail from American Samoa to Neiafu, Vavau Group, Tonga, and near-perfect conditions (steady 10-15 knot winds, 5-foot seas) until the last night, when winds became very light and variable, but seas got bigger. Dock arrangement for checking into Tonga is pretty nasty, but officials were very easy to work with, and provided very helpful info about Neiafu. Grabbed a mooring ball from Beluga Dive Shop and were asleep before 8 pm...oh yeah, and it's tomorrow here... | over 8 years ago | Show |
| 16º 8.898' S | 172º 30.198' W | Tregoning | Winds getting fairly light, but very little swell so it's not bad. Probably have to start the motor to make sure we get to Tonga on Monday, before strong south winds pick up on Tuesday (see, that's actually Tuesday in Tonga, and winds on Wednesday, since they've decided to go with the nations that actually are on the other side of the date line...) | over 8 years ago | Show |
| 14º 24.978' S | 170º 46.728' W | Tregoning | Left American Samoa this morning, and hooray! our anchor came up on the first try. The harbor is famously littered with tons of junk metal, and many a boat has had to hire a diver to untangle the anchor line. It's good to be lucky.
Should arrive in Tonga in three days with a crossing of the Int'l Date Line thrown in to boot. ...and Go Gators! | over 8 years ago | Show |
| 14º 16.422' S | 170º 41.628' W | Tregoning | Today the real scavenger hunt begins...looking for the Apple Store to buy a new iPod (sorry Shev, but your old one finally died...). We might head south to Tonga on Friday as the winds have died down nicely. | over 8 years ago | Show |
| 14º 16.422' S | 170º 41.628' W | Tregoning | Wind continues at 20+ knots, but the anchor is holding solidly, so we'll probably do a bit of island exploring today. The more we see of American Samoa the more we like it. | over 8 years ago | Show |
| 14º 16.422' S | 170º 41.628' W | Tregoning | Still in Pago Pago, American Samoa, but limited in what we both can do because of the extremely poor holding in the anchorage, and gusts up to 30 knots fairly regularly the past few days. Alison went on a National Park Service tour yesterday and added a few new birds to the list. You should see me in my lava-lava... | over 8 years ago | Show |
| 14º 16.41' S | 170º 41.622' W | Tregoning | Sorry about the non-posting, but no radio waves get in or out of this very confined harbor, and no internet until yesterday...
Arrived in American Samoa, Pago Pago Harbor, Monday about 9 am after a beautiful motor-sailing for our last night before landfall...the wind died. Am Sam (hey, I'm an American and I can say "Am Sam" if I want...unless one of the local 300-pound-mostly-muscle local guys tells me not to...) is a very much nicer harbor and port than the (slightly out of date) cruising guides suggest. Town is tidy, people are very friendly, and all 6 (yep, 6) authorities that came on the boat were very professional and happy to see us. One-and-one-half hours of scavenger hunt (port captain, port security, immigration, marina) we were all checked-in...then we tried to anchor... | over 8 years ago | Show |
| 13º 39.3' S | 168º 48.798' W | Tregoning | Pretty squally weather, with lots of rain and a touch of cloud lightning, but should be in American Samoa tomorrow (Monday) morning. Ate the last of Ali's wonderful pizza last night...I miss it already...and will finish the last of the 20 chocolate cupcakes (tonight), that were meant for the students at the school in Penrhyn but wound up having to eat them ourselves... | over 8 years ago | Show |
| 11º 55.902' S | 164º 7.902' W | Tregoning | ...change of plans--some nasty weather shaping up around our last legs into Tonga, so we've made a right turn and will head to American Samoa instead. Probably arrive mid-day on Sunday. Wind has been good, but seas have been sloppy with swells from several directions, and plenty of wind chop on top. Maybe it will settle down now that we've turned? | over 8 years ago | Show |
| 8º 57.552' S | 157º 55.71' W | Tregoning | ...time to leave Penrhyn...it's been a wonderful experience, and yesterday visiting the school was one of the best parts. The kids sang for us, tried to explain the rules of the cricket-baseball-dodge-ball-kick-the-can game they were playing, and very shyly introduced themselves one at a time. We left the bag of school supplies with one of the teachers (there are two, one for pre-school, one for all the rest), took the standard group photo, tried to fix Mr. T's freezer (no luck), said goodbye to Sai'itu and Roliki Marsters, and headed back to Tregoning to get ready for the trip to Tonga (unless the weather deteriorates, in which case we'll probably go to American Samoa until it gets better). | over 8 years ago | Show |
| 8º 57.552' S | 157º 55.71' W | Tregoning | Biggest manta rays we've ever seen yesterday, four with an accompanying spotted eagle ray. We re-visited the best coral garden near the east pass, and yep, highest count of black-tipped sharks at one time was nine again...must be a union thing. Off to church today, and abiding by the local do-no-work-on-Sunday rule, although we are allowed to use our dinghy to get to shore. Long-sleeved shirt and long pants...it's been a long time. Plan is to head toward Tonga on Tuesday, weather permitting. | over 8 years ago | Show |
| 8º 57.552' S | 157º 55.71' W | Tregoning | Next time you're in the Cook Islands, check out the coral and fish just inside the east pass on Penrhyn Island. Yesterday was the most spectacular coral display we've seen anywhere on the planet so far (yep, we've still got Tonga and the Great Barrier Reef, and many more). It is a VERY healthy reef, evidenced by the plentiful black-tipped sharks (plus one white-tipped, and one grey reef shark)--nine swimming gently around us was the most I counted at any one time, and rarely more than a few seconds without at least one checking us out. No signs of aggression, and the locals pay them no attention at all (atoll?). | over 8 years ago | Show |
| 8º 57.552' S | 157º 55.71' W | Tregoning | ...forgot to update location...here's where we really are... | over 8 years ago | Show |
| 8º 57.978' S | 158º 3.18' W | Tregoning | Whew...made it into the lagoon when the wind shifted north-east yesterday (Tuesday), and very glad that we could because the wind shift kicked up a nasty 2-foot wind swell that wrapped around the northern part of Penrhyn and arrived beam-on. Add that to the steady south-west swell we'd already experienced, and not much sleep was had Monday night. Shouldn't there be some way of making electricity using a rolling sailboat? Checked in with very friendly inspector on the west side of the lagoon, and then met his father-in-law the custom's inspector mid-lagoon. Had a nice chat about life in Penrhyn as we hauled father-in-law (and towed his boat) to the town on the east side. Now to explore! | over 8 years ago | Show |
| 8º 57.978' S | 158º 3.18' W | Tregoning | We are safe and sound...and almost in Penrhyn. Strong easterlies (20+ knots) kicked up a pretty big chop inside the lagoon, so after trying to get an anchor down in and around the coral heads. we finally gave up and anchored just outside of the entrance pass. We'll try again tomorrow. All is well, and I'm deep into my we've-arrived-and-we're-alive rum rashion! | over 8 years ago | Show |
| 11º 28.86' S | 158º 12.222' W | Tregoning | Scooting along nicely at 7-8 knots in 20-25 knots of wind. Should arrive at Penrhyn tomorrow (Friday) morning. Lots of official checking in to do when we get there (Penrhyn is a New Zealand affiliate), but then we can move across the lagoon to get some protection from wind and waves--then we explore Penrhyn. We have the best of reasons for coming here (which few people do...it's rather out of the way): Alison went to school in an English town named Penryn...see? | over 8 years ago | Show |
| 15º 40.602' S | 153º 42.3' W | Tregoning | Left Bora Bora and French Polynesia (sniff...) yesterday (Monday) at 10 am, with intentions of going to Penrhyn, the northernmost of the Cook Islands. We'll see...weather is conspiring against us and Suwarrow (middle of the Cook Islands) is an alternate option. Scooting right along in 20-25 knots most of the night, but now down to the mid-teens. Several terns screeching at us in the middle of the night, but I honestly have no idea what they wanted... | over 8 years ago | Show |
| 16º 30.042' S | 151º 45.372' W | Tregoning | ...sittin' in the Post Office catching up on what all of you have been doing since we last had decent internet access many months ago. We officially check out of French Polynesia tomorrow (Saturday) and will head northwest to Penrhyn (Cook Islands/New Zealand) on Sunday. We wrapped up the tremendous snorkeling in French Polynesia yesterday with a brilliantly clear-water snorkel at the south end of Bora Bora. We will miss this... | almost 9 years ago | Show |
| 16º 30.732' S | 151º 46.218' W | Tregoning | Jumped across from Raiatea to Bora Bora this afternoon, with odd 15-20 knot south winds and a few sprinkles. Turns out we're sitting in the middle of the Southern Convergence Zone, which will mean unsettled weather for another day or so. My visa is up Sunday, so here's hoping the trades return by then. Walked up the road to the top of the big cliff overlooking the town at the north end of Raiatea yesterday--about killed me, but the view! | almost 9 years ago | Show |
| 16º 36.858' S | 151º 32.7' W | Tregoning | Snorkeled the same coral garden that we drifted thru yesterday afternoon, on the eastern side of Taha'a, only this time we invited Phil (S/V Angela) to join us. Saw our first lion fish in French Polynesia. Phil is only the 2nd Tasmanian I've met. Then we returned to Ra'iatea to track down some propane. We'll stay here a couple of nights, then head to Bora Bora. | almost 9 years ago | Show |
| 16º 36.858' S | 151º 32.7' W | Tregoning | Anchored here at the NW corner of Tahaa (between Tahiti and Bora Bora), after an odd snorkel yesterday near a large resort. No fins allowed (it's shallow and fins were apparently damaging the reef), and the swift current running thru the pass made the snorkel more of a luge run than a sight-seeing adventure. Oh well, water was extremely clear and the fish were friendly (ie...somebody's been feedin' us!). | almost 9 years ago | Show |
| 16º 50.64' S | 151º 21.69' W | Tregoning | Very pleasant anchored in deep (90 ft) water about half-way up the narrow bay at the southeast corner of Rai'atea. Excellent snorkel yesterday--not a great abundance of fish, but beautiful coral. Spent earlier part of day at the "most significant marae (religious/social) site in French Polynesia." Strong (to 25 knots) east winds last night, but held beautifully even with only a 2 1/2 to 1 scope on the anchor rode. | almost 9 years ago | Show |
| 16º 43.068' S | 151º 2.268' W | Tregoning | Today we leave Huahine, and with some sadness. This has been one of our favorite places, capped with a bicycle circumnavigation (with snorkel) of the bigger of the two connected islands. More miles than I needed, and walking the bikes up some VERY steep (15%? Come on...measured by whom!) grades, but beautiful and a real chance to soak up the living conditions. I could live here...off to Raiatea/Tahaa. | almost 9 years ago | Show |
| 16º 43.092' S | 151º 2.25' W | Tregoning | Just arrived in Huahine, hopefully in time for Bastille Day festivities tomorrow. Outrigger-canoe races going around us as we anchored. | almost 9 years ago | Show |
| 17º 30.15' S | 149º 49.338' W | Tregoning | Spectacular walk (OK, we got a ride to the top...) up the steep peaks of Mo'orea, to the Belveder Lookout at the base of the pinnacles that formed the backdrop for the movie South Pacific. Then a leisurely wander back down the road, a stop at an excellent excavation of archery pits and religious sites, and ice cream at the Agricultural College (of course) before a beautiful dinghy-ride back to Tregoning. | almost 9 years ago | Show |
| 17º 28.902' S | 149º 48.9' W | Tregoning | Sitting on the porch outside the Post Office on Moorea, with 12 minutes left on my ManaSpot connect-to-the-internet card...gotta type fast. Interesting snorkel yesterday, with a good variety of fish, but coral in not good shape with lots of brown algae. Wound up in front of the Hilton Hotel-on-stilts-over-the-water, then followed the tour-boat traffic to find the deeper water back to Tregoning. | almost 9 years ago | Show |
| 17º 30.15' S | 149º 49.338' W | Tregoning | Very relaxing here in the beautiful Cook Bay anchorage at Moorea, Society Islands. Rotisserie chicken last night, which for $13 (whole chicken) compared very favorably with the high restaurant prices. Pancakes for $15 makes me want to sell some of mine. We'll snorkel at the pass today, and then head around the corner to Opunohu Bay where you can join the crowd hand-feeding sardines to sting rays and black-tipped sharks (small). Not positive that I need sting rays crawling all over me... | almost 9 years ago | Show |
| 17º 32.388' S | 149º 34.182' W | Tregoning | Left Pape'ete yesterday about noon, got fuel at Marina Taina south of the airport (yep, have to check in with Harbor Captain as you approach both ends of the runway to see if a 747 is about to rip your mast off), then up to Point Venus for the night...where Captain Cook recorded (sketches?) the transit of Venus across the sun (1769) for the Royal Society of England (probably not exactly the correct name) to help calculate the distance from the earth to the sun..hence Point Venus, and hence Society Islands...
| almost 9 years ago | Show |
| 16º 51.732' S | 144º 39.798' W | Tregoning | Very much enjoying Pape'ete, and we got tickets for the opening night ceremonies of this year's Heiva celebration (dancing, canoe races, contests like hitting a coconut suspended 50 feet above the ground with a thin wood spear...and the good ones do it consistently). Found a few things we needed in town yesterday, but struck out looking for a roll of copper foil...the side-band radio ground plane copper is falling apart. | almost 9 years ago | Show |
| 15º 48.168' S | 146º 9.09' W | Tregoning | Arrived yesterday in Tahiti (sorry about the delay, but no radio connection during the trip), after a two-night-no-wind-barely-undulating-seas crossing. Very relaxing, and it's amazing how well you can sleep with no waves! Pape'ete seems wonderful based on a brief walk-around yesterday afternoon, and you should google Pape'ete AND roulotte to see how well you can eat for very reasonable $$. $15 for a HUGE t-bone (remember, I'm a facultative chicken-and-fish-vegetarian...), French green beans and pomme frites! All parked right next to the waterfront, along the beautifully sculptured and manicured waterfront park-and-walkway. Next we rent scooters! And tomorrow a big parade (I love...!). | almost 9 years ago | Show |
| 15º 48.168' S | 146º 9.09' W | Tregoning | Having a great time on Toau Atoll, and our first snorkeling OUTSIDE the reef...beautiful, with a very impressive drop-off to a few thousand feet. Tomorrow (Thursday) we head to Pape'ete, Tahiti and the big city. | almost 9 years ago | Show |
| 16º 51.732' S | 144º 39.798' W | Tregoning | Plan is to leave Tahanea about noon today, and overnight to Toau, where Gaston and Valentine have mooring balls ($5/night!) and offer a fixed-price feast, both of which sound great, and (surprisingly) the mooring balls sound as good as the feast--anchoring in and around coral heads (with extreme care to minimize damage to coral) is a bit trying. | almost 9 years ago | Show |
| 16º 50.868' S | 144º 41.718' W | Tregoning | Still at Tahanea Atoll, and I think Alison is up to 160 new fish species since we arrived in French Polynesia...I recognize two of them... | almost 9 years ago | Show |
| 16º 50.868' S | 144º 41.718' W | Tregoning | almost 9 years ago | Show | |
| 16º 50.868' S | 144º 41.718' W | Tregoning | Arrived at Tahanea (Tuamotu Islands, French Polynesia) on Thursday (today's Saturday), and had an excellent snorkel in the entrance pass yesterday...and then the 20-k winds arrived...a bit rolly... | almost 9 years ago | Show |
| 16º 30.36' S | 145º 27.432' W | Tregoning | Here at the south end of Fakarava, is the gin-clear water, coral in abundance and variety that I never knew existed, and fish (including MANY, but small sharks) in profusion that has Alison dancing with delight! Truly magical day... | almost 9 years ago | Show |
| 14º 32.268' S | 146º 21.558' W | Tregoning | Fakarava is a happenin' place, with dive shops, restaurants, and stores with frozen things, like ice cream...and tomorrow we join a few other cruising couple for a tour of a pearl farm, which features pick-an-oyster-and-you-get-the-pearl...and cheeseburgers! | almost 9 years ago | Show |
| 14º 32.268' S | 146º 21.558' W | Tregoning | OK, we THOUGHT we'd leave Ahe Atoll and head to Fakarava Atoll this morning, but the winds came up pretty strong overnight, and we'll try again Tuesday morning. | almost 9 years ago | Show |
| 14º 32.268' S | 146º 21.558' W | Tregoning | Will leave Ahe Atoll and head to Fakarava Atoll tomorrow morning. Should be a one-nighter and get there around noon on Tuesday. The snorkeling here has been excellent with lots of new fish species, and the most beautiful giant clams you can imagine...go ahead, imagine... | almost 9 years ago | Show |
| 14º 32.268' S | 146º 21.558' W | Tregoning | Almost made it to Mahini Atoll before sundown last night...almost. So we spent the night sort-of-hove-too, with a tiny bit of backwinded jib and no mainsail (plenty of windage at the mid- and stern of Tregoningz-, ghosting downwind to Ahe Atoll in 20 knot winds and arriving at dawn. Now tucked in very nicely off the small village inside the lagoon. Sleep today, snorkel tomorrow! | almost 9 years ago | Show |
| 12º 5.568' S | 142º 53.208' W | Tregoning | Left for the Tuamotus on Saturday, and will probably arrive on Tuesday or Wednesday. Plenty of wind...and waves... | almost 9 years ago | Show |
| 8º 57.0' S | 140º 9.792' W | Tregoning | Arrived here at Daniel's Bay, Nuka Hiva, yesterday afternoon, and have enjoyed the spectacularly sheer cliffs and quiet water surrounding us. Boat jobs today (yea! with some screwdriver-assistance the macerator worked without having to undo the plumbing lines!), but we'll take the 2 1/2 hour (each way...) hike up to the waterfall tomorrow, then get ready to head to the Tuamotus in another day or so. Nine boats anchored here with us tonight, so we probably won't be lonely on the trail tomorrow.
If you leave a plantain in the hanging basket unattended for long enough, it turns to liquid...no plantain for breakfast tomorrow... | almost 9 years ago | Show |
| 8º 55.002' S | 140º 6.0' W | Tregoning | Still on Nuka Hiva, but heading to a more secluded (we hope) anchorage this afternoon. It's gotten very rolly here, although the village has been wonderful to visit. Pizza and wine last night...yep, FRENCH Polynesia. Turns out the huge M5 Mirabella anchored here as well is the world's largest single-masted sailboat, complete with seaplane perched at the stern. Very nice crew people (16 in total), and very considerate when they move slowly thru the anchored boats in one of their many ship-to-shore craft. | almost 9 years ago | Show |
| 8º 55.002' S | 140º 6.0' W | Tregoning | Excellent news...the fuel supply ship came in yesterday, and we'll be able to start jerry-jugging diesel on Monday. While we're still enjoying Nuka Hiva, we're leaning toward heading to the Tuamotu Islands sometime during this next week. They promise quiet anchorages with unlimited-visibility snorkeling--sounds good! | almost 9 years ago | Show |
| 9º 54.432' S | 139º 6.282' W | Tregoning | Yea! Back in the land of (free!) wifi, so we can see if the world has held together in our absence...parked nicely in the southern anchorage at Nuka Hiva, not terrible far from what must be a 200-foot sailboat...with seaplane parked on stern. I know I personally prefer stepping into my seaplane to see what the waterfall looks like, versus actually WALKING!
Plenty of cool stuff to see here, and things like restaurants and rum...civilization can be good. | almost 9 years ago | Show |
| 9º 54.432' S | 139º 6.282' W | Tregoning | Leaving Baie Hanamoenoa anchorage on Ile Tahuata this evening for an overnight jump NW to Ua Pou, anchoring at Hakahetau tomorrow morning if there is room. Where we are now had 17 boats anchored when we arrived, but down to 7 this afternoon. Turns out we aren't the only ones doing this...
| almost 9 years ago | Show |
| 9º 48.258' S | 139º 1.908' W | Tregoning | Left Hiva Oa this morning, after spending most of yesterday afternoon and evening watching anchored boats pulling loose from their stern anchors and drifting closer to us than was comfortable...last crew returned to the closest boat to us some time after we went to bed. No damage done.
Hopped the 8-10 miles to Baie Hanamoenoa on Ile Tahuata, which is listed as one of the three most beautiful anchorages in Polynesia. It's best feature was an absence of the incredible rolliness of Atuona on Hiva Oa...and actually, that's the second best feature--the best was the very clear water snorkeling this afternoon, with a whole cadre of new fish for Alison to sort out, and one small black-tipped reef shark. | almost 9 years ago | Show |
| 8º 50.412' S | 137º 36.48' W | Tregoning | We have arrived, and all is very well. Boosted by 20 knots of aft-quarter wind, we barreled into Atuona, Hiva Oa, about 4 o'clock in the afternoon local time (9 1/2 hours from GMT...1/2 hour...not sure what that gets you...). Crowded anchorage (EVERYBODY checks in to Tahiti Nui here...) with bow and stern hooks, but we got them down fairly easily and cinched up tight. Tomorrow we meet Sandra, our Tahitian check-in agent...and we spend the rest of the day putting stuff away in the cabin. You can not believe...! | almost 9 years ago | Show |
| 7º 12.252' S | 135º 36.978' W | Tregoning | Winds have been OK and fairly steady, although lighter than expected. Looks like arrival on Monday, 4 May, and we are both ready for a long quiet sleep...and baguettes! | about 9 years ago | Show |
| 4º 30.3' S | 132º 40.902' W | Tregoning | Excellent winds the past couple of days, and we are making very good progress. Looks like arrival on Sunday or Monday. | about 9 years ago | Show |
| 0º 4.98' S | 127º 38.058' W | Tregoning | We crossed the equator about 4 o'clock this afternoon, and had a small rum-toast to Neptune and each other. Had about one hour of actual wind (OK, just 7 or 8 knots, but better than nothing) so we'll keep motoring south until the breezes blow. | about 9 years ago | Show |
| 3º 44.112' N | 125º 9.318' W | Tregoning | Not much wind, but no real major thunderstorms so on balance, still doin' fine.
| about 9 years ago | Show |
| 8º 16.098' N | 123º 55.8' W | Tregoning | Still moving south nicely, but not quite as fast--something is tearing up the halyard for the asymmetrical spinnaker at the sheave at the top of the mast. We've tried various ways of protecting the line, but won't be able to use the spinnaker until I can climb the mast and see exactly what is going wrong. Also had the top part of the self-steering wind vane blade disintegrate a couple of days ago, so we're using the electrical autopilot and being very conservative on other power usage.
Finally had some good ol' tropical downpour yesterday evening, so the decks are washed off nicely. All is still well on board, and if nothing broke, it wouldn't be an adventure... | about 9 years ago | Show |
| 13º 50.688' N | 120º 30.798' W | Tregoning | We are steadily gybing our way to the Equator, with good winds and
following seas. Have had a few things break (one of the three reefing lines for the mainsail, and gouged some holes in the halyard for the asymmetrical spinnaker), but nothing that can't be fairly easily fixed or replaced. Couple of flying fish fail to flop their way back off the deck at night, and last night Ali found a very small squid inking up the spinnaker storage bag. Sushi anyone? I've gone thru all the avacados and artichokes, but Ali's curries and chowders have kept the culinary standards high, and we haven't resorted to Spam yet... | about 9 years ago | Show |
| 16º 0.9' N | 115º 37.098' W | Tregoning | Finally, some steadier winds this morning! Quite a few spinner dolphins yesterday, but haven't seen a whale since we left the coast of Mexico. Lots of puffy white tropical clouds the past couple of days, and a few showers near us, but we haven't felt a drop yet. Wouldn't be bad to wash a bit of the salt off, although I'm perfectly content to wait as long as possible before we get the doldrums thunder-boomers. Lots of flying fish around, but we still don't have room in the fridge for even a small mahi mahi...maybe tomorrow? We had the asymmetrical spinnaker up yesterday and maintained pretty good boat speed even with light winds. Took it down in the middle of the night when the wind disappeared...always fun in the middle of the night in 6-foot seas... | about 9 years ago | Show |
| 18º 26.862' N | 111º 8.91' W | Tregoning | Got to cruise by Isla Socorro night before last--that's the Mexican navy base island that gets hammered by hurricanes on a very regular basis. There is a small bay/anchorage there, and we have heard that the navy now lets boats like ours hang out for a bit, but our anchor is tucked away in the bottom of the boat (one less thing to worry about on deck, and helps with the weight balance) and we're on the move! Good wind all last night...hope it lasts. Masked booby working the flying fish next to the boat this morning, but catching no better than one out of three attempts. I probably should get the hooks in the water today. | about 9 years ago | Show |
| 19º 8.502' N | 109º 33.798' W | Tregoning | It's great to wake up in the morning to hear the engine off, the sails up, wind blowing and significant progress being made--thank you Ali (that's for making all the engine/sail changes without me waking up...although at times she may claim to play some role in the actual production of ocean breezes). Now let's hope it lasts for more than a few hours. One lonely sea lion yesterday, with all four flippers held rigidly above the surface, and not at all fazed by a sailboat wandering past only a few dozen feet away. Lots of commercial ship traffic, and two ships passing within half a mile--both responding quickly to friendly calls on the VHF. | about 9 years ago | Show |
| 19º 40.8' N | 107º 40.002' W | Tregoning | ...hmmm...still not much wind, so we motored several hours last night. Our current location is deep in the midst of north-south commercial shipping, with 10-14 cargo ships on the plotter (AIS) screen much of the night. Maybe today we hit the trades? | about 9 years ago | Show |
| 20º 33.39' N | 106º 8.682' W | Tregoning | Left Puerto Vallarta yesterday about 1:30 pm, and headed out; winds died late in the afternoon so we could still see Mexico the next morning. Forecast improvements in wind are now not as likely...but the seas are fairly flat and the weather is nice. | about 9 years ago | Show |
| 20º 42.0' N | 105º 17.58' W | Tregoning | about 9 years ago | Show | |
| 20º 42.0' N | 105º 17.58' W | Tregoning | We hope to head out to the Marquesas on Tuesday, 7 April! | about 9 years ago | Show |
| 20º 41.7' N | 105º 17.598' W | Tregoning | Enjoying our stay at Paradise Marina in Puerto Vallarta, and mid-provisioning for the upcoming months. Boat projects today not so exciting...filling a few tiny holes we found along the toe-rail. Good CPR class yesterday, and I hope Ali was paying attention! | about 9 years ago | Show |
