∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞

 

First up then, the Stats from the Fiji-NZ transit for the Offshore savants, (and Dreamers alike).  The first and last entries (below) were partial days, but we show fairly consistent milage in between.  I plan our days at Sea to cover 180 nautical miles per day, burning 150 gallons.  As you can see, we were not far from this, (and we usually do better), but this passage certainly could not have been described as ‘favourable’ conditions.

 

 

FIJI – NZ	(2016)
	nautical miles per day	fuel burn (Gallons per day)
Oct. 24th	58.1	52.8
Oct. 25th	172.3	135.1
Oct. 26th	178.7	147.6
Oct. 27th	167.7	148.3
Oct. 28th	175.7	135.7
Oct. 29th	176.6	140.2
Oct. 30th	153.2	139.4
	1082.3	899.1
		Averaging:  1.21 nm/Gal.

 

 

 

 

 

We arrived Opua, NZ, during the dead of night, exhausted but elated.  Not much to see, everything closed for the night; so we shut down INFINITY and went to bed.  The next morning, bright, full of sunshine and promise, we saw several other boats at the Customs Dock with the NZ Customs Officers already going from boat-to-boat, checking-in the 6-odd vessels that arrived during the night.  Formal entry into New Zealand was a straight-forward process.  They were expecting us, as I had been in contact with NZ Customs prior to leaving Fiji. That’s the way we like to roll on INFINITY 😉👍

Once checked-in, we decided to press-on down to Auckland, rather than stay in Opua.  We had reservations at Gulf Harbour Marina, and were keen to get established in our new ‘home’.  Who knew that we were going to spend the next 18 months in Slip N-25?

 

Our immediate goal was to take some time out from cruising and decompress awhile.  After which, I planned our time in New Zealand to be a ‘catch-up’ period – for boat maintenance, visiting my Uncle John (my Mom’s brother), and getting myself immersed back into work.  The diesel isn’t going to pay for itself!

The first week we pampered ourselves by doing nothing.  In that I mean, we slept-in often, and caught-up on some TV mini-series during rainy afternoons.  We hired a car and spent the next 3 weeks exploring the local Township of Whangaparaoa and meeting our Dock Neighbours; which N-Dock coincidentally turned out to be a mini-Nordhavn coterie!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

At the end of November, 2016, Work in India was looming, the call had finally come. We decided that Julie should go back to Vancouver and spend Christmas with family.  In the end, we flew to Vancouver together and I caught a flight to India from there.

Now, fast-forward 105 days (to Mid-March, 2017).  Work completed, money in the bank, and I’m in desperate need of a Jay-fix!  We rendezvoused in Hawaii for a week (our self-designated ‘perfect-place’), and then flew back to NZ & INFINITY together.

All good so far right?  But this is where things go awry.  😮  With a maintenance plan & some funds in place, we commenced what we assumed to be a routine period of up-keep.  Not so fast. Mr. Murphy and the Chaos sisters had other plans! The routine maintenance period turned into a few months of hard work.   (I’ve actually written about this phenomenon before, whereby I defined a period of 15 years to be the naturally occurring lifetime of any bolt-on component in a trans-oceanic vessel).  Well, many of the remaining components which were not tended to before, (without being repaired or replaced), played “GOTCHA!” this time.

Before you, lays a brief outline of what kept us on the verge of entering the Twilight Zone.  😜

 

Equipment failures & mediocre luck during the 2016 season

 

• Weld on flopper stopper pole (STBD-side) parted in the Tuamotus Islands;
  • Re-welded, and painted at Gulf Harbour machine shop
• flopper stopper wire-rigging failed in Fiji
  • Replaced with a Dyneema harness in Auckland.
• Polished some rocks with not one, but 2 propellers on our Yamaha 60HP outboard engine in Bora Bora.
  • spare prop installed, & new spare purchased and entered into inventory
• Anchor winch failure in Aitutaki.
  • parts shipped from Australia, and repaired on-site in Fiji.
• Davit slew ring loosened, NZ.
  • retightened 3 main fastening bolts, easy fix!
• FWD & Bustle bilge pumps stopped working mid ocean!
  • older units removed, & replaced with new Whale Gupler models in NZ.
• Sub Zero refrigerator condenser fan & relays stopped working in Tahiti
  • replaced on-site, after being shipped by DHL from Vancouver
• Fuel leak on 20KW Generator fuel pump. Replacement required in Rarotonga
  • new fuel pump shipped from Seattle (Hatton Marine),,, love those guys.
• Upper-Aft-Deck Cushion lost  (blown off in Bora Bora)
  • replaced in Fiji  (we’re still in therapy with this one)
• Stbd Stabilizer HP-Gauge failed. Mid ocean!  (still too soon to talk about)
  • effected an immediate repair, & refilled header tank with spare Hydraulic. fluid  (Thank God we had spare!)
• HYD oil cooler impeller failed while in transit, during extremely rough weather
  • straight-forward swap – although did require shutting off the main engine mid-ocean  😮
• lost my iPad in Hawaii
  • please, let’s move on.
• hydraulic hose burst, emptying all 12 gallons of Hydraulic oil out of the Reservoir (again)
  • Okie dokie, locate spare oil, overalls on, engine off, effect repair, fill up tank, engine on, on we go!
• TRACE inverter failed, so replaced both
  • Replaced with 2 new Outback Inverters, nice!
• ITR Furnace fuel pump failed (tear in diaphram)
  • straight-forward repair
• hot water tank failed  /  had to remove  (this job was a nightmare)
  • Replaced with a new Torrid stainless steel unit, shipped from Seattle
• Inverters and hot water tank were both ‘lost’ in NZ Customs.
  • Around two weeks MIA, fortunately we had other work to occupy us 😬
• iPhone lost overboard, just too add insult to injury ; )
  • silver lining here, replaced with a shiny new-to-me iPhone 6
• Underwater cleaning tool (Wave Blade) failed.
  • One tool NOT recommended by me, but at least it did work well for a couple of years.
• Dive Compressor belt split, of course had no spare at the time.
  • Supplier located in NZ and ordered 2 spare.
• Dive Compressor HP gauge failure.
  • BAUER supplier located in NZ, gauge replaced along with new HP fill-whip for good measure.

 

 

What can I say?  It was a challenging time!!**
However,,, we came to terms that we both like to have INFINITY fully operational and looking great, and this was just necessary maintenance after cruising for an extended period of time.  And while we were at it, we slotted in a few more projects and vessel upgrades:  (a few to be detailed later in our Projects section)

 

**One thing I can absolutely guarantee a couple considering crossing oceans in their boat is that equipment will break down, and you will get though it. The blessing, or the beauty in this for me, was that these very trying times actually brought Julie and I closer together because we got through all these events together.   I came to understand that I can trust my partner in any situation, and she would actually be my number one pick for any ocean transit.  After 35 years of marriage (at the time) it was an epiphany for me to realize this.  As I write this, I’m both humbled and honoured to have had this time, and these experiences together.  So you potential cruising aficionados, get on it, stop dilly-dallying, buy the boat and get out there!  The cruising life is full of potential enrichment and experience, even when the chips are down.

 

∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞

 

To break up the hectic work-scope on the boat, we’d take INFINITY out to the local Islands to keep our souls engaged in the Cruising game, and revive this wonderful lifestyle.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Every blue moon, when you and the universe are connected, the gift of friendship-for-life is bestowed upon us.  It happened to us in New Zealand with Murray and Julie Bailey. A chance meeting I guess, fairly innocuous.  I’d noticed this guy cleaning his boat one day (80′ custom, ‘AZZARRA’) and we’d exchange the “I’d rather be doing something else” look at each other.  This happened on a few occasions and over the course of a week we’d stop and chat.  We learned that he too, was happily married of many years, to a ‘Julie’

I began to look forward to our chats, and within a month our door was always open to this most wonderful couple.  As often as our schedules would allow, we’d share a dinner together, and of course they invited us to their amazing property looking out over the Hauraki Gulf.

Cruising is, and always will be, most about the wonderful people you meet along the way.  My take on it is that if we had not made the bold choice to cross oceans, and visit distant shores, we would not have met the souls who have enriched our lives. It’s actually not about the boat, it’s about the people – the boat is the icing on the cake🧁

∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞

 

 

With many of the projects, and maintenance, and 5 months behind us, we decided a Road Trip was in order!  We had no specific plans other than to head to the South Island.  I did a quick scan of Google-Earth and marked out a few places of interest:

Wellington:          we had to catch the Ferry there

Christchurch:      the location of a Trimaran builder Farrier Marine

Queenstown:      I have some friends that live there

So with a very loose agenda in hand, we took off.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Wellington declared itself a Nuclear Free zone in a benchmark vote, which 5 years later was adopted by the whole country.  Nuclear powered vessels are barred from entering all NZ ports.  The reaction was interesting – New Zealand was officially downgraded from ALLY to FRIEND status.  Fast forward to 2018, the US is in the process of approving easier trade and investment agreements.  We certainly did not see any evidence that the Nuclear-free decision caused any harm what-so-ever.  In fact, the waterfront city was named the world’s most livable City by Deutsche Bank.  I believe the factors were cost of living, climate, safety and pollution levels.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Having arrived Christchurch, we discovered the best way to tour the city is by hopping on & off the Tram that weaves its way through the city, stopping at all the attractions.

 

 

 

 

 

We found the City to be an eclectic blend of the old and the new.  Not too long ago, Christchurch experienced quite a severe Earthquake, and the rebuild process was evident everywhere.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

On our way again, next stop, Queenstown!!

And here I have to introduce you to another great friend, Mr. Martin Hardy.  Martin and I worked together in Trinidad, Singapore, and China, and we have kept in touch over the years.  Turns out he had a property in Queenstown which was coincidently available.  “Why don’t you guys stay there” he said.  He did not have to ask twice.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In 1986, I was working in Saudi Arabia with another Diver called Stuart Anderson.  He had spent some time in New Zealand and kept raving on about this Jet Boat ride, saying I just HAD to do it.  Stuart, you were not wrong!

CHECK OUT THIS LINK, HERE.

 

Julie and spent a few days and nights just walking around Queenstown with no other agenda other than to explore the town at our leisure.  Our Digs were only a mile out of town, so there was no rush to do anything.  On impulse, we thought we’d check out the ICE BAR.  (Actually, I think we had free tickets 😜)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We had heard that this place, called  ‘The Cow’  was pretty cool, so on a cool afternoon we checked it out.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A bit further afield, probably 20 minutes drive from Queenstown, was this delightful little area known as Arrowtown.   “Where History meets Nature”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It was time we were heading back up North again.  We took the route heading west, past Milford Sound (sadly) and up the west coast of the South Island, stopping whenever the mood took us (quite frequently as it happened 😜)

 

 

 

 

 

Meet Zach Rohland.  We first met this fine young man in North Vancouver, dockside, helping his family bring their boat ‘FAMILY TIME’ alongside.  Months later, we all met up in San Diego.  We decided there, that we would loosely ‘buddy-boat’ down the Mexican coast, and up the Sea of Cortez, to La Paz.  We spent months together in 2013 with the Rohlands, and just knew we’d all run into each other again.  Cruisers do that.  So I wasn’t really that surprised when I got a text saying “where are you, I’m in New Zealand”.  Well one can’t leave Divine intervention like that unattended, so after a series of texts, and hundreds of miles of driving over multiple days, we finally met up for one night in Tauranga, North Island.  It was like we had seen each other yesterday!

We spent the evening catching up, devouring two large Pizzas, and recounted what each of us had been doing over the last 4 years.  Zach had been in this area for a few days and asked if we were going to see Hobbiton while we were so close?  Why not?  While the whole Hobbit thing does nothing for me, I do think that the Lord of the Rings was Epic, so we put it on the agenda.

 

 

 

 

 

Hobbiton turned out to be a great day, and a fun experience.  Those impromptu events usually are.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

After the the Hobbiton visit, we pointed our car North again, back home to Gulf Harbour Marina, to our friends and INFINITY.  We are always happy to rejoin INFINITY, even if it’s been just a few weeks away.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

After this downtime in New Zealand, I got a call from work to report on the status of a new-build Diving Support Vessel, which was being built for the company in Norway.  It was supposed to be a two or three-day affair.  In-&-out.  To this very day, (two years later) I’m still working on the same boat.  You can read all about the vessel delivery trip, from Norway to Singapore, here.

 

I travelled back & forth from Auckland to Alesund over the next 6 months, Julie and I patiently waiting for a favourable time to move on to New Caledonia.  Finally, we managed a slot when INFINITY was ready for Sea, and I had a clearing of time away from work.

 

BULA!   Welcome to FIJI !

Uncharacteristically, this FIJI Listing is going to be a long one. I warmly suggest you dig into it when you have your favourite beverage by your side, and a clear 35 minutes… : )

Fiji wass our penultimate destination for 2016, and more-than-managed to live up to the magnificent reputation our cruising peers suggested it might be.   In a word ,,, Awesome!

 

AITUTAKI  –  FIJI   (arrived Aug/29/2016)

Total trip time:  7 days, 16 hours

Total trip distance:  1360 nm

Total fuel used:  1012 gals.  /  1.34 nm/gal

 

 

 

First things first though. If you have frequented our blog in the past, you may recall our anchor winch failing (almost catastrophically) in Aitutaki, Cook Islands, during our final recovery.  Not understanding what mechanical support lie ahead in Tonga, we decided to by-pass Tonga, and head directly to Fiji where support was assured.   (I am SO glad we topped-up our tanks with Tahiti’s duty-free diesel when we had the chance  ????).  However, arriving FIJI under such conditions (an unplanned destination, and the ability for us to change plans quickly), was immensely rewarding.

During our transit to Fiji, I made contact with James Ellingford / N62-PENDANA.   James confirmed that Port Denarau Marina was indeed the place to go, and offered to manage our arrival in Fiji with Customs, Agents, and service providers.   All was waiting on the quayside when we arrived.  Thank-you James!

 

PORT DENARAU

After the legalities of checking into Fiji were completed, we immediately tore into the Hydraulic Winch problem.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The project got off to a good start.  We identified all the parts required, and left the ordering of parts in the service providers hands.  We then decided to rent a car for a few days and check out Nadi while our parts were to be flown into Fiji from New Zealand.  Not my brightest move.  Julie and I usually handle all repairs ourselves.  This time however, I decided to hire professionals to quarterback the project as I was exhausted, both mentally and physically from the anchor-failure-drama, and the week-long transit to Fiji.  The last two days of which I was on ‘high-alert’ as we threaded our way through Fiji’s insufficiently-charted waters.

It seems there was an issue behind the scenes, between the NZ distributor and Maxwell.  Old part numbers conflicting with new Maxwell 3500 HWC drawings.  Days rolled on.  When I inquired about the delay, only then was I informed about the issue.  (The British have a saying – “I was beside myself!“)

In retrospect, I blame only myself.  I should have ordered the parts myself (as we always have done) and managed the entire project between us (as we usually do).  The delay in receiving the parts was further complicated by the Marina needing our slip for other pre-booked vessels.  We played dock chess for a week, moving 5 times during our stay.  Ali @ PDM was a star.  Ali – God bless you my friend.

Our agent, Josephine Morris (Jo), from Yacht Partners Fiji, cleared the parts through Customs and had them delivered to our boat in hours.  Jo continued to provide exemplary service to INFINITY  throughout our entire time while in Fijian waters.  + 10!

Our hydraulic windless was rebuilt in just a few hours, then function tested and put back into service.  I suppose we’ll never know for sure what the exact root cause of the failure was, and I have many theories.  But having stripped and rebuilt the unit, I’m convinced of the Maxwell quality and satisfied INFINITY  is good-to-go for another 16 years.

 

 

We rented a car for a few days, and zipped around Nadi to see what we could see.  The Sleeping Giant mountain was repeatedly suggested as something you should see, so we drove out to the Botanical gardens.

 

 

 

Normally, I’m not really a flower guy.  Oh I can appreciate it alright, like when Julie and I used to get ‘garden-fever’ when we owned our house, but I thought of this trip out to the Gardens more as something to occupy some time.  I was pleasantly surprised by the tranquil energy and vibe of the place.  In  fact, I’d welcome the chance to visit the local ‘Gardens’ in any future destinations we go to.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The next day we headed out to familiar territory, and tried-out the  Sleeping Giant Zip-Line.  Just the drive out there was an adventure in itself.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And of course no visit to a new destination is complete without dropping-in to the local Market.

 

 

 

During our stay at Port Denarau, we met a great couple (Gerard & Trish Knight).  Yes, Gerard Knight is James Knight’s brother.    We enjoyed a fun afternoon together, and invited them over to the marina for some cocktails on  INFINITY.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We were asked if a Nordhavn Rally was taking place because there were 5 Nordhavns gracing the docks, 1 x N60,  2 x N62’s, 1 x N75 EYF, and 1 x N78.  I t was cool spending time with the Captains, and the owners.  As you might have guessed, all good people     :  )

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

While sitting at the ‘Rhumba’ at Port Denarau Marina (PDM), sipping our rum & cokes, we watched one of the most wonderful sailboats I have ever seen, slip gracefully into Harbour.  A famous quote sprang to mind.

“Ships are the nearest things to dreams that hands have ever made.”  – Robert N. Rose

The vessel was s/v ATLANTIC, and she must be seen to be fully appreciated.  While studying the boat from our bar-stools, I had this realization come over me, ‘our days here are going to be cool’.  PDM is temporary home for many super yachts, cool yachts, and other fine ocean crossing craft.  Pinch me now.

 

 

 

 

 

INFINITY next to some big dogs.  (Helps us keep our perspective as we travel).

To our Starboard side was Senses,  (owned by the dude who owns Google).

To the Port of us was SuRi.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

MUSKET COVE

 

With our windless repaired, and our stores replenished, it was time to move on and discover FIJI.  But just around the corner was Musket Cove, a must-see location near Nandi.

 

 

 

 

 

The timing our our arrival at Muskett Cove was just perfect.  Everyday was filled with fun events, followed by an evening party.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

non-stop events, people flying-in & flying out at regular intervals, daily.

 

 

 

 

Cloud 9.  Yes, that’s right.  A Bar & Pizza joint right out in the middle of Ro-Ro Reef, opposite Malolo Island.  The only way to get there is by small boat (dinghy).  You anchor your boat just off the platform, or tie your boat right up to the platform rail as we did.  The Bar is surrounded by crystal clear water, around 20’ deep, and ideal for snorkeling.  The top level is perfect for diving-off of.  Rock music is playing and the vibe just says –“PARTY”–.  I loved this place, it was unique and a lot of fun.

 

 

 

 

 

Another great cruising event, in another fantastic tropical destination.      :  )     ????

***********************************

 

After regatta week,,, Musket Cove turned into one of the most peaceful & tranquil anchorages we’ve ever been in.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Jay & I went sailing on a Hobie Wave (a small Catamaran) this afternoon, and what great fun!!  We had such a fun afternoon, we have decided to buy a small sailing Catamaran for INFINITY.  Because we require one which can be assembled on site, our choice is between two models, the MiniCat or the SmartKat.  Which one will we choose?  Which one would you choose?  Our next Listing for New Zealand will reveal all.     ;  )

 

 

 

 

Funny story:  27 years ago Julie and I were visiting New Zealand.  Our trip to the south island was scuppered because all the Ferry’s were booked solid.  So, feeling cold and needing some warmth, we booked 10 days in Fiji instead.   27 years later we find ourselves in the exact same resort!  We spent a fun afternoon going down memory lane at the Plantation Island Resort.

 

 

 

 

Yep, 27 years ago we stood right here  (BC)  “before kids”.

 

 

 

 

 

NAVADRA ISLAND

Our first stop on the Yasawa Islands tour was Navadra Island, which consists of two islands joined together by a small inlet.  It’s the perfect Island-get-away that you dream of, and we shared the bay with only a couple of other boats during our whole time there.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

From our boat, we had the most stunning view of the hill top beside us.  I kept looking at it during my morning coffees, and mentioned to Julie how it was toying with me.  “We should climb to the top of that mount”,,,  seemed like a good idea at the time.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Monty & Margy (from s/v  WHISTLER), got their Drone out and managed to capture some great shots of INFINITY from the air.  Note to self:  must buy a Drone!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

WAYA ISLAND / NALAUWAKI BAY

 

On our next stop, just 15 nautical miles north from Navandra, is Waya Island.  We met some wonderful locals there and got some great diving in.

 

 

 

 

 

Once we met with the Chief, we were invited to walk around their village.  It left a huge impression on us, being surrounded by such lovely people.  And by lovely I mean folk without any agenda at all  (well, perhaps some Kava or fish-hooks) button attachment to the outside world or even a consideration about it.  I found the experience calming, something with a purity about it.  I liked it.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

While we were on Waya, the was a group of Volunteers from Australia rebuilding the village school that was damaged in the last Hurricane.  God bless these guys.  While social media prevails with negative stories, as Jay and I travel we consistently see good, bright, positive deeds done by wonderful people.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Back in the water for some more diving.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

NACULA ISLAND / BLUE LAGOON

Navigating through the Fijian Islands is done in daylight, and by sight only.   Many of these waters are uncharted, which make it easily the most treacherous waters we’ve had to navigate in, by far.   Vessels going aground are common.  Lately, our navigation is assisted with Satellite imagery, using an iPad app ‘MotionX-GPS HD’.  This simple software is a revelation to me and has saved our bacon once already. (entering into Blue Lagoon).

While we were anchored in Nalauwaki Bay, we spent some time with Greg & Karen (s/v ENTICE), and they mentioned a couple of activities they enjoyed during their stay in Blue Lagoon.  I have come respect the opinions of other cruisers who have gone before you.  It’s usually hard-won knowledge, and something we can capitalize on while cruising to new anchorages.  So, when they suggested we venture out to a nearby Island to buy some fresh vegetables, and go mud-crabbing with with Shirley, that sounded like a good plan.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

During one of my morning paddleboard excursions, on our third day at anchor,,, behold!  What do I see?  The sailing vessel  Red Thread – who we last saw in Tahiti!  I paddled right over and said a big hello to Jesse & Neil, who with cruising with their good friends from the USA, Katrina & Tyler.  It was a blast to see these guys again, and just reinforces why international cruising is so cool.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

All the food we gathered and caught that afternoon, was cleaned and prepared by Shirley’s family, and we we’re invited to their home to enjoy the feast.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SAWA-I-LAU  ISLAND

 

Sawa-I-Lau was yet another, quiet, tranquil anchorage in the Fijian Islands chain.  Additionally, the location is also renowned for it’s underwater cave structure, which is open to cruisers.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Slowly, as we threaded our way through the Tuamotus Islands, French Polynesia, and the Fijian Islands, I have been doing more Free Diving and loving it!  This cave was only 50′ deep but gave me another safe opportunity to explore.  As I approached the bottom, I found a CASIO Waveceptor watch.  The strap was broken, but I scooped it up and got the strap fixed for $10.  I now love wearing the watch as it reminds me of FIJI.

 

 

    Sawa-I-Lau Caves video from our FaceBook page

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Just before the sun started to set, I’d get the paddle board out and paddle around the island, which was full of intricate rock formations and shallow waters.  I could have spent a month in this one spot.

 

 

 

 

YASAWA ISLAND / 8-MONTH BEACH

 

From Sawa-I-Lau, we moved further up North to the tip of the Yasawas Island.  Apparently there are beaches there, (8-month-beach and Champagne beach), that are recognized as some of the worlds best – with silky white, powdery sand.  In fact, local folklore has it that “it will take you 8 months to wash the sand completely from your hair.”

Well, turns out we didn’t even get a sniff at the beach.  We arrived in cloudy unsettled weather and things did not improve once the hook was down.  As I was pondering the situation, I saw a trimaran entering the Bay.  It looked peculiar at first, and  it took me a few seconds to figure it out.  It was dismasted!

Once they were settled, they hailed INFINITY on VHF 16, and I paddle-boarded over to their vessel to see what assistance we could provide.  Jeff & Jose Allen told me how the dismasting events unfolded, and indeed, they were lucky to be alive.  Their Norman Cross designed trimaran suffered some serious damage.  We worked out a plan for the next morning.  I would provide them with our Satellite Phone and a few gallons of diesel.

Morning came, and over I paddled.  Julie and I had invited them over for lunch on INFINITY, but as the morning progressed, so did the weather, and it became increasingly obvious that no lunch-date was going to be had.  :  (

I wish I could tell you that was the only issue.  Not so.  While we were sitting there at anchor, a local weather system passed right over us.  Seas rose over 5m with breaking waves, sustained winds over 50 knots howled through the rigging.  It was getting ugly out there and my cavalier attitude was disappearing fast.  INFINITY was pitching up and down wildly and then BANG!  Anchor chain running out uncontrolled a-freaking-gain!  I ran out of the Pilothouse in terror, and grabbed some 1” nylon line.  The reef was only 30 meters behind us!  I bent on the 1” line with a rolling-hitch and secured it to our centre-cleat.  As more chain began to run out, it was halted by the line.  Thank you God.  Two more lines soon joined the chain, one to the Port cleat, and one to Stbd.  OK, now that that was in-hand, Julie and I went around the boat securing everything.  It was kind-of a disaster really.  The Flopper-stoppers were both deployed and there was no way we could recover them now.  They held strong for many hours but the 6mm stainless-steel wire harness eventually parted.  So there we were.  Connected to the seabed, pitching and rolling wildly for the 12 hours the Storm Force winds lasted.  By luck, I installed separate retrieval lines to the Flopper-stoppers, so we were able to recover them as conditions allowed.  It was an altogether horrible experience and probably the worst boating experience we’ve had to date.  It’s not all sunshine and Champagne you know.     ;  )

 

     The ‘Bad Day’ video from our You-Tube channel

 

 

 

 

 

 

SAVUSAVU

 

Savu Savu was a much, much better experience altogether.     :  )

After the storm force winds abated the the Yasawas, we picked up anchor and cruised on over to Fiji’s Northern Island of Vanua Levu.  Here, we were going to see our friends Mike & Cheryl who we met in Hawaii.  They have chosen to build a house and settle part-time in Fiji.  We were looking forward to see what the appeal was.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Parade is on!  & the town stops.  I needed a break anyway, we grab a coffee and watch.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We felt quite charmed with Savusavu, so much in fact, that we found ourselves looking at property.  Yep, ‘wouldn’t it be great to own a slice of this heaven?’  Little did we know that this thought process was going to occupy us over a 6-month period.   A spending an enjoyable week in Savusavu (promising to return), we picked up anchor and cruised back to Nadi to make plans for our final transit to New Zealand.

 

The majestic faces of Savusavu,,, just another day in Paradise.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Once back in Nadi, we dropped anchor in Musket Cove again.  We have only been there twice before but somehow it felt like coming into a home anchorage.  From here, we organized our immigration and refueling to be done at Port Denarau.  The forecast was good and we’d soon be on our last leg to Auckland, New Zealand.  All-in-all, this Journey has been a wonderful, glorious 8 month period.  A lot of work, and a lot of challenges, but one so worthwhile!

 

Next Listing     >>  New Zealand.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Rarotonga is the vibrant centre of the Cook Islands and is where government resides. Circular, and only 32 km in circumference, it is dominated by high mountain peaks from which lush rain forests provide a dramatic backdrop to a palm-fringed shore.

The island is almost completely encircled by a reef, however there is no navigable lagoon, or free anchoring here.  Avatiu Harbour underwent a huge harbour realignment and dredging project to straighten the east quay and dredge the basin to 10m. This project was completed at the end of 2012 and the harbour has now re-opened to visIting yachts.

The end result is a better arrangement for yachts, however locals warn (and I can confirm!) that the harbour is now even more exposed and open to the north winds and seas brought on by frontal passages, (luckily most of the weather comes from the ESE).     (Source:  noonsite.com)

 

TAHITI  –  RAROTONGA   (arrived Aug/02/2016)

Total trip time;  76 hours

Total trip distance;  622 nm

Total fuel used:  498 gals.  /  1.24 nm/gal

 

 

“Motor Vessel INFINITY, INFINITY, INFINITY,,,,,HARBOR MASTER”

               Harbour Master, this is INFINITY on VHF 12 – go ahead.

“Harbor Master here Captain,,,, – Richard wants to say ‘Hello’

               “Hey Richard!  —  How you doing Dude?!”

Of course, Richard, is none other than Nordhavn Dreamer & esteemed Global Entrepreneur, RICHARD BARTON.

Richard has been a casual acquaintance of INFINITY, via the Nordhavn Dreamers website, and we have emailed each other from time to time.  Richard understood we were on our way to Rarotonga, reached-out and extended a warm welcome. 

He has shown us around the Island, and looked after our importation of our fuel pump.  And his wife Willy invited us over to dinner at their beautiful house on the west side of the Island.  We’ve also met & hung out with their daughter Trish for a few days.  What a great family!  It’s wonderful people like this who make our cruising so worthwhile.

 

 

 

 

 

 

This morning, (Aug/09/2016) we installed the new fuel pump for our 20 KW Generator.  She’s a go!!  However, minor upset occurred trying to remove the stop solenoid.  As we unscrewed the solenoid, it came apart in our hands  :  (    Perhaps it can be rebuilt?  For now, I plugged it off and have to stop the Genny by using the manual ‘stop’  on the machine itself.  No biggy, apart from the fact that the “auto-shut-down” feature will no longer operate.  We’ll have to keep a closer and more frequent eye on the oil pressure and engine temperature.  UPDATE:  (18/AUG/2016)  The fuel-stop solenoid has been repaired, installed, and is working like a champ!)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I have always been interested in the South Pacific Islands and the Polynesian / Melanesian / Micronesian cultures in general.  I think many of us have been at one time or another.  My own personal interest started in high-school geography class and the wonder blossomed through-out my twenties, and thirties.  I travelled internationally for a living, and my interest grew stronger.

But it wasn’t until Jay and I bought our Nordhavn, and we crossed the Pacific Ocean to Hawaii, that my interest in this diverse culture began to be addressed.  We were welcomed into Hawaii with open arms and could actually feel the ALOHA spirit radiate through the Hawaiian people.  We loved the Bishop Museum and the local Luau’s, and basically any other opportunity which immersed us further into their culture.

But we had a whole world to explore and we were not getting any younger, so onwards we pushed – further south and further west – towards French Polynesia.  All through the Society Islands, their own unique culture was immediately evident – from the most open & accepted personal sexuality, to the most amazing display of Tattoo’s.  Almost everyone, it seemed, had a Tattoo prominent on their body.  This was a revelation to me.  I have always respected well intentioned Tattoo’s, especially one’s which told a story.  I even considered getting some sort of tribal Tattoo myself years ago, but simply could not justify it.

Once we reached Rarotonga, and I saw with my own eyes, that a major percentage off the population (young & old alike) were adorned with ink.  I stood in awe how every persons’ Tattoo was different from each others.

Jay & I were asked if we would mind being interviewed for the Cook Island News, and of course we said ’sure’.  It was during the interview, that I noticed Soloman’s Tattoo.  I remarked how striking it was, and he asked us if we wanted to hear of his Tattoo’s story.  I was enthralled to hear how each symbol represented a certain time or path in his life,,, it was truly unique to him.  At that moment, I knew that I was finally going to live-out a life-long dream of getting a Tattoo, one which told my own story.  Two days later, my personal canvas was done at Polynesian Tattoo, in Rarotonga.  I could not be happier with the results.  I will forever be reminded of the wonderful experience we’ve had in Polynesia and fulfilled another dream.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Infinite dreams,,, endless possibilities,,, without boundaries.  ∞

 

 

My Tattoo is a traditional Polynesian interpretation of my own personal journey: the union of two people, traveling together to foreign lands by sea, guided by the sea-birds and the warrior spirit. Our family is close-by in our hearts.  We are all kept healthy from the fruits of the land, the sun, and positive energy.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

• If I had to compare an Island the most like Rarotonga, MOOREA stands out as being the closest.  Lush green lands fringed with palm trees, surround high Jurrasic-like mountains.  The pride the Rarotongans the have in their Island is evident everywhere you turn, substantiated with well kept lots and manicured grasslands.

 

 

 

 

• A unique aspect of Rarotonga culture is the placement of loved-ones who have passed-on.  The tall gravestones, shrines & Slabs are placed in the front yard of many homes.  We’ve been told that they are positioned in this way so the family can be close; as they sit on the shrines and commune with those passed on.

 

 

 

 

 

 

• We had several occasions to take our scooters around the Island.  We visited some Markets, the many beaches, and of-course the fine local hang-outs.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As always on our travels, we’ve been  meeting lots of interesting cruisers.  One such couple was Riley and Elayna on s/v La Vagabonde.  They have a website and facebook page directing you to their set of You-Tube videos.  These guys started sailing completely new, and are now crossing oceans.  Talking to them was rewarding and satisfied my sailing fix for another few weeks !     ;  )

 

 

 

Rarotonga has been the best Polynesian Island for me yet,,, But it’s all about the boat for me, and Rarotonga is unfortunately limited in the services and moorage it presently can offer passing cruisers.  The Port Authorities did the best for us, and we certainly appreciated the efforts they went to to accommodate us.  We would love to see a bonafide marina opened up to the cruising public which would surely augment the burgeoning tourist industry on the Island.

 

 

 

 

 

 

This morning (August 19th) we arrived Aitutaki after an overnight passage.  The forecast was somewhat favorable, but the reality was different.  Of course it was much worse, 20 knots of wind on-the-nose with an posing current made an uncomfortable ride.  But we got here safe and sound and we’re currently sitting here nicely at anchor (1030) – there is no way we can enter Aitutaki lagoon, as we draw too much,,, small boats only.  Our anchored position is about 750 meters North of the Arutanga Passage (which is the small-boat access into Aitutaki), and just 100 meters off the coral reef.  With 60 meters of chain out (in 15 meters of water), this only gives us a 40-meter buffer between us and the rocks.  Although we’ve encountered similar anchoring scenarios throughout the south pacific atolls, and we are confident in INFINITY’s ground tackle, this never really feels comfortable.  The ‘edge’ is there.

But what to do?  Be totally safe and blow off this destination,,, No, gotta do it, but I need to be constantly vigilant, and make peace with the edge.

 

 

Rarotonga – Aitutaki

time –  20 hours

miles –   146 nm

ave speed –  7.3 kts

Fuel –  128 gals

mpg  –  1.14 nmpg

 

 

We called Aitutaki Port Control on VHF 16, and informed them of our arrival.  They knew we were here, and I confirmed our anchor position.  We spoke to a local contact (Teina Bishop) and we’ll try to hook up with him tomorrow when we go ashore.  This afternoon, Julie and I are just lounging onboard INFINITY, reading, eating, relaxing, and watching how INFINITY handles the local weather.  Both Flopper Stoppers are deployed.

The next morning we dinghied into the Port, and I noted the 4’ depth in a few parts of the channel.  Looks as though it was a good call on anchoring outside the reef!  Trina Bishop is a dear friend & business colleague of Richard Barton’s, in Rarotonga.  Teina owns a few businesses on Aitutaki, and was a member of local Parliament for over 30 years.  He picked us up at the harbour and gave us a tour around the Island.

Aitutaki has been involved in a number of commercial activities, but the only sustainable one has turned out to be tourism.  The Island is a shining example of keeping local culture infused with an up-to-date lifestyle, and another great tribute to the Cook Islands.  Aitutaki is outstandingly beautiful and was a worthy stopover for us.  We probably would have never seen this Island if it wasn’t for INFINITY.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

During our stay in all of our destinations, we try to remain flexible and go with what Mother Nature has in store for us.  When I looked at the upcoming forecast, it showed days of rain & strong winds ahead.  Considering our vulnerable anchoring position, we decided to call it a day.  I got on the VHF radio, and canceled our Island Boat Tour we had planned for the next day with Teina, and made preparations to get out of there comfortably, while we could.

Well,,, during the recovery of our anchor, our hydraulic windless failed (perhaps shear pins?) and we had to recover it using plan B, (using the davit,,pulling up 9 inches at a time).  This operation took a few hours but we got there in the end.  However, now we were in a dilemma,,,our planned destination from Aitutaki was going to be Tonga, but we were unsure of the support we could get there.  A Trawlers anchoring capability is a major system which must be 100% fully operational and we needed to get the unit sorted soonest.  Next destination then??  Fiji!  –  1400 miles away!

 

 

tatoo again, cause it’s cool : )

 

 

 

We had just purchased some last-minute items ashore, and said good-by to Cindy (our agent) in Tahiti.  As we were making our way back to INFINITY, at Taina Anchorage, we both noticed the weather had increased significantly.  By the time we had hoisted the dinghy onboard, it was time to get out of the anchorage,,,Pronto.  The flopper-stoppers were still deployed but I didn’t have the luxury of time to stow them;  the big Catamaran behind us was getting closer by the minute as their moorings were sttetching out with the blow.

Julie asked me when she should come up on the anchor?

“Now” I said, “right now”

I flashed up the main & wing engine’s, and started the hydraulics.  As Jay was hoisting the anchor, I lifted the flopper-stoppers just clear of the water, leaving the poles still deployed.  We’d be OK for a bit like that.  The last look I had at the wind instruments, we were showing 30 Kts, gusting higher.

We managed through the anchorage, and meandered around the Island reef.  With Julie at the Wing-Station-Helm, and I stowing the flopper-stoppers, diving equipment and the rest of the cruising ensemble.  By the time we were leaving the Tahiti Port entrance I was beginning to think that the journey ahead may turn out to be a pleasant one.

About 2 hours later, I went down below to use the head;  and that’s when I noticed 2 ports had been left open,,,

(I’m not even going to go into the circus which followed, but just imagine an 8” hole in the side of your ship which goes underwater periodically). Yep, Cruising in Paradise is punctuated with punishment from time-to-time.  It seems we are unintentional disciples of universal balance, the Ying-&-Yang at play once more.     Roll-on Rangiroa!!

 

 

 

 

TAHITI  –  RANGIROA (Northern Tuamotus Island)

Total trip time;  27 hours

Total trip distance;  208 nm

Total fuel used:  158 gals.  /  1.31 nm/gal

 

 

 

 

 

Rangiroa is 45 miles long and 15 miles wide, and is the largest Tuamotu, and the second largest atoll in the world.  There are two passes into Rangiroa (Avatoru pass and Tiputa pass) but the anchorage that yachts favor is near the Tiputa pass and the KIA ORA Hotel.

Rangiroa means  Vast Sky in Tuamotuan, and houses about 2500 people on almost 80 km2.   The chief town is Avatoru, located in the northwestern part of the atoll.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ARANUI V  –  new ship in French Polynesia.    Passenger / Freighter

 

Aranui 5 is a new custom-built, dual-purpose passenger/freighter that sails from Tahiti to the Marquesas, Tuamotu and Society Islands in French Polynesia on a 14 day all-inclusive cruise. Designed to offer all of the comforts of a cruise liner, while operating as a supply ship, Aranui 5 is classified as a small vessel, accommodating approximately 254 passengers and 103 cabins.

 

 

TE MAO  TAPAS BAR

The TA MAEO Tapas Bar Bar is owned and operated by Patrick & Sophie.  I phoned patrick on our Satellite phone, and he came and picked us up from the Hotel dock.  Thanks Patrick!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Island life:  So, this morning (July 12th), we dived the Tiputa Pass in Rangiroa – which was a ‘drift’ dive.  We saw schools of Barracuda, 100’s Black-tip sharks and a Hammerhead Bull shark.  The Hammerhead was BIG, looked well-fed, and was totally freakin’ awesome.  Later, we took our bikes ashore to explore.  We ended up in a small Tavern, met an Australian couple (Aurelio & Gary), and shared a few beers & pizza.  Fun afternoon!

 

 

One day, a few months ago,,, Julie started picking up random coconuts and shaking them, to check for milk.  Every now & then, we get Lucky!  If we have room in the Sub Zero, we’ll keep them for happy -hour.  It takes a few days for them to completely cool, but once they reach refrigerator temperature, the thick coconut husk keeps them perfectly chilled at 38º for hours.  I drill a half-inch hole into them and Jay pours in the rum.  It’s fun and decadent at the same time.     :  )

 

 

 

 

 

 

This morning we woke up to a 50’ Beneteau “GOA” anchoring in front of Infinity this morning.  Last week, (while in Tahiti Taina anchorage) we had our hook down in front of them.  Made me smile seeing a familiar boat sharing a Far-away anchorage together.

The only background noise in this anchorage was small boat craft and children’s laughter (jumping off the pier)

 

 

 

 

THE BLUE LAGOON

Accessible only by boat, the Blue Lagoon resembles an immense natural swimming pool filled with marine life.   We spent a memorable afternoon of snorkeling and relaxing on the pristine beach.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A quick side story to the Blue Lagoon,,, towards the end of the afternoon, the winds started picking up, and virtually changed the landscape and mood in minutes.  We knew the forecast wasn’t pretty, but having SO wanted to see the Blue Lagoon, we decided some time there was better than no time there.  However, right now it was becoming increasingly obvious our time was rapidly running out.

We jumped into the dinghy and very carefully threaded our way out of the shoal waters, 60HP engine partially lifted to avoid another EPO (Equipment Purchase Opportunity).  By the time we got back to INFINITY, the winds were over 30 knots and the seas were building rapidly.  I have never seen the bow raise & fall so much in the last 4 years of our ownership.  What-to-do?  I briefly considered towing it behind but in these conditions I could foresee it turtling, and that would have been an insurance job,,,in the Tuamotus???  I had to go back to Plan A.

Our vessel’s davit is more-or-less centrally positioned, so we decide to go for it – lift the dinghy back to deck.  Julie clambered back onboard and positioned the davit to the recovery position, as I motored up to the hook.  The hook was rising and falling at least 3 feet, and I quickly realised this was going to be a one-time event.  I was inwardly stressing about a shock-load, so the timing had to be ‘just-right’.  Fortunately, it all worked out fine, but I have discovered the limits to our equipment.  You live & learn.  Recovering the anchor was also a memorable event.  The wind was howling over our boat at such speed that it was shrieking, making the most horrible noise.  I had no choice but to simply tune it out.  I couldn’t hear Julie on the bow and had to follow hand signals.  The thrusters were way overpowered in this situation, and were useless.  Luckily, I had been practising using the main engine and rudder for close quarter positioning over the last few weeks, and this is what got us out of there.  There was the very real danger of being pushed into the surrounding coral, as the anchor left bottom.  That time I looked back at the waterline and saw Black Smoke out of the exhaust, rudder hard-to-Stbd, wind howling,,, smiling to myself & thinking  – I love this stuff and wouldn’t want to be anywhere else!

 

 

 

 

Our diving in the Tiputa Pass was awesome and just wet our appetite for more.  We heard Fakarava is the place to go for diving, so we planned our exit from Rangiroa.

 

 

 

 

Although we knew the weather for the transit to Fakarava would be ‘on-the-nose’, it actually proved to be one of the 4 worst (rough) passages we’ve ever had in INFINITY.  At one point, I posed the question to Jay, if we should bug-out of there and head back to Tahiti direct.  Fortunately we both decided to dig deep, and soldier on.  After all, his is what INFINITY was made to do.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Our move to Fakarava was all about the Diving.  There are North and South passes to dive and they both have great diving, although the sharks at the South Pass was one of the best dives of my life!

This was something that both of us really wanted to do, but I must admit to being a little apprehensive (sometimes I know too much!)  Turns out, coming here was one of the best cruising decisions we’ve made so far.

 

 

 

 

Fakarava is the second biggest atoll of the Tuamotus archipelago and is considered the Mecca of scuba diving in French Polynesia.  The shape of Fakarava Atoll is roughly rectangular and its length is 60 kilometres (37 miles) and its width 21 kilometres (13 miles).  This atoll was classified as a biosphere reserve by UNESCO.  The diving at both passes is excellent.

Pass Garuae (north) is very wide and easy and is near the town of Rotaova, which has 855 inhabitants;

Pass Tumakohua (25nm further south) is a little more tricky to negotiate but well marked.

 

 

 

La Paillote   Cafe · Rotoava – Fakarava North

We stopped off at this quaint cafe for some cold beer and wonderful French Panini’s for a few days running.  Their little pier was frequently busy with customers and fishermen.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The walk back to our boat always brought a smile to my face.  I loved this Island.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Another cool business we discovered in Fakarava North, was::  FAKARAVA YACHT SERVICES

Stephanie and Aldric have set up their Yacht Services business out of their home.  You are free to come & go during business hours, to lounge on their porch and surf the net.  They monitor  VHF 77.

We thought it was a cool idea, and a great resource for us; – our “go-to” couple for info on Fakarava.  They also offer laundry  /  internet access  /  airport pick-up  /  bike rental  /  and all services & requests.

 

 

FAKARAVA SOUTH

 

 

 

 

And now, what we came here for – Diving with the sharks!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

All short videos can be viewed on INFINITY”s FaceBook page

 

 

What a wonderful journey back to Tahiti this was turning out to be.  The wind is a cooling 9.5 knots at our stern, assisting us along towards Tahiti.  The sky is clear and the stars are shining brilliantly.  It would be perfect, if not for a leaking Generator fuel pump which my mind is continually chewing over as we transit.  Always something negative going-on in the background, while you are immersed in blissful paradise.   I chuckle to myself at times contemplating the Grand-Scheme of things and how there’s an obvious sense-of-humor at play.  The Ying-&-Yang – God continues to keep me on my toes.

We’re on our way back to TAHITI, to close out our time in the Society Islands.  We need to:

1. Officially check-out of French Polynesia
2. Order a 20KW fuel pump from Hatton Marine, in Seattle.
3. Top-up on diesel  &  Head to Rarotonga!

 

Under Construction…  /  Visit #2 immanent

 

 

Visit #1

 

The transit over to Moorea is perhaps, 20 miles away.  It didn’t take long before we could see her lush mountains contrasted against the azure blue sea.  It was a perfect day.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

On this particular day, the Pilot House is climate controlled, Adele is heard playing in the background, over the gentle thrum of our engine, and all systems are ‘go’.  As we slde into Cook’s Bay, each one of us is secretly looking for King Kong.  It’s a surreal experience.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Our day quickly ran into dusk,,, we opened a bottle of wine, played some cards, enjoyed some music, and contented ourselves with an early night.

 

Morning brought some clouds and a change of pace.  We unshipped our fast dinghy and made our way towards the Moorea Yacht Club.  We quickly got the lay-of-the-land from the YC staff, and continued our exploration by foot.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Now back at INFINITY, and all safe & sound.  Our night unfolded with some Hinano’s & popcorn as we watched a movie on the upper aft-deck.  It occurred to me how fortunate we were to be here, as a family, enjoying this prehistoric vista, on May 23rd, 2016.

 

 

Next day, some water activities.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

On May 15th, 2016, we picked up anchor from Bora Bora Yacht Club at 12-noon, and made our way over to Tahiti.  The journey was rather unpleasant, as we had headwinds-&-head-seas throughout the entire journey.  Mercifully, the transit was a short one.

 

BORA BORA  –  TAHITI

Total trip time:  22 hours     

Total trip distance:  152 nm

Total fuel used:  128 gals  /  1.18 nm/gal

 

 

It’s always great to be heading to a new destination, but the feeling of anticipation was almost palpable with Chloë & Kal.  No doubt they appreciated Kiribati and Bora Bora, but Kal in particular was looking forward to the great ‘Metropolis’ of TAHITI.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Marina Taina was home to some of the most beautiful and current boats in the world.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Though we were enjoying our time at Marina Taina, our time with Chloë & Kal was coming to an end.     :  (

Over breakfast, we etched-out our plan for the remaining week.

1.  Take INFINITY to Papeete Marina in the City so the kids could enjoy the weekend nightlife
2.  Then head to Moorea for a few days,,,
3.  Head back to Tahiti, and rent a car for a couple of days to fully explore the Island.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Our son Kal loved the time in city of Papeete, remarking that this was his best time in the two months onboard INFINITY.  (I wasn’t quite sure how to interpret that, but we’re happy he found his bliss  ; )

After the weekend in Papeete, we departed Tahiti, and transited over to Moorea.    (Moorea was great & turned out to be better than expected).

With Moorea under our belts, we headed back to Tahiti to rent a car, and do some exploring!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Intense, but magnificent weather as we get back to the boat at Marina Taina.  Moorea in the distance.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

With the kids now gone, it’s back to just Julie and I onboard INFINITY, once again.  One of the ‘take-aways’ from cruising with your Partner is that you are forced into growing as a couple.  We’ve been spending 24/7 together, living in close quarters, and often in strenuous physical and/or emotional conditions.  I’m happy to say we are thriving  :  )     We’ve learned to rely on each other more now (than perhaps we otherwise would), and this continues to build respect, love  & trust.  With 28 years of marriage behind us, I feel new wonderful horizon’s are in our future.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

About a week later, we got word through our agent that some poor weather was due to hit Marina Taina.  I checked it out and it looked ugly.  In fact, I had one of those gut premonitions that very morning.  Coincidence????  God is teaching me well, and Julie and I have agreed to never ignore a gut feeling.  30 minutes later we let the lines slip, & we were outta there.  Our exit was intense,,, seas were building quickly and I was seeing gusts of 40 kts, with the wind howling and cold rain sheeting down on both of us as we brought up the anchor. (which was amidst the multitude of bow lines zig-zagging from the rows of med-moored yachts).  We kept calm, but I mentioned to Jay how it does not really get any more hairy than that.  Over to the more protected Papeete marina we go!

 

 

 

 

With no real rush on our hands, Julie and I decided to stay put at Papeete Marina, and enjoy the convenience of the city.  Several times during our stay, we’d walk to the Bora-Bora Lounge, to enjoy a cold beer.  And other days we’d take our scooters around the Island.  It was great to have the freedom to do that, and we seem to appreciate the scooters more-&-more as time goes on.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We meet up with other cruisers and Nordhavn owners from time-to-time.  Imagine our pleasure when we pulled into Papeete Marina and saw Dick & Gail Branes from N57 – ICE DANCER II.  The last time we saw each other was in Ko Olina, Hawaii.