Latitude:29 minutes 14.23 degrees S
Longitude:169 degrees 46.70 E
Tuesday, May 26 we arrived in Aneityum, Vanuatu around 1100. We covered around 1200 miles to get the 992 miles here. We had a bit of everything – no wind, too much wind, great sailing, sailing in the wrong direction, tacking to get back to the right direction, a few squalls, a bad weather day and lots and lots of wave action! It was a good passage for this part of the Southern Pacfic Ocean where you never know what to expect. We hit a few new record sailing days for speed and miles covered on Astarte and had some really enjoyable sailing. We had to motor for 48 hours – but the seas were nice and flat and we had a favorable current for a portion of that motoring time so we made good speed under power.
At sunrise this morning, we saw the island of Aneityum on the horizon and made it in and anchored before noon. There were three other boats in the anchorage (we know two) and it is a pretty spot. Though this island got badly hit by Cyclone Pam just a few months ago, you'd not know it at first glance. We're sure when we go to shore tomorrow, we'll see more damage – but the hillsides are quite green and mst of the houses near the beach have roofs. The nearby school looks in pretty good shape.
Jessie, the local police officer came aboard to tell us we'd have to wait to officially clear in until Saturday. It seems the customs and immigration guy was supposed to be on the plane – but didn't come. He may come on Saturday – but "no problem." We can go ashore and take walks around or do whatever we'd like until they arrive. We had planned to stay here at least a week – so it's fine with us. We'll go ashore tomorrow after a day of cleaning up the boat and ourselves! And getting some much needed sleep.
More later.
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Tuesday, May 26, 2015
Thursday, May 21, 2015
Thursday, May 21st – Halfway to Vanuatu
It has been an interesting four days so far. We left Whangarei and headed NW on our rhumb line course to Vanuatu – staying a bit closer to the NZ shore for some protection from the southerly swell and seas. Once out of the river, we pretty quickly lost sight of the other 15 or so boats that were heading out at about the same time. Things seem to spread out as people take slightly different courses towards their own destinations of Tahiti, Tonga, Fiji, New Caledonia, Minerva Reef or Vanuatu. We had two great days of sailing right away – though it wasn't an easy trip to sleep, as the seas were coming from various directions tossing the boat a bit. But we made 130 miles towards our goal on each day which is great for us! The winds were southerly so we just had the headsail up and flew along – sometimes hitting 7.3 knots. Then the winds slowly died – but the seas didn't so the headsail was having a hard time staying full and not collapsing each time a big wave tossed the boat. So we put the pole out and sailed like that for a bit longer. Then the wind just died. The seas settled a bit as well – but we had to motor. For the first 24 or so hours of motoring we made good time thanks to a current in our favor and flat seas. We put the sails up again each time we thought we could sail – but no joy. There was not enough wind to compensate for the seas. We don't have enough fuel to keep motoring so we'll have to slow down which creates another problem. We are trying to get as far north as possible and have even headed directly north off our rhumb line. There is a low pressure system/trough/ridge/or whatever, forming that will bring in some big winds and weather on Saturday or Sunday. If we can get north of 25 degrees, we can avoid the worst of it – so that is what we are trying to do …. fuel limitations allowing.
Michael spends his mornings on the radio nets – first listening to David and Patricia on Gulf Harbor Radio for weather information and to see where other boats are. Then we listen in on the Southern Cross net...and then he has been one of the radio net controllers for the Vanuatu net at 0830 local. He also checks and sends any e-mails. We are also getting good weather help and routing from Rankin from Gypsea Heart who is back in the States. Good luck on your surgery tomorrow Sandy!
We discovered a stow-away aboard yesterday afternoon. A tiny bird nesteld in under our dodger to get out of the wind. He had come quite a distance as there isn't an island for hundreds of miles. He snoozed for awhile and then went and found a different home aboard somplace because we saw him again this morning. He is a pretty bird and if he wasn't so shy, we'd try to get a photo. Interesting markings on him...hopefully he'll get more comfortable around us.
For now, we are fishing (not catching), eating well (lasagna, meatloaf, chicken dishes) and slowly warming up with each degree of north-ing we make. The sun has been out most of the time making it a pleasant trip so far. Hope it holds nd hope the wind picks up just enough to keep the sails full and us moving along at more than five knots.
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Michael spends his mornings on the radio nets – first listening to David and Patricia on Gulf Harbor Radio for weather information and to see where other boats are. Then we listen in on the Southern Cross net...and then he has been one of the radio net controllers for the Vanuatu net at 0830 local. He also checks and sends any e-mails. We are also getting good weather help and routing from Rankin from Gypsea Heart who is back in the States. Good luck on your surgery tomorrow Sandy!
We discovered a stow-away aboard yesterday afternoon. A tiny bird nesteld in under our dodger to get out of the wind. He had come quite a distance as there isn't an island for hundreds of miles. He snoozed for awhile and then went and found a different home aboard somplace because we saw him again this morning. He is a pretty bird and if he wasn't so shy, we'd try to get a photo. Interesting markings on him...hopefully he'll get more comfortable around us.
For now, we are fishing (not catching), eating well (lasagna, meatloaf, chicken dishes) and slowly warming up with each degree of north-ing we make. The sun has been out most of the time making it a pleasant trip so far. Hope it holds nd hope the wind picks up just enough to keep the sails full and us moving along at more than five knots.
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Saturday, May 16, 2015
Sunday, May 17, 2015 Departing NZ
Today we leave Kiwi land and head to Vanuatu. It is a 992 mile passage and should take us a bit over a week if the wind holds and nothing big builds and sneaks up on us. Officer Bruce is on board doing the clearing out dance with us and then we'll pay up for the marina and be off. We are not alone departing New Zealand today. The customs officer was clearing out 20 or so boats today and several left yesteray and more leaving tomorrow. The destinations are varied – we are making our way to Vanuatu..others to Fiji, Tonga, New Caledonia or French Polynesia. It will be a traffic jam out there to start and then everyone's boat speed and cruising style takes over and the fleet spreads out.
The good news is there will be lots of folks checking into the various SSB nets – so that will be good. Depending on weather and sea conditions – you may or may not see blog updates. If you want to check our progress – we will be using the website YIT.co.NZ – that stands for Yachts in Transit and is run by Gulf Harbour Radio. Look for Astarte's position.
We hope and pray for a good passage. This is always a tough one – coming to and leaving NZ.
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The good news is there will be lots of folks checking into the various SSB nets – so that will be good. Depending on weather and sea conditions – you may or may not see blog updates. If you want to check our progress – we will be using the website YIT.co.NZ – that stands for Yachts in Transit and is run by Gulf Harbour Radio. Look for Astarte's position.
We hope and pray for a good passage. This is always a tough one – coming to and leaving NZ.
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Tuesday, May 5, 2015
Waiting
We are back in Whangarei Town Basin after our adventures on Great Barrier Island. It was good to test all the repairs and remember how to sail.
We had a good sail back from Great Barrier and enjoyed it – timing it so we arrived right as the big wind and seas started. We snuggled into Urquarts Bay for a night and then went into Marsden Cove Marina for the predicted gusts of 50 knots winds. It was gusty and windy and a challenge getting into a downwind slip on the upwind side of the dock. We spent a few days there and then made our way back up the river to the Town Basin where we had hoped to only spend a few days getting the last of our spare parts and provisions. Unfortunately, those few days have now turned into a week and heading on a second week as the weather for a trip in the big salt chuck doesn't look so great for awhile. Folks who left early are getting hammered out there with big winds and big seas and we are grateful not to be amongst them. We'll wait and keep organizing the boat – and using up food and then replacing the supplies.
We have done lots of paperwork getting ready to check out of NZ and check into Vanuatu. Michael also has finally (hopefully) fully solved the starting problem on the Perkins. It seems a replacement battery selector switch was the key. So far so good anyway...we got lots and lots of great advice from Eric on "Sirena," Walter on "Pacific Spray" and Sergio on "Spirare" - what a great boating community – that's an international group of smart folks!
We are getting tired of waiting. It seems more stressful than being really busy.
GOOD NEWS – more pictures are up on the sight – some cool birds we saw in Great Barrier.
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We had a good sail back from Great Barrier and enjoyed it – timing it so we arrived right as the big wind and seas started. We snuggled into Urquarts Bay for a night and then went into Marsden Cove Marina for the predicted gusts of 50 knots winds. It was gusty and windy and a challenge getting into a downwind slip on the upwind side of the dock. We spent a few days there and then made our way back up the river to the Town Basin where we had hoped to only spend a few days getting the last of our spare parts and provisions. Unfortunately, those few days have now turned into a week and heading on a second week as the weather for a trip in the big salt chuck doesn't look so great for awhile. Folks who left early are getting hammered out there with big winds and big seas and we are grateful not to be amongst them. We'll wait and keep organizing the boat – and using up food and then replacing the supplies.
We have done lots of paperwork getting ready to check out of NZ and check into Vanuatu. Michael also has finally (hopefully) fully solved the starting problem on the Perkins. It seems a replacement battery selector switch was the key. So far so good anyway...we got lots and lots of great advice from Eric on "Sirena," Walter on "Pacific Spray" and Sergio on "Spirare" - what a great boating community – that's an international group of smart folks!
We are getting tired of waiting. It seems more stressful than being really busy.
GOOD NEWS – more pictures are up on the sight – some cool birds we saw in Great Barrier.
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