Category Archives: All Cruising Logs

Noumea to Sydney, Day 3

While you were watching election returns, the weather gods were serving us up a smorgasbord of conditions. Since the last writing, we have had calm winds, 30 knot winds, calm seas, 3 to 4 meter seas, squalls with torrential rain, … Continue reading

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Noumea to Sydney, Day 2

We spent yesterday afternoon and last night motorsailing through a benign trough of low pressure. At one point last night the sea was almost dead calm and the wind less than two knots. A real “mill pond.” As we popped … Continue reading

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Noumea to Sydney, Day 1

November 6, 2000 Family and Friends: Everybody talks about the weather-especially cruisers. It more or less runs our lives. It dictates where we go, when we go, when we get there and how much fun we have once we’re there. … Continue reading

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Noumea to Sydney, Day 4

The weather gods have blessed us with another lovely day on the Tasman Sea. At 0330 on the ship’s clock, 0430 local time, the sun’s rays began to light up the eastern horizon behind a few “tradewind” cumulus clouds. The … Continue reading

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Fiji: The Great Astrolabe Reef

Our plan was to island hop our way south to the Great Astrolabe Reef, world famous for its diving. The Total Devotions went on westward to Musket Cove to pick up a visiting friend so it was just the Imagines … Continue reading

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Fiji: Savusavu and Vianni Bay

The weather is crappy at the moment. It is windy, overcast and rainy so diving and hiking are out. It’s either clean the bottom of the boat or do some writing. OK, I guess the bottom isn’t THAT dirty. Yes, … Continue reading

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A NatGeo Day on Ngau Island

In spite (Speight) of the continuing political unrest we are well and out of harm’s way. We have been cruising some of the remote north eastern islands for the last six weeks, and haven’t made much time to write, but … Continue reading

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Back in New Zealand

At the moment we are anchored in Karaka Bay, Port Abercrombie, off the ruggedly beautiful Great Barrier Island, about 55 nautical miles from Auckland. Adam and Eric, my visiting Yank crew, are off diving for scallies (scallops) and crayfish (lobster) … Continue reading

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The Cook Islands: Rarotonga

We arrived in Rarotonga on Tuesday, July 20, shortly after first light, after a very rough 535-mile, 70-hour passage. This is the beginning of Leg Two of the “Coconut Milk Run” for us, leaving the Society Islands of French … Continue reading

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The “New Moon” Party

Thirteen months ago Moonshadow was lying on a reef on the remote French Polynesian atoll of Arutua. Nine months ago I arrived in Auckland, in the middle of winter, not knowing anyone, facing the arduous task of rebuilding my floating … Continue reading

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