We have accelerated trade winds at the moment as there is a large high to the the south. The passage here from Mele just north of Port Villa was in 30-35 knots of wind just aft of the beam, so a quick passage. An awkward sea was running rather like the sea between the islands […]

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Visually it was like coming into Oban on a wet day when we entered the Port Vila bay yesterday. Temperatures a bit different with both Sea and air at 28°C. The Convective belt of clouds called the South Pacific Convergence zone has been close for the last few days giving overcast skies and rain. I’m […]

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Arrived at 14:10 local time. Excellent sail for the last 2 days. Captain Cook named the harbour after his ship when he anchored here. The locals eat the first European missionaries and ones sent from Fiji but are really friendly now. Impressive local school for 250 children and the village has about 250 people. We […]

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We made the 6.3 knot average with ease despite some current against us, so should be tucked up in Port Resolution for the night. Several fishing boats were close to our path in the night. Seemed smaller than many ocean fishing boats and with bright lights perhaps to attract the fish. They appeared stationary and […]

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Got through to the trade winds at 12:00 yesterday. Great run every since. We averaged 7.5 knots for the first 4 hours and 7.0 for the whole day. If we can make 6.3 overall average we get into Port Resolution on Wednesday before dark otherwise we’ll have another night at sea. Forecast is for the […]

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Mixture of motoring and sailing. All sails up in squalls to sail, all sails down to stop flogging in lulls. Squalls were lasting 2 hours now a good bit longer – perhaps we have found the permanent wind. Got out the big reacher yesterday to try and sail in 10 knots of wind but the […]

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We have the fans on in the cabin today. Nearly all blue sky so hot on deck. All the sails down and motoring as the 4m swell from the SW was just flapping the reefed main we usually leave up when motoring. I wonder if we saw our last Albatross yesterday. Today there is no […]

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North of 30 now traditionally the end of the westerly airflow and start of the trades – not today! Typically though the depressions don’t bring gale force winds this far north. Gusts last night 20 to 25 so easily handled by the 2 reefs. Past the one third milestone. Discovered how to stop the mess […]

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Sailing now since mid day Thursday. Initially a romp with the wind from the east then hard on the wind as it went slowly through the north and upto 25-30 knots for a while. Sea is confused with several 2m swells present but Giselle is getting through it with ease – long may that last. […]

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For my birthday we had Albatrosses flying around us all day.  White bodied ones and black bodied ones always accompanied by a range of shearwaters.  In the morning they often swooped up just in front of the rising sun to give an even more dramatic picture.  But today none so far.  I have been told […]

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