Xmas 2013

Eelco's ship is sailing full steam ahead at the moment to make it in time to Stockvik in Sweden before they close for the xmas holidays. If they are in time, they will off-load and re-load and be on the North Atlantic Ocean during Christmas. If they are too late, they will have a relaxed and cold white Christmas in a harbour in Sweden being unproductive till the beginning of next year.

We wish you a wonderful time during the holiday season and pray that you will be save and healthy. Thanks for your part in our memories. 

 Eelco  and Mi-sá-lê -  blessed & happy  

Pawns in a chess game

One of the green pawns is my dearest earning our freedom chips. I pray his eyes are open.

Norsand Boatyard, Whangarei, New Zealand

Norsand Boatyard will go the extra mile and hang-on to your boat. Really. 

Click the pic for a short video.

sv MYLADY's travels during 2013

Mylady had a great year. Sailing was perfect. Repairs we made before leaving New Zealand for the islands proofed to be well done. I practiced my survival skills and skipper practiced his sea-steading skills. Mylady just quietly rocked, or rodeo-ed. He got a tan and I made some videos. 
Share our wonderful memories of 2013. Click on the picture. Enjoy.

RABI Island, Fiji

In the northeast of Fiji is Ra[m]bi Island. It is officially spelled without the [m], but you have to pronounce the [m]. It is part of Fiji. 1945 the English bought it to relocate the people of Banaba. Or as it is known in English – Ocean Island – in the Kiribati. The English have exploited Banaba to the extend that normal subsistence living was not possible anymore for the locals. There are about 5000 people on Ra[m]bi. We met the people in Nukuritsi busy with the RC Youth Project of a new piggery. Every night choir song would fill the pitch dark night. In the very big Christina Bay were many colourful canoes fishing.
We sailed to Elizabeth Cove and Albert Cove and returned to Christina Bay where we started. And we ended at the capital, Nuku, where we enjoyed being present at a big choir and dance competition. Ra[m]bi has touched our lives.
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Waypoints Southern Lau Group

Ogea Driki ( Ongea Ndriki )

From outside to the inside of the lagoon.
01 19.10.747 S 178.27.520 W
02 19.10.833 S 178.27.327 W
03 19.10.914 S 178.27.185 W
04 19.10.905 S 178.27.010 W

Oneata
Pass we entered
01 18.24.941 S 178.32.068 W
02 18.25.245 S 178.31.810 W

Our anchor pos
18.25.737 S 178.28.282 W

Fulanga
Pass from out to inside the lagoon
01 19.07.254 S 178.32.347 W
02 19.07.901 S 178.32.401 W
03 19.07.392 S 178.32.465 W
04 19.07.668 S 178.32.588 W
05 19.07.727 S 178.32.587 W

Anchor pos near village visible inside the lagoon
19.07.271 S 178.35.606 W

Anchor pos near anchorage to go by foot to main village
19.08.997 S 178.33.755 W
Entrace to anchorage above
19.08.735 S 178.33.850 W

Pass to east side off the lagoon ( from W to E )
01 19.08.141 S 178.32.693 W
02 19.08.225 S 178.32.575 W
03 19.08.280 S 178.32.471 W


Totoya
18.57.262 S 179.52.989 W

Matuku
Pass from outside inside the lagoon
01 19.09.264 S 179.43.899 E
02 19.09.25 S 179.44.033 E
03 19.09.237 S 179.44.164 E
04 19.09.218 S 179.44.799 E
05 19.09.545 S 179.44.971 E
06 19.09.587 S 179.45.035 E 07 anchor pos 19.09.661 S 179.45.129 E

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FROM TONGA TO FIJI

Still in the Ha'apai in Tonga. Behind Uiha Island we road out the strong winds of the next days. From there we went to Paradise Island. No, it's not the real name. It's our name for a small island where we had the feeling of being in paradise – many years ago. It's small enough that one can walk around it. It's big enough to give protection. Apart from the south-easter, then we sailed to Tofango again. And that became our circle of sea-steading for the next months. Tofango for the SE, Uiha for the E and N, and Paradise for all the other wind directions. There are no people on Tofanga and Paradise. Uiha has two big villages and a large school.
We cleared out from Pangai in the Ha'apai and left Tonga via Kao Island. It is an impressive cone shaped high vulcanic mountain. Our good fortune for the day was an equally impressive yellow fin tuna. We arrived in FIJI five days later. If we were sailors chasing the wind, it could have been a four day trip.
Savusavu on the northern big island of Vanua Levu in Fiji, is an excellent place to catch up with internet and other commodities like shops, markets and people. Out at the point we spent a few days before drifting to Bakabaka. What a lovely place that was. We walked on somebody's dream island and took a dinghy ride to the salt lake but turned around at the white waters under the bridge.
When there was wind again we sailed to Somosomo at Taveuni. An interessting busride with beautiful views around the northern point took us to the nature park at the otherside of the island. There after we sailed to Kioa Island. Deep water with solid mangrove walls and coral. Our sail to Catharina Bay at Rambi Island was adrenaline pumping. Hard to windward, with the poorest of light, hugging the reefs and stampeding through the gap. We arrived still on our portside ear and are since in contrast, on flat calm water in a windless bay, repairing the engine and meeting the people. Beautiful outrigger canoes colour the big bay.

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Tongan Ha 'apai Islands Sailing

http://youtu.be/_vpaC7W8Mmc

We sailed with calm and good weather from Tongatapu to Kelefesia in the Ha'apai. That means I don't get sick - wonderful! And we had  almost a week of lovely weather and good time there. The beach was littered with coral. It must have been from a bad storm that had battered the island which has done the damage.  But was the coral (in sea) ever so beautiful - fascinating beautiful. It was the first time for me to see the big fans with lace fringes. Unfortunately we don't have an underwater camera yet. Our next stop was Fonoifua where last year they had only one visiting boat and this year we're the first. We had a good time and the children enjoyed the entertainment by the visitors. The highway footpath which winds in the middle through the village will bring you to all the things in the short video. Enjoy.
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From Fonoifua it was on to Limu which is situated on the outer reef. The beach is covered completely with tracks. Tracks of crabs and snakes. In thirty meters distance three snake tracks.....! The weather turned rough during the night and we left in a hurry to a more protected anchorage. Skipper got soaken wet from a formiddable rainstorm while we sailed. I was allowed to keep dry inside... - isn't he kind? 

Whale POO

The gale was whipping the waters white with foam when we went anchor up midday in New Zealand. The neighbour yachties were all 

on their boats, watching.  We motored out of the port of Opua and then rolled out half of the furling genoa. The gale subsided slowly 

but surely.  Apart from the tall ship Tucker Tomson who had a youth school class on board, we were the only boat out there. Just 

before dark, the yacht Mizar which was going the same direction, passed us. The voyage was good. There was a big high spreading all 

over our sailing grounds and we had light, little or no wind for days. We enjoyed it. An unexpected storm got us in a tight knot, but it 

blew over quick enough. Light winds again but all from a good direction. Then a low popped up, just on top of us. We were two days from reaching our destination. But the low was apparently going to interfere with head winds the last part of our trip. So we decided to sail with the low, round the bottom and up the west side of it, where the winds would be the good direction. 

Unfortunately for us, the low stalled and grew and grew and went a different direction. It pulled us into its hell hole and gave us the ride of our lives. 

Needless to say, my prayer-line to heaven was non-stop open and we received blessings untold. We arrived in Tonga 17 days after leaving New Zealand all in one piece. Just the nameflap on starboard side got a torn in one corner. 

Finalizing to leave for the Pacific Islands

The sailmaker from Willis Sails came onboard at the Stone Store to take the measurements for our new sails. Having fresh water available, we washed the old sails before stowing them.  It was ideal weather for it, lovely sunny and quiet water and Mylady sure looked different with all the cloth sausages draped from her mast. We frequently did the healthy uphill walk to town to buy provisions.  Being pushed down hill on the return trip with our heavily laden trolleys is always fun. And then the stowing dance to find space for everything.

We replaced our water tank with new. It was a thirty-four year old stainless steel. Twelve years ago it got a new bottom in Turkey and a baffle inside. All the crashing we do out on the oceans had the water rush slamming out this barrier and it made the worst noise you could think of.  We feared it would slam a hole in the tank. So we turned the boat inside out. The old water tank is out and the new solid plastic tank (not rubber) is in. All the connections and hoses to and from were also replaced. It was one of those typical jobs suppose to take a couple of days that turned into a fortnight drama.  

As always, never a dull moment and actually not much to show for all our being busy. It’s just us who will enjoy greater peace of mind in the knowledge of all the maintenance and improvements, and Mylady who smiles along.

It’s time for us to sail across the sea. We are off to some sunshine and warmth on the Pacific Islands of Tonga, Wallis and Fiji. 

Take care of yourselves and write us a note. 

On the move again

We have had a lovely time the last month in the Historic Stone Store Basin. Mylady had her anchor out with two aft lines to the shore. Our refit-on-the-go-project had us ended up in Kerikeri to get Craig of Willis Sails on board to measure our new sails. Then the township of Kerikeri was just so handy to do a few more jobs... We replaced the fresh water tank with new made by Hercules Tanks of Tauranga.   Sophie of Kerikeri pumps was ever so helpful in supplying all our hoses and connections and much more. Good weather prevailed with the big man crawling around in small spaces. The wind generator came down for some lubrication and check-up and now swings with less struggle.  Whilst I was rolling thumbs, the polish man came around and gave Mylady a super shine. Oh, and there was also time to meet new people and old friends. The motorman had two long days in the engine room changing all the old for new, supposedly she's 

purring perfect now.  We left the Kerikeri River on a run with lots of wind from behind. The new storm sail was tested and found to be good. And after coming on anchor the little riding sail immediately went up to keep Mylady steady in the wind. We are so happy with so many of our little this-and-that things. Like for instance the furling genoa cover which we finally figured out and now works good. Will be testing our new sails in the coming days.  Following is my easy bread baking on top of the gas stove demo.  Enjoy !

Yacht Captain DUTIES

What are you doing all the time ? The ever familiar question.  Well here's some of the things keeping the captain busy.

Cavalie Islands NZ

We have a wonderful time here at the Cavalie Islands in Northland New Zealand.  Weather is summary and visibility excellent. Slowly heading south.

Swinging around the mast

Skipper gets into the mast of our off-shore going Compass34 cruising yacht Mylady, with the very handy mast steps.  It was time to remove the baggy-wringles after about ten years.  The boson chair is very handy.  He found that the baggy-wringles left a mark on the stainless steel rigging - probably a bit of oxygen deprevation.  I’m fortunate that Eelco doesn’t mind to climb the mast.  Only if my life depends on it will I try it.