CRUISING wEATHER along the sunshine Queensland coast.

The High pressure systems rolling across Australia to the east are regular and we get the associated SE tradewinds with it. The perfect direction to take us to the north of OZ. In general we have 3 or 4 or 5 days strong south easterlies then two days of light winds. Our cruising schedule is thus accordingly. A few days sailing from break-of-day till the next overnight spot (sometimes short-, other times long hops). Then a couple of days resting and catching up with home chores and exploring. We've had fair weather mostly. Not enough rain to catch water but getting miserably wet seems to be a constant. The 'Sunshine Coast' we've only occationally experienced with glimpses. It is warm temperatures and that we like. The sun shone, the trades blew, and the current raged as we rounded the top of Australia leaving the Pacific Ocean after eleven years. Read more

the STORM

Captain washed overboard...
What now?

We survived.

Share with us a mighty experience of awe and grace.

Available at Amazon

VISITING THE DATELINE

VISITING THE DATELINE

At Somosomo, on Taveuni, we anchored and went to town the next morning. Calm conditions. We took the taxi up the hill to the hospital where we waited in line for our turn to see the dentist. Fortunately it was a quiet day and just one lady patient infront of us. Skipper has lost a tooth filling the day before (probably due to some fresh coconut we ate which can be very hard), and we were lucky enough that Taveuni was a big island with medical facilities serving the communities of the many islands around it. The dental job went without fuss and was very afordable. Then it was time to play tourist again and we walked halfway down the steep hill, then accross a football field to get to the official 180 degrees meridian. And a few yards further, a complete tin shack church compound. It is one of those things that you know about and never think of since it's part of life. But standing physically with one foot in yesterday and with the other foot in today, came as a reality check about the amazing feats of the human race developement. Eelco has visited Greenwich in London many years ago and now also in the Southern Hemisphere. For him it was a completion of one event.

SAILING DIRECTIONS

We are in Fiji at the moment. After exploring some wonderful new bays and its people we sailed to Taveuni Island off the northeast of Vanua Levu, the northern big island. It was lovely weather - sunshine and a soft breeze. As soon as we were over the reef, the sails went up and we glided along in a seducing waltz. Our destination was just seven miles away and in view. Slowly but surely the tempo of the waltz decreased but we kept going. It was nice to be out 'sailing'. After lunch we had a look on our track and what do you know? We sailed at 1.2 knots backwards! The current in the strait was just so much more than the little wind there was. The old Volvo had to bring us where we wanted to be.

VOYAGE 2014 - water bombs

Left New Zealand with no wind. Storm. Damage. Change destination from British Columbia to South Africa. 30 kn winds all the time. Water bombs almost constantly. More damage. Arrive Fiji with no wind. 

WINDS OF CHANGE

End of May is a bit late in the season to start crossing the deep Southern Ocean on the long journey to British Columbia. But sometimes that's how it is. We cleared from New Zealand with clear skies and no wind. At the heads of Whangarei we drifted the whole day on mirror water. Large schools of fairy penguins were about and we watched them playing and hunting. I just love the sound they make. Sundown a thought of wind filled the sails lightly, sometimes. Came dawn the next morn, we could still see the coast. During day two, the winds became steady and MYLADY flew. All the work skipper has done on her underwatership is visible. Day three, lovely. By late afternoon the wind was gone. With suspicion skipper paraded in the cockpit, snifing the air. On the weather map we seemed to be borderliners - not belonging to any of the high or low pressure systems around us. Skipper decided we should stow the used spinnaker pole. Whilst on deck with this job the wind sprung up from another direction. Unbelievable but during a count of ten its force was a dissasterous 40 knots. I finished the job on deck while skipper went to try and steer MYLADY. Fortunately the genoa was furled away and the mainsail already with a double reef. Bounching seas shook us around in pouring rain. The boom came over in a crashing gype. Flew back and crash gype again, smashing its travel stops open and took the travelrunner with it, trailing all this valuables at the end of the main sheet in the sea next to the boat. We were both outside and in danger zone but thank God, were spared the feared, neck-braking hit. Forecasted only more headwinds, lows and blows. Recollecting ourselves afterwards in the cockpit we wondered how can we be like our friends Valhalla, contentedly pottering about? One answer is - go downwind - not against. We turned MYLADY on a new course - towards hopefully an easier life - and in search of a homeground where also we may potter around.

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.

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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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.