Author Archives: Captain & First Mate

Terrorists attack

2023 Season No Comments
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This morning another P&O cruise lines arrived at Port Vila. I went ashore this morning wedding my way though all the terrorists/ tourists. I needed to fill up the petrol can for the outboard and get some eggs. Well I got the fuel but the supermarket is out of eggs.

A little later I caught up with Markus and Bianca a couple thinking of joining us later. I brought them back to Imagine so they had a better idea of it was like.

I spent this afternoon sorting through photos. The cruise ship has just left, heading into the sunset and another destination.

Another farewell

2023 Season No Comments
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Wilson left today to fly back to New Zealand. We started the day early, as two boats had arrived over the weekend and were in the quarantine area ready to go to the customs office this morning. We had breakfast jumped in the dinghy and we were at customs by 8am. Being on island time, we new the staff wouldnt be their for the 8am opening time. So we waited and waited and waited. By the time the Immigration Officer arrived at 9.45 there were 3 lots of people lined up behind us.

It only took 15 minutes for Wilson to be discharged off the Imagine and get authorisation for B to return to Imagine. From Customs went by dinghy to the craft markets for Wilson to pick up gifts before heading back to the boat.

After lunch it was time to say goodbye and I took Wilson ashore to catch a taxi to the airport. I have just been chilling for the rest of the day.

Not a quiet day

2023 Season No Comments
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We have just chilled out today, but it has been far from a quiet day. While having breakfast on deck this morning a large vessel came into the harbour and anchored next to us. It had come in from overseas and was displaying its quarantine flag. It made plenty of noise as it dropped anchor. But more annoying is that they still haven’t turned off their engine or their large spot lights. So we may not get a great nights sleep.

Being Sunday we have also been serenaded by church singing and preaching from the shore.

Chill out

2023 Season No Comments
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Today was another day with little wind. That didnt matter too much as we werent going anywhere. After breakfast i got out the dive gear to go clean the hull. Wilson swam around the boat scraping the barnacle off at water level. While I dived and tried to get the barnicles off the keel. Unfortunately my ears were playing up and I could not equalise, so I had to stop for today. I’ll try again another day.

After that it was a day of chilling out. We had a drink on the deck as the sun went down, then Wilson made dinner.

Good bye for now

2023 NZ No Comments
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This morning another cruise liner docked in Port Vila. the water taxis were busy ferrying people back and forth as we had breakfast. After breakfast B and I went ashore to check out the markets and buy some things for lunch. B bought herself a hat at the markets

After lunch I ferried B to shore as she was leaving. She had to go back to the hustle and bustle of Sydney for a short time. She will return in ten days for more adventures aboard Imagine.

I moved Imagine out of the marina and anchored in the bay. later in the afternoon Wilson returned to the boat after spending the afternoon wondering Port Vila.

Two different days

2023 Season No Comments
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Emma went on a guided day tour on the island. First stop was the reef zoological conservation center where you get up close to baby turtles. The next pond was older turtles getting ready for release into the wild again. They also had coconut crabs, iguanas, fruit bats, a goat and a pig. From there we headed to the Blue Lagoon which is naturally formed water hole, inland, with crystal clear water for swimming. We then went to Eden resort which has a small waterfall cascade you can swim in, we also had our lunch here. Last stop was the Tanna Coffee Factory were we saw how the coffee was made and bought some to take home.
My day on the other Hand, started out good. I went to immigration and sorted out the paperwork for getting Danielle and Wilson (new crew) through customs and onboard Imagine. Then next door to customs to cancel the cruising permit with Emma on board and get a new one with new crew. That’s was relatively easy.
Next call in to DHL to find out where the outboard is. Their tracking app said it was in Port Vila, so I wanted to know of any hold up and when it would be delivered. A simple request.9
When the lady entered the tracking code into their system, her face changed. I heard her say to herself it’s gone back to Sydney. She quickly turned to me and said “it must be on the flight coming in this afternoon. I’ll email you this afternoon with the delivery time.” I’m still waiting for the email and the outboard.
Tomorrow morning I will take another walk across town and ask again where it is, as it was supposed to be delivered before yesterday.
 

Mad Dogs and Englishmen

2023 NZ 1 Comment
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Saturday 7th January

We have been sheltered in Coppermine Bay having to put up with the constant light rain only being interrupted by heavy rain. It was time to get out the dive gear and start cleaning the hull.

At lunch time we checked the weather again. The high winds were going to die to nothing overnight and then have no wind for four days. That would have meant motoring back, so we decided to set sail back to Whangaparaoa.

We didn’t know at the time but all the Auckland ferries had been cancelled due to the high winds and waves.

With the Main reefed and Staysail out we headed off. Yes there were large waves and the wind was high, but just an average day for us out in the open ocean. We weren’t fighting the weather, Imagine just cruised through the waves while we drank our coffee.

This morning at Tindalls Bay it was quite calm but still overcast.

  • Coppermine Bay
  • Tindalls Bay

Farewell

2022 NZ No Comments
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Sunday 18th September

Last night we slept for ten hours uninterrupted. This morning Tony and Andrew went ashore into Paihia for a look around and to get fresh veggies. On the way back they stopped off at an island. Their own private beach on a deserted island. After taking a few photos they headed back to Imagine.

We all played a few games of cards before lunch, then it was time for Tony to pack and get ready for his long trek back to Australia.

After Tony was dropped ashore to catch his taxi to the airport, We headed for a bay to get shelter from the storm that had been following us across the Tasman.

Officially here

2022 Coral Coast 2022 NZ 2 Comments
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Saturday 17th September

First, thank you to everyone that has left comments. We couldn’t get back to you until now. We now have internet.

It seemed to take forever to get past Cape Reinga simply because now we have a point to fixate on. We made good time coming down the coast dodging the boats. It was strange seeing boats after 8 days of only seeing waves. It was daybreak by the time we had arrived in the Bay of Islands and tied up at the customs wharf at Opua.

Customs/ MPI didn’t arrive till 10am. They were very efficient checking everything sorting what food had to be disposed of etc.

As soon as they left we refuelled. That was a mission. It was very tight in the marina, with a slight breeze blowing one way and the tide running the other.

Once fuelled we went across to Russell for an early lunch and then moved and anchored opposite Paihia. Tony spent the afternoon organising his flights back to Australia, while Andrew spent the afternoon getting a sim card connected.