Boxing Day morning we headed into to town. The shops were packed. People looking for the Boxing Day sales. We found a vacuum and a small pump for the watermarker. All the places were closed that sold starter batteries.
We dropped the car back to Darren. He had given us a pump to try. Back onboard, I started replacing the pump. Of course none of the connections were the same as the old one. Tried Darren’s one it had too higher pressure, but finally the one we bought seemed to do the job.
Eager to go sailing, we jump started the engine and hauled anchor. We started the watermaker and I checked that it was making water. Everything seemed to be alright. After about half an hour I checked again and everything was working smoothly.
About an hour later, half way to Waiheke Island, we were both on deck enjoying the sun ( finally out there!) and dolphins sighting. I went down below to get some drinks and smelled something, a few second later the smoke alarms went off. I quickly turned off the power and saw the smoke coming from the cupboard where the watermaker is. Turning off the power stopped the wiring from continuing to burn and the smoke started to disperse. Thankfully the fire didn’t spread!
We decided to turn back to Whangaparaoa and as we anchored in Okoromai Bay the wiring had cooled and the smoke was gone. That when I could see the new pump had overheated and shorted out causing the wiring to burn.
Reluctant to put the same type of pump back in we have ordered one online. This means we are on tight water until it arrives. Luckily it has rained over Christmas and we have buckets full of rainwater that we can use for washing.

We have finished the jobs we have been working on, so that we can have a break from Christmas to New Year relaxing and sailing around the Hauraki Gulf. We started Christmas Eve with Croissants and plans to clean up ready for our week off. That went to plan till about 3pm. That’s when the vacuum died, then the engine starter battery died and then the prepump for the watermarker stopped. It was too late to run around the shops to buy new ones, so we went for a walk along the beach. 

Christmas day was great we spent it at Darren’s with other family members. Telling stories, reminiscing, eating and drinking too much before returning to Imagine.

It’s been a quiet couple of days. The most exciting thing I’ve done is washing a few knickers in a bucket.other than that I’ve just been pottering around doing little jobs on Imagine. Late yesterday afternoon I had a visitor. A local swam out from shore (about 450m) to ask me if he could clean the hull. He will charge 6000 vatu (about $80nzd). He gave me his phone number and swam back to shore. I’m just having a drink on deck and watching the sun go down.

The morning started out nice. Blue sky no breeze. Wilson and I had breakfast in the cockpit before heading ashore. We had been discussing how friendly the locals are. Then it happened, Wilson got attacked by a local, leaving him with scratches down his fore arm.
We had been heading ashore in the dinghy, minding our own business. Then all of a sudden Wilson was attacked. A fish jumped out of the water straight at Wilson, scratching his arm as he defended himself.. Seconds later another one tried to do the same. They must have been getting revenge for their friends getting caught fishing. We continued to shore and after doing a few errands we returned to Imagine.
This afternoon we went back ashore. This time with no incidents. Wilson went off checking out the city while I meet up with a couple that may join us in the future. Back on Imagine Wilson is making dinner while I watch the sunset.

The day started with breakfast on deck. This was followed by computer work. For those of you interested in going back, I have uploaded more large photos and inserted them in the last month’s blogs. Also for those not understanding English the site is now also in French, Spanish, Italian and German.
Wilson spent today trying to find Danielle’s luggage. She has arrived in America but her luggage hasn’t. Wilson went to Port Vila Airport to see if it hadn’t been loaded but it was on the plane when it left here.
I sorted more things to give away and that was today. Sorry I forgot to take any photos, so here is tonight dinner.

Another sunrise as we drink our morning coffee. B and I did some more rearangeing and sorted more of my clothes to donate to the villagers we will meet. We went out for dinner this evening to celebrate B’s birthday (20 years old, yeah right) at the marina restaurant. We ordered a seafood platter for two with lobster. It was more like for four. We could not eat it all, which was a shame and waste but there was so much. Wilson is now back on Imagine without Danielle.

As per usual Andrew and B woke up this morning with the sunrise and had cup of coffee in the cockpit. Less usual was the tug boat waiting aside Imagine for the big port container boat to slowly enter Port Vila Bay. The magical light of the sunrise always make things more special. Never the less, on top of that B spotted a barracuda chasing a tiny fish, both jumping from the water. It looked like a cartoon! So funny! At about 8am we moved the boat to the marina and went with the dinghy to the customs office to cleared Danielle from the boat as she has to fly back to USA due to family emergency. It was then time to say goodbye to Danielle and Andrew took them ashore. Wilson will be back on Imagine for a few more weeks. Andrew and B went ashore to do a little shopping at the market before lunch, then spent the afternoon rearranging things on the boat to make more space.

Morning brought a very overcast day. Combined with the breeze left us with cool day. Only one swim today. After breakfast it was exercise on the fore deck. Then Emma took to the hammock for the day. I did a few things around the boat before chilling out.
There was no drinks and nibbles on deck as there was no sunset with such heavy cloud cover. Instead it was card games before dinner.

Imagine has survived a couple of cyclones, several weather bombs, two floods and now a tsunami. Well a tsunami warning. We didn’t realy notice any wave where we are anchored. Emma’s hammock rocked a little but that’s all. So, yes we are safe.
Another tough day of snorkelling, swimming, reading, fishing and relaxing. The hammock makes for another great spot to be on the boat. There is absolutely no worries out here just enjoying the beautiful Vanuatu.

Early morning swim was followed by breakfast on the foredeck. We then decided to move across the bay to Moso island. Anchoring was tricky. The sea bed came up from 40m only 100m from shore. We dropped anchor when the bow had 2m below us. The stern was still in 15m of water. We have been watching the wind and tide currents which are keeping us from swinging onto shore.
The water is so clear you can see the rocks and shells on the bottom. Even the fish can be seen. The first thing that had to be done after anchoring was to jump in for a swim. Emma snorkled the few metres to shore and back.
Then it was down to the days routine. Lie I the sun, go for a swim, lie in the shade, go for a swim, have lunch and then we had to repeat it all. Island cruising wears you out.
The sun is going down and a glass of wine awaits.