Category Archives: 2023 NZ

Productive morning

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This morning the wind was up so we decided to get a few jobs done on Imagine. The first was to splice a new snubber as our spare. Austin and I got stuck into that while B worked on making her jewellery and accessories based on recycling.

Next it was dive and clean the hull. Austin and I did the work while B took the photos. It wasn’t very dirty so it didn’t take long. After lunch we had a lazy afternoon, reading, resting, drinking coconuts and playing cards. Austin is on dinner duty tonight.

Something strange

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We returned to Denarau five days ago to restock fresh fruit and veggies and wait for the arrival of our new crew. While waiting a strange thing happened. The weather wasn’t good. Overcast and raining.

We had a break in tbe rain one day so we went into the marina and fueled up. That was a mission. We had to radio in to be in the queue. Once in the marina we had to go around in circles for more than hour because every time the fuel dock was cleared and we were called in, a little motor boat would cut in front of us to fuel up. When we finaly got to the fuel dock we discovered the pump was on a go slow. It took another hour to fill up.

The next day day we had winds reaching over 25knts and plenty of rain. Yesterday we braved the rain and did a little more shopping. When we got back to Imagine she had moved. There was a boat anchored very close to where we had left Imagine and the guy on it was waving us over. We went to see what he wanted. He told us that not long after he had anchored Imagine dragged anchor and hit his boat only causing a small scratch. He jumped on Imagine and was able to stop Imagine from drifting onto the reef. Strange because there was only 5kts of wind yesterday, but we were not there to say wether he had anchored across ours and dislodged Imagine, or it was something else. A guy from the catamaran anchored aside us for the last 3 days came over to help them rescue Imagine and also mentioned to them how strange that was since we have been both boats aside each other in 25kts winds with no problem.

This morning we picked up Austin, our new crew and headed out to Malolo Lailai island for a few days. The weather still cloudy but we jumped in the clear blue water as soon as we anchored and we have been lucky to get a couple of hours of sun.

Good bye for now

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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.

Hectick day

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We were up at 6.30 had breakfast on the foredeck, then we were off. I released the mooring and Emma guided Imagine out of Port Vila, gliding through the still water. When we got out into the Bay the easterly wind we had been waiting for for two weeks, had kicked in. This gave us a nice sail. There was 30 minutes of 1m swell then it dropped back to less than half a metre.
Port Havana is quite deep right up to the shore. We found ourselves a section of shore that has a shelf to anchor on. Once anchored, the motor off, sailcovers on, there was only one thing we could do. Jump in the water to cool off, from this 35c air. Well we got wet. The water temperature is 30c, so we got worn out trying to swim.
That left us the busiest time after lunch. It was so hectic. Lying in the sun, jumping in the water, lying in the shade, jumping in the water. We are just worn out.

Early morning

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We were up early this morning. Breakfast was served on the foredeck with a blue sky and a touch of breeze.
After breakfast we took the laundry ashore and left it to be done and went off to the market. Not all the stalls were set up so we went for a stroll through town. We stopped at the information centre. We went back to the markets and got some fruit and veg, Emma bought a skirt and we headed back.
Back onboard we realised it was now only 9.30. So there was plenty of time to do a few repair jobs. After lunch we meet up with Tony and Dannie before we ventured back to Customs to get our cruising permit.
Back on Imagine and we are just chilling watching the sun go down.

Day 1

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We got plenty of sleep last night. This morning it was play the book in with customs game.
First we emailed our arrival. Then we called on the VHF, and again, and again.Then we phoned, and got put though to 3 departments before someone said come ashore and catch a bus to the customs building.
We set off rowing and luckily got a tow ashore by a passing local. Then Yachting World took us across the harbour to customs. They asked if it was us calling on the VHF this morning. I said yes and she smiled and carried on with her work. She asked if I had sent the arrival papers through by email before we got there. I said yes. She said oh the customs email didn’t work. I said I also sent it to Paul. She asked Paul at the next desk. He looked through his emails and yes he got it. But he didn’t reply because a lot of boats have been emailing and he didn’t want to reply to any. I thought that was his job but could be wrong.
Then it was on to imagration. Then on to bio security. We were told to come ashore and catch a bus and now he is asking if we have covid or any other contagious illnesses. He then told us he had to come and see Imagine.
So back we went. We then got a call on the VHF saying to meet the bio guy onshore with all our rubbish and fresh food.
We hauled anchor and moved into the marina and then rowed to shore with the rubbish and food. I was told wrong so I rowed back to Imagine while he followed in a motorboat. Onboard he wanted all the fresh food. Then he was going to take all our frozen meat and dairy products (cheese, butter and milk). I eventually talked him out of that and he left.
Being officially allowed to go ashore we headed to the closest restaurant for lunch. Next was get a SIM card. This afternoon Iris and Tony vacated the boat heading off on their own ways leaving Emma and I to chill out.
This evening we are sitting out on deck the sun has gone down and there is a light breeze cooling us down after a 34 degree day. The restaurant across the way has a live back serenading us.

We made it

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We are still motors sailing and surfing down the waves. We tried sailing with the headsail for a while, until the turnbuckle on the bottom of the sail parted. It had vibrated loose. We got the sail furled away without too much trouble and went back to the Staysail.
A few minutes later Tony shouted out “the flag.” the top corner of the NZ flag had come away from the flagpole. Lifejackets on I quickly retrieved it. Tony retied the flag to the pole and we put it back out.
We are constantly on the look out for sea life. Suddenly Iris called out Dolphins. We all rushed to port and everyone went silent as a large white pointer shark (great white) cruised alongside Imagine and then disappeared into a wave.
We have made it! Vanuatu greeted us with a heavy squal as we entered the harbour. After anchoring and covering the sails it was time for a well deserved drink. We sat on the cockpit celibrating and reminiscing about the trip.
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Record breaker

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Another night with little sleep. All night and today we have been battling 4m swell and wind from 26 to 32kts. The sea is quite choppy on top of the swell. This evening the swell dropped to 3m making it a little easier.
Tony hit top speed a few days ago of 8.6kts. While Emma has made a new Hull speed record. Emma was at the helm when she found herself surfing down an extra large wave at 10.6kts (32km).
Imagine is handling it fine. But at times there has been a couple of anxious looking faces as the waves hit the back of the boat.
Just before lunch while Iris was on shift a large wave started rolling just before hitting Imagine on the back quarter. The wave cleared the safety rails by about half a metre. Iris shrieked as the water poored into the cockpit. Within a minute the water had drained out of the cockpit leaving Iris standing in wet clothes. I was at the dry end of the cockpit. Luckily the air temperature is 32c and the water is 29c.
Other than that excitement the only thing to report is we have seen a few schools of flying fish.
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Hero to the rescue

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Today has been a bit of the same. At daybreak we set the Staysail with the main sail reefed and we have been traveling at between 5 and 6kts. Everyone got excited when a boat appeared on the screen. The first sinse leaving NZ waters. We were beginning to think there had been a holicost and we were the only ones left.
The sea has been messy and the sky grey (gray for you Americans).
Thanks to Dannie, Greg and Sue for sourcing and organising a new outboard for us. It’s being delivered by my hero brother.

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Wash day

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We ended up motor sailing most of the night. This morning with blue sky and only 10kts of wind, we put up the Jeniker (the big red sail out the front). After a couple of hours the temperature dropped clouds came over and we thought it was time to bring in the Jeniker. As the wind had increased slightly, we put the headsail back out and continued sailing. That didn’t last too long, before the sail started calapsing as we went over the large swell and we had to turn on the motor. We could have sailed with the waves but we would have ended up in Fiji.
Emma thought it was wash day, so out on the back deck she went with a bundle of clothes. She got a bucket out and it wasn’t long before the clothes were hanging on the line.
The girls saw flying fish sailing off the crest of the waves.
We have less than 200nm to reach Vanuatu waters. With another 100nm to Port Vila. Nearly there! This meant putting up the Q flag, Vanuatu flag and the New Zealand flag. Now we look official.
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