Yacht Delivery Blog

Well, we absolutely smashed our previous day's record! We logged a very healthy 163 nautical miles in the last 24 hours, and I'm very excitied about it. That definitely puts us on track to reach Port Vila in good time tomorrow. Hopefully, we can get checked in and docked without any delays, no waiting around overnight. The past 24 hours have been remarkably uneventful, which, honestly, is just how I like it. Smooth sailing is good sailing. We had the main up for most of yesterday, until around midnight. Unfortunately, it's now sporting a rather… unsavory pattern courtesy of our latest avian hitchhiker. Hopefully, the rain that's chasing us will take care of that little artistic addition. It's hard to believe we'll be in Port Vila tomorrow. Nine days at sea, and it feels like both yesterday and a lifetime ago. The days just blend into one big mass of four-hour watches. Time takes on a different meaning out here. And the weather yesterday? Oh my gosh. I was lookin...

The miles are ticking by, and so are the hours. We've now got just 360 nautical miles to go, which puts us a little over two days out. That means we'll be arriving in Port Vila on Thursday afternoon, which is perfect. The conditions are as settled as can be – just a gentle swell rolling beneath us and a few knots of wind. Smooth sailing, as they say. Yesterday, we transferred 240 liters of fuel from a big blue drum into one of the the main tanks. We'll likely top them off completely tonight, just to be on the safe side. Our 24-hour run was a solid 148 nautical miles, our best yet since leaving Raiatea. Not too shabby at all! Right now, I've got a rather large bird napping on the boom. He's about to get a rude awakening courtesy of the deck brush. It's a constant battle out here, keeping the boat clean and bird-free. Since we're so close to Port Vila and it's been pretty warm, I'm thinking I might just splash out and have the air conditioning on for a...

We've left Fiji behind now, and we're well on our way to Port Vila from Samoa, and, for those keeping track, about two-thirds of the way from Raiatea to Brisbane. We've got both engines running now, which is helping us eat up the miles. Every little bit counts. I'll admit, I was a little jittery after spotting that mysterious fishing boat the other night. The story about the deserted vessel, the one with no crew and a bloody handprint, kept replaying in my mind. It's easy to dismiss those tales as just that—tales—but out here, with nothing but the vast ocean around you, they tend to take on a life of their own, and sailors are a superstitious bunch. Yesterday, just after dawn I was doing my usual checks, wandering around the deck and cockpit, making sure everything was in its place. With that story still lingering in my thoughts. Then, I saw it. Something near the bathing ladder. I bent over to take a closer look, and there was no doubt. A bloody palm print on the b...

We're passing Fiji now, with a few scattered islands just barely visible on the horizon. I missed the sunrise, which is a bit of a shame – apparently, it was quite a sight. Actually its not a shame - I was asleep. Yesterday, we covered nearly 140 nautical miles in 24hrs, and the passage continues to be steady, if a little uneventful. The progress remains straightforward. A gentle swell is running, a subtle reminder that we're at sea. And, of course, the vast expanse of saltwater surrounding us is a constant reminder as well. There's a certain rhythm to these long passages; a steady hum of the engine, the subtle sway of the boat, and the constant vigilance, and the 4hr watches are a nice way to break things up. Last night, we had a curious encounter. A fishing boat appeared in the distance, a small speck against the vast darkness. It was reassuring to know our AIS was functioning, silently broadcasting our position and course. It provides a sense of security. But it also rem...

It's been another quiet day at sea. The only real sounds have been the steady hum of the engine and the occasional, hopeful flap of the headsail whenever we think the wind might be picking up enough to give it a go. Spoiler alert: its only occasionally. However, the sunset and moonrise were anything but ordinary. The moon was really red, and I kept glancing at it, wondering what was going on as it clearly wasn't behind a cloud. Then, one side started to brighten, and a lightbulb went off in my head: "Hmm, looks like an eclipse." Turns out, I was right! It's quite the coincidence, finding out later that it was indeed a lunar eclipse. Its easy to see why 200 years ago they would have been reaching for a box of matches, firelighters and the nearest virgin. A nice moment in an otherwise uneventful day. I am definitely not complaining, as when things are getting exciting at sea, it's normally very close to something going wrong, and my intention is to have uneventf...

Yesterday was a day of steady progress, if not exactly thrilling sailing. We clocked 132 nautical miles in 24 hours, thanks to what I like to call the "asymmetrical Yanmar" and a reliable "diesel wind." Essentially, we had the headsail out, paired with the engine running at about 1600 RPM, giving us a nice little boost. Most of the day was remarkably calm. We'd get the occasional hour or two where the wind would pick up, and we could turn the engine off, cruising along at a comfortable 5 knots. Then, as the speed started to drop to around 4.5 knots, we'd fire up one engine to nudge us back up to 5.5 or 6 knots. It's a bit of a dance, but it keeps us moving. We're passing some little islands and reefs out here. I'm fighting a serious urge to go on a bit of a "tiki tour" and explore them. I can't imagine they get more than a handful of visitors a year.  We haven't seen a single vessel, not even a blip on the AIS since we left Ap...

We're back on the move after a rather eventful pit stop in Samoa! Getting those engines running again turned into a bit of an adventure. Finding the problem was one thing, but finding a solution on a small South Pacific island? That was a whole other ballgame. Everyone was incredibly helpful and cheerful, but sourcing the parts I needed was a real challenge. Let me tell you, it was a proper treasure hunt. For example, I went on a massive tour of all the car parts places. In one, I counted 17 people waiting to be served! When I finally got to the front, I asked for 6mm fuel hose. They had some! But when the guy came back, he had a piece about a foot long. I knew what the answer was going to be but felt I had to ask "Is that a sample?", and he said, "No, this is the fuel hose we have." I ended up finding filter housings in a diving shop, but they didn't have the barb fittings to connect the hoses. You get the picture. Adding to our list of accomplishments...