Yacht Delivery Blog

We've made it to Port Vila! After a good run, we're safely in port. Just a quick note to let you know that this will be the last "Yacht Delivery Blog" post for a few days. Since we're in port, it doesn't really count as part of the delivery voyage, so I'm going to take a bit of a break from the updates. Port Vila is showing the signs of recent hardship. The damage from the earthquake is quite apparent. The seawall in the marina has collapsed and is currently under repair, which is causing some disruption. In fact, a significant portion of the town is fenced off, making access very restricted. You can't even drive through most of town. It's a reminder of the challenges faced by the local community and on top of the twin cyclones (Kevin and Judy) in 3 days in 2023 poor old Vila has been pretty smashed . We'll be busy here prepping for the next leg, getting the hull cleaned for biosecurity in Australia, and taking care of some minor repairs. There...

Yesterday was a busy day of doing… well, not much. It was one of those days where the hours tick by, but the activity level is pretty low-key. We finished transferring the last fuel drum into the tank, which is always a good feeling – one less thing to worry about. We actually had the main up and sailed for a good portion of the day, which was a nice change of pace. But, as often happens, the wind had other ideas. It eased off a bit and swung around further to the east. Since I'm aiming to get into Port Vila today, we went back to our trusty Yanmars to keep the pace up. Gotta keep that schedule. Fingers crossed we'll make it to Port Vila in time to clear in today. I'm not keen on having to anchor up and wait until tomorrow. All that paperwork and the formalities take time, and I'm eager to get moving again. Unfortunately, the Coral Sea isn't looking too appealing for later in the week, so my weather eye (and Windy app) will be glued to the forecasts. Vanuatu is appa...

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...