Happy Hogmanay 🥂

We would like to wish everyone a fantastic 2017. May the coming year be full of adventure and happiness; follow your dreams and live every moment.  We will be celebrating with our friend on s/v Perry and s/v Fieldtrip in Rodrick Bay, Florida Islands, Solomon Islands 🌴 

Honiara

Honiara, the capital of the Solomon Islands, is not somewhere we wanted to spend too much time. Other cruisers had warned us to be vigilant for both potential theft and for a sudden change in weather which can change the anchorage in a dangerous lee shore very suddenly.  It took a record six attempts to …

Marau Sound

Before heading to Honiara we stopped in Marau Sound, on the Eastern tip of Guadalcanal. We anchored near Tavanipupu island resort, with a sternline tied to a mangrove tree. The lagoon was stunning with small islands scattered all over and pristine reefs. There were mangroves with crocodiles, but we didn't see any. Prince William and …

Santa Ana Island, Solomons

From the Reef Islands we sailed to Santa Ana Island, just off St Cristobal. The two day passage was one of the most uncomfortable crossings on our trip with lots of squalls and an annoying beam-on swell. Our buddy boats Perry and Fieldtrip had similar experiences and just like us were happy to arrive in …

Reef Islands, Solomons

The Reef Islands were absolutely gorgeous. We anchored in several spots and visited many villages. This is one of the most remote places we've been to. There's no tourism at all and only a handful of yachts stop here every year. The people were extremely friendly and welcoming and the surroundings just stunning. 

Ndendo, Solomon Islands

From Vanuatu we sailed to the Solomons and we arrived in Ndendo Island, the most western island, where a temporary clearance was possible. The very deep bay made anchoring tricky and a long dinghy ride into town proved unnecessary as the officials were getting ready to come to our boat. The Customs lady searched the …

Banks Islands, Vanuatu

We left Vanuatu more than a month ago and on our way out, we stopped in the Banks Islands. We sailed past Vanua Lava and spotted twin waterfalls. We headed closer to the shore and searched for some shallow water to anchor in. Soon after, we were welcomed by Kerele in his canoe who invited …

Contrasts.

After an uneventful and for once peaceful downwind sail, we stood off the SE tip of Guadalcanal for a few hours until daylight and we could distinguish reef from passage. I half expected a (black and white) American destroyer with Robert Mitchum at the con to loom out of the darkness... klaxons screaming.. air-raid, nope, …

Earthquake

Last night we were shaken out of our beds. Around 5am the boat started shaking and our immediate thoughts were that we had started dragging and had hit a reef. All four of us sprinted out of bed and gathered in the cockpit. We were not on a reef and still anchored in exactly the …

Santa Ana Island

We left the Reef Islands on Wednesday and set sail for Santa Ana. The weather forecast looked fine and this 230 mile crossing certainly wasn't anything we hadn't done before. But boy, was it uncomfortable.  Somehow, the swell managed to make us feel like we were in a washing machine. The kids and I reverted …