Cruise News - August 2024

CRUISE NEWS

Taveuni

Photo by Viki Moore

In this issue

August 2024

Boats for Sale

From the Helm

The latest update from Viki

Go East & Pacific Rally 2024

Lots of photos of our adventures

Enjoying Paradise

Being Searched by Customs

Upcoming Events

Boating Etiquette

ask our Pirate panelist your curly questions

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From the helm

This month I am laying up the magaszine literally & figuartively from Paradise! Yes Paradise Taveuni Resort in Fiji truely is a cruisers Paradise. With moorings, overlooked by a lovely pool, amazing hospitality, bar with NZ wine, a lovely restaurant, laundry, tours and incredible diving, you can do your PADI dive course here too Paradise is known as being the soft coral capital of the world based right next to the Rainbow Reef ` on the rally. The people you meet along the way and the friendships made are priceless.

It was great to catch up with with many of our Pacific Rally boats who were passing through Paradise and taking some time to enjoy the incredible facilities and welcoming staff at the resort.

After a lovely stay in Paradise I headed to Viani Bay - Dive Academy Fiji - another fantastic spot for sailors, and then on to Denarau where I was able to catch up with some more of our group over there.

We have also enjoyed welcome parties at Nawi Island Marina where they were treated to some Fijian dancing & music and lessons on how to husk and grate a coconut. Tonight they are having a meke and kava night.

Meanwhile in Vanuatu, the group there have been treated to many interesting cultural events and activities, from land diving, to bat cave tours, from peering into live erupting volcanoes to cooking classes.

The hospitality that is shown to all the rally participants from our local hosts is so very much appreciated by myself and everyone

Over the last few days I have been in Vava’u Tonga to re-join Bella Vita and sail her to Savusavu with Richard & Libby my boat partners. We have had some more fabulous events here. Thanks so much to Mango, Kraken, Hideaway & Tropicana for taking such great care of us!

Meanwhile in French Polynesia our International group there is starting to head towards Tonga too where they’ll either join us to “Sail South to NZ” or “Go West to Australia” where I know they will also get a warm welcome in either the Bay of Islands, Whangārei or Bundaberg depending on which direction they head.

Over the coming months they’ll get all the info they need to know about biosecurity, visas, customs, weather, local knowledge on the rules & regulations in either AU or NZ when they arrive, and some great discounts on boat yards and marinas on their arrival.

I’ve had my advocacy hat on again for our members in the last month. I had a very productive meeting with the Maritime NZ team regarding the Cat 1 changes, and some success with lobbying the Tongan Govt on their decision to cut off Starlink - which has since been resolved.

I keep all our members informed on a weekly basis of all the detail behind what is going on in this space, so if you are keen to join our community, you can sign up here

Our 2025 Pacific Rally has also launched and we already have over 35 boats making a start on their preparations for the adventures ahead. If you are planning on joining us next year, I highly recommend you sign up early and make a start on all the many jobs to do between now and your departure date It is your best chance of arriving at the start line without too much stress! You can watch the webinar and find the registration form here

We will also be launching our South Island Rally this month. So if you’d like to enjoy some cruising adventures this summer check out the details further on in the newsletter for the launch.

I hope you like the new ‘look’ of the Cruise News Magazine this month and our new Island Cruising logo which will gradually be rolled out across all the various places where it is featured.

I hope you enjoy the magazine this month Thanks so much to all the people who have kindly contributed, especially James who describes a couple of interesting encounters in Fiji and Richard who writes about his observations in Tonga.

Anyway that’s all from me Happy Sailing!

Cheers

Sail South to New Zealand!

Join us to Sail South to New Zealand this summer!

Our Sail South Rally package contains all you need to know to make the passage to New Zealand, support navigating all the formalities, and great discounts and support during your stay.

Check out all the inclusions on our website. Or watch our information webinar here:

+ Special offers for Sail South Rally Participants!

Just Another Saturday

By Richard Loseby

He’s 10 and spits like a champion.

‘How do you do that’, I ask, as I sit in the shade of a Vava tree by the Saturday market in Port Neiafu

‘Do what?’ he asks.

‘Spit without actually spitting.’

This is Kevin, he’s big for his age and in Tonga, where big is normal, that’s saying something He wears salmon coloured jandals, a grey T-shirt and baggy flowery shorts. There’s a scab on his knee he got from rugby, the pink edges on his brown skin showing its healing nicely.

‘My Pa taught me how. I can hit a coconut wasp in the air.’

He points out an empty can of Sprite on the ground by a rubbish tin, aims and fires.

Dink!

He smiles broadly, a Tongan Cheshire Cat.

‘Do you want me to show you?’

Almost without thinking he lets loose a bullet of spit that kicks up some dust when it strikes the ground. I tell him I’m good for now, but secretly I think how back in primary school that talent could have been useful. Maybe even to impress Jenny Carter, the prettiest girl in school, and win the coveted seat beside her in class

Spit, ‘Dink!’ Love

I ask Kevin if he has a girlfriend and there’s that winning smile again.

‘Sure,’ he boasts, ‘loads!’

There are many ways to a girl’s heart, even in Tonga It might be Kevin’s natural charm of course Then again, a nonchalant ability to take down a coconut wasp with a gob of saliva might do it too.

In the end we part with a wave as he saunters off, cool as the cucumbers that were piled high on the stalls nearby Not to mention the bananas, the pawpaw, the cabbages and watermelons. It’s a feast for the eye, all greens and yellows, with a splash of red from a half opened melon

I wait for my wife who appears with bags for me to carry, and the life stories from every seller she’s met It’s part of the sale – a story and six bananas thank you – all part of the bargain. She’s also discovered where the public library is too, as we have a delivery to make; donated children’s books from the Island Cruising Association. It takes 5 minutes to find, up above the market and 100m past the police station, but eventually distinguished by its red painted doorway and two concrete steps covered in children’s jandals. There is a pink pair in the middle, shinier than all the others, shiny and new because they’ve just been bought by Mele’s mother

Mele is 6 and it’s not her first time in the library. She bosses the other kids and tells them what to read, and to keep it quiet when they get too loud. She’s a librarian in waiting, but for now the stern expression has evaporated into a smile a mile wide – new books are like treasure. Each one is taken from the bag with gasps of astonishment and delight. The pages emit that freshly printed ink smell, intoxicating to anyone who loves books And Mele loves books more than anything She chooses The Wonky Donky and disappears into a corner to read

This suddenly is what makes cruising life so special. We deliver books, reading glasses, clothes, medicines because normal supply lines are so scarce. In return we receive gracious smiles and maybe a fresh coconut, cut down from a nearby tree and sliced open for us to drink, clumsily, spilling it down our chins and shirts because we haven’t been brought up to know how. This is the perfect trade of course, our happy collision of cultures on a sunny Saturday, where items of value are exchanged for life experiences we just can’t have anywhere else but here

Richard Loseby is a published author from Auckland currently sailing around the Pacific on Bella Vita on the Pacific Rally.

You can find Richard’s books on Amazon

BLUEWATER

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m: +64 21 858 897

e: robbs@36degrees.nz

Chris Nel

m: +64 20 4179 2949

e: chris@36degrees.nz

We advertise on numerous platforms, domestic and international, and pride ourselves on offering innovative sales solutions to get the best result for your boat Whether it's an upgrade, downsize or a straight sell, contact our professional team of brokers to help get you underway.

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Go West to Australia!

Join us to Go West to Australia this summer!

Our Go West package contains all you need to know to make the passage to Australia, support navigating all the formalities, tips on all the best places to cruise, and great discounts and support during your stay.

Check out all the inclusions on our website. Or watch our information webinar here:

Welcome to the Bundaberg Region to all Down Under Rally participants!

We are thrilled to host such a vibrant and adventurous group of sailors, explorers, and enthusiasts from around the world.

The Bundaberg Region is known for its rich history and its vast and varying landscapes.

As an access point to the Southern Great Barrier Reef we are well situated for a range of coastal pursuits whether that be at the Port of Bundaberg launching to nearby reefs or island or snorkelling right off the shoreline.

From the coastline to our rich hinterland and every community in between you will find agricultural enterprises from sugarcane to cattle farms which have earnt us our food bowl reputation.

Delicious food and drink coupled with warm and welcoming people is what we are proud to be known for.

From the iconic Bundaberg Rum Visitor Experience to the Mon Repos Turtle Centre, there is something here for everyone. I encourage you to immerse yourselves in all that the Bundaberg Region has to offer.

The Down Under Rally embodies the spirit of adventure and camaraderie, values that are at the heart of the Bundaberg community. While visiting you can learn about the history of our famous, intrepid explorer and pioneer aviator Bert Hinkler at the Hinkler Hall of Aviation, located within our lush Botanic Gardens.

On behalf of Bundaberg Regional Council and the entire Bundaberg community, I extend my heartfelt welcome to you all.

Thank you for choosing our region as a stop on your incredible journey. We wish you the best for all your adventures.

Mayor Helen Blackburn Bundaberg Regional Council

Taste Bundaberg Festival

Friday 30 August - Sunday 8 September

2024

If your love language is a plate piled high, or the way to your heart is a home cooked meal, then this festival is sure to get your mouth watering.

Nestled on the cusp of the Southern Great Barrier Reef, just over four hours’ drive north of Brisbane, Australia’s tastiest food bowl is casting open the farm gates and inviting you to join them at the table, for 10 tasty days of fresh food feasting.

Dedicated to showcasing the rockstars who are putting their heart and soul into feeding the nation, producing 25% of Australia’s fruit and veg– this festival is all about our love for local.

From the fan favourite Farm Flavours Picnic in the orchards of Macadamias Australia and long luncheons at Water St Kitchen, to a kid-approved Candyland picnic at The Garden Mill and the fresh journey of this year’s Taste Trail, there’s something to whet everyone’s appetite.

Meet the makers at the Taste Bundaberg Market, where you come face-to-face with the legends growing, brewing, distilling and creating 365 days of the year. Genuine, down to earth people (seriously, they’re elbow deep in soil most days) who are more than happy to have a yarn and share the local must-do’s.

Taste Bundaberg Festival is the kind of good time that leaves you with your heart as full as your belly with dishes you’ll be dreaming of returning for!

With 365-days of great care, great taste and the Great Barrier Reef on the Bundaberg Region’s doorstep, you can continue exploring where great truly begins all year round, so be sure to add these must do’s to your iconic Bundaberg itinerary ��

Discover The Home of Australia’s Favourite Brew!

In the heart of Bundaberg lies The Bundaberg Barrel, home to one of the regions most renowned brands, Bundaberg Brewed Drinks – you likely know them for their staple premium brew, Bundaberg Ginger Beer. An icon in-itself, The Bundaberg Barrel is more than a destination; it's a celebration of craftsmanship, family, and the indelible taste of tradition. A must-visit when in region.

Immerse yourself in their family passion and learn the ins and out of what goes into The Great Australian Brew. Enjoy exploring this family-favourite with a self-guided journey through the Gallery learning about the art of crafting and bottling their craft-brewed range, including the iconic Bundaberg Ginger Beer. You’ll find the whole family will enjoy playing ‘guess the flavour’ with the Smellography Station where you will have fun guessing the real ingredients that make these Brews oh-so famous. Once you’ve sharpened your sense of smell, test your taste buds and book an informative guided Tasting, sampling all 14 flavour-filled Brews before finally settling on your favourite!

Visit the home of Australia’s Favourite Spirit

For couples who appreciate master blends, a visit to the Bundaberg Rum Distillery is a must. Immerse yourselves in the rich history and heritage of one of Australia's iconic spirits. Embark on a guided tour to learn about the rum-making process, from the aging of barrels to the art of blending. Conclude the tour with a tasting session, where you can savour a selection of premium top-shelf rums. For the true Rum connoisseurs out there, consider booking a Blend Your Own Experience and come home with two bottled of your very own signature blend.

Visit Macadamias Australia Visitor Experience

As our passionate producers work hard to feed the nation yearround, come experience a deeper connection to where your food comes from with an immersive paddock-to-plate experience at Macadamias Australia.

Venture on a journey into the heart of this generational farming family’s story where their dedication, lifelong commitment to each other, and the environment has shaped a legacy that transcends generations. Explore at your own pace with a self-guided tour of the centre before joining a guided orchard tour learning about the importance of caring from the ground up. After learning all there is to know about these native nuts, discover a range of nutty combinations that might just become your new favourite snack with a tasting. Before you leave, soak up some sunshine among the tranquil surrounds and grab yourself a Macadamia-infused Latte from the on-site cafe, kick back, and soak in the genuine charm of Macadamias Australia, leaving with more than just a taste of the land's authenticity lingering on your palate and a deeper appreciation for what’s on your plate.

Explore the Beauty of Lady Elliot Island

Escape to the pristine wonderland of Lady Elliot Island Eco Resort, a haven for nature-loving couples and families alike. This coral cay is situated at the southern tip of the Great Barrier Reef, renowned as the home of the Manta Ray boasting crystal-clear waters teeming with vibrant marine life.

Discover the underwater wonders of this thriving eco-system, snorkelling alongside majestic manta rays and curious turtles in the coral filled lagoon, or explore the outer reef with a guided diving safari. From glass bottom boat tours and guided lagoon walks with a Master Reef Guide, learn all there is to know about the intricacies of the reef and what we can do to help preserve and protect it for generations to come. As an advanced Eco Tourism Accredited operator, you'll find the island's custodians dedicated to restoring the reef through every touchpoint of this Eco Resort. Choose to spend the day or stay overnight relaxing among the tranquillity of this idyllic paradise on the Southern Great Barrier Reef.

Discover Lady Musgrave Island

Set on 3,000 acres of living reef with a protected lagoon, Lady Musgrave Island is a perfect spot for snorkelling and diving, with day trips and overnight accommodation on Lady Musgrave Experience’s 3-level pontoon, you'll arrive in paradise within a 2.5hr journey departing from Bundaberg Port Marina. Teeming with bird life above the water, and giant marine life below the water, you can swim with the turtles, dive alongside the manta rays all year round.

Do you know any vessels that might be making a crossing from Hawaii to California or from California to Hawaii? We have a researcher that would like to tow a plankton net on this route who needs some help!

This project, led by Dr. Rebecca Helm of Georgetown University, aims to look at the distribution and abundance of floating life in the north pacific between California and Hawaii. This region is known as a 'garbage patch' but it is also thriving ecosystem. However, we know very little about the ecosystem of this area. This project aims to change that by collecting preliminary data on life associated with plastic and life free-floating at the surface using neuston net tows.

At-Sea Research Opportunities

Please browse all our opportunities to facilitate a scientist-led expeditions to scroll through our latest programs.

Please contact: melissa@seakeepers.org for more details

We are super lucky to have some incredible partnerships with various resorts around the Pacific, and one such place I hadn’t yet had the opportunity to visit up until now was Paradise Resort in Taveuni Island.

This place truely is a cruisers Paradise, where yachties are treated as hotel guests and are warmly welcomed ashore to enjoy the resort’s many facilities.

Whether you are a cruiser exploring the eastern side of Fiji or someone looking for a relaxing place for a holiday off the well trodden tourist trail over the western side of Fiji, don’t miss a stop at Paradise Resort in Taveuni!

Taveuni is Fiji’s third largest Island, and thick jungle covers the steep mountain ridge running the length of the island. A 1.25 hour flight from Nadi on Fiji airways has you landing at the Taveuni airport, and the Paradise crew were there to meet my son Seth and I and transfer us to the southern end of the Island where we were warmly welcome by the fabulous Paradise team We were treated to a welcome drink, fresh fruit, a briefing of the resort’s facilities and an incredible foot massage!

Paradise is situated on the Rainbow Reef and the Soft Coral Capital of the World - one of the most famous dive sites in the South Pacific. The crystal clear water and strong currents that flow through the Somosomo Strait makes it a perfect place to see some incredible soft corals and with sites like the Great White Wall, the Fish Factory and the Cabbage Patch - you can only begin to imagine some of the incredible things you can see down there.

Paradise has a stunning pool surrounded by manicured gardens, overlooking their mooring field, and yachties are welcome to enjoy all the resort facilities as though they are guests in the resort. Many of the rally participants enjoy picking up a mooring, and coming ashore for a swim, a meal, massage or to get laundry done, enjoy some of the resort events, tours and other activities, and of course do some diving!

My son had joined me for the visit to Paradise and he took up the opportunity to get his PADI Open Water Diving certificate, and was lucky enough to have Allan - the Paradise Resort owner as his instructor which he really enjoyed

I was fortunate to arrive at the same time as a group of the Pacific Rally boats were visiting Many of them too were loving being able to come ashore to enjoy a good meal and some cold beverages after having spent a month down cruising in Faluga.

We had some wonderful evenings dining in the Paradise Restaurant and catching up on the stories of all the adventures they’d had along the way.

So if you are cruising through Fiji - don’t miss a visit to Paradise Taveuni! It is the perfect place if you are wanting to learn to dive, or looking for a stunning and relaxing place to fly in to for a holiday to escape the cold winter in New Zealand or Australia, I can highly recommend a visit to Paradise!

They have lovely rooms, comfy beds, indoor/outdoor bathrooms, fantastic friendly staff, wonderful meals, great activities, free moorings for yachties, a gorgeous pool, incredible sunset views and a great place and excellent facilities and a professional team to do some diving

Allan & Terri - thanks so much to you and your team for so warmly welcoming us and all the sailors to your stunning home!

Last week we received the final delivery of kits which your hard working teams sent to The Bay of Islands Marina, Opua. Upon arrival Mark Seabrook (cc) and his team consolidated them for sorting and repacking by volunteers. They were then embarked and sailed to Fiji aboard yachts, several of which were part of the Island Cruising New Zealand Pacific Rally.

The kits were received and consolidated by the Nawi Marina team in Savusavu (cc) and then sorted at Yacht Help (Fiji) for onward distribution.

Another volunteer yacht and my vessel are currently waiting on the weather to sail 500 kits to Lomaloma Hospital (N. Lau Islands) and 400 kits to Lakeba Hospital (S. Lau Islands.) From there the Medical Outreach Teams will take them by small boat to distribute to the remote island schools. There are 65 Primary Schools and 5 High Schools in Lau Province.

The remaining Kits have been passed to Vicky of Savusavu Rotary Club (cc) who is working directly with the Savusavu Hospital medical teams and running DFG outreaches to schools in Vanua Levu. Distributions in Viti Levu are conducted by DFG Fiji West.

As you can see, there have been many helping hands along this route and I am extremely grateful to everyone involved.

Please find some photos. I will send some more by separate email and ask the outreach teams to send additional, once they have completed their distributions.

On behalf of all the medical teams and schools, please convey our sincere and heartfelt gratitude to your volunteers for all their hard work. These kits are making such a difference here, it's wonderful!

Kind Regards,

Jonathan

Visiting Viani

While I was over the Taveuni side of Fiji I took the opportunity to head across the Somosomo Strait thanks to Jamie & Anne from Curiosity who took me aboard to deliver me to the shores of Viani Bay and in to the welcoming arms of Marina and her team at Dive Academy Fiji.

Also located on the spectacular Rainbow Reef, some of the best dive sites in the world are quite literally on your doorstep

Viani Bay is a lovely large sheltered bay where yachts can drop the anchor and stay a while to explore this stunning place.

Marina and the Dive Academy team have a number of boats to take you out to enjoy all the best dive sites nearby.

The key thing in this area to remember is that the currents flow fast, and the timing of the current flow means you need to plan your dive carefully.

We highly recommend you do a dive with the experts in this part of the world to ensure you don’t damage the coral with your anchor or end up in the wrong spot or miss the soft corals when they are closed if you arrive at the wrong time.

Marina also has some fantastic environmental projects going on, including a fun day out where you can learn about coral farming and visit their clam nursery which is incredible and well worth the FJD$30 tour price which also goes towards supporting the local rugby team.

Marina has just three rooms at her resort which is a true “glamping” experience. Power is delivered at certain times during the day via generator, but is otherwise off-grid

You can enjoy an outdoor shower in your en-suite open air bathroom, and fall asleep to the sound of the waves lapping on the beach just beyond your private balcony.

The meals that are created in their small kitchen are incredible and are all made from local ingredients by staff from the neighboring village If you are staying in the resort, all meals are included and are absolutely delicious!

Cruisers are welcome to join for dinner by ordering in advance, or attending one of their popular Thursday night pot-luck dinners. Or just come ashore for sundowners and happy hour in the bar.

Don’t miss a visit to Viani Bay on your adventures around Fiji! Stop in for a drink, meal and a dive with Marina and her team, help plant some coral or book yourself a week to fly in and enjoy the stunning surroundings, incredible food and a relaxing holiday.

Owning a boat is not just about having fun and traveling to the most beautiful destinations in the world. While that is the main reason why people go into the boating life, there is also the same level of responsibility attached to it, as there is enjoyment.

As a boat owner or manager, you have to look after your vessel to ensure that it is in good shape and fully stocked to leave the dock and get you and your group to your next destination safe and sound. As such, you need to plan ahead and create a list of tasks to accomplish.

Use a task management software to help you navigate the maintenance system of a boat

The best boat management tool TheBoatApp, by Marine Data Cloud, is a boat management tool designed with task monitoring in mind What it does is provide you with all your boating life in one place Through the app you can have access to your marine life, fully cataloged and backed up so you never lose track of what is going on with your boat at any time of the day and year This information is accessible on any device, whether you have an active internet connection or not

Most importantly, this is a boat management software that allows you to plan, assign tasks to other members of your team such as skippers, marina personnel, or technicians, and place deadlines so you can be ahead of the game.

The advantages of TheBoatApp

The major advantage of using TheBoatApp is that you can always access information in real-time. So if a task has been completed you can just check on the app if it has been marked as such or if you need to assign someone else to help.

You can also register a task to be done on a certain date and get a notification when it is checked off the list If you are not the most organized person when it comes to remembering to do a task, just add a prealert to get notified ahead of time

Last but not least, share this information with whoever you believe needs to be in the loop and get your boat in good shape before a trip

Check out more features of TheBoatApp online and register for the free version to get a personal look at how the app may help you in task monitoring.

This is the new and most improved way of managing your tasks and helping you enjoy your boat as much as you can.

Can happen anytime, anywhere… even in Fiji

After having spent a few weeks cruising the Lau Group we chose to head back to Savusavu to restock before venturing to the northern areas of Fiji We stayed on a mooring ball overnight, then gave ourselves a treat and used the pontoon out the front of Copra Shed, highly recommended This allowed us enough fresh water to clean the yacht from the last two months of cruising

The yacht was shining by 11:00 and the kettle was boiling for the obligatory morning tea, when ‘knock…knock’ on the side of the hull. “Bula, we are from Fijian Customs and Borderforce, we would like to come onboard your yacht. Looking for captain please”, they said.

“That’s me, James. How can I help?” I said.

“We are conducting random checks on yachts, we have your Fiji entry paperwork, and we would like to come aboard please”…

“Um…sure,” I said rather surprised, given that we had been in Fiji for a week or more. There were about 30 wellgroomed people and two sniffer dogs. Obligingly, we invited them on. They were courteous, even removing shoes before setting foot on the yacht. The opposite of our previous experience in a country where muddy boots left their calling marks The mud marks are still showing some four weeks later

“You say you have F$3500 and CFP10,000 Is there any more money?” They asked “I’ve got some Australian dollars in my wallet, but that’s it,” I said

“Could you bring it all out and place it on the table please?” They asked.

“Sure” I said and placed all the cash on the table.

“Do you have guns, ammunition or any drugs onboard?” They asked.

“Yes, I do, only what is on the documentation, and that’s in the safe,” I said.

“We are going to bring a dog onboard. It that OK?”. They then called their sniffer dog onboard. He even had booties on. It trounced everywhere, on the table, chairs beds and then did its sniff.

“Could you give us access to your safe please?”, they asked, which I did. They then systematically emptied the safe and went through everything Our Cat 1 Medical Kit prescription packets are in the safe They went about opening the packets to check (I assume) packet contents and that they were all sealed They also carefully read the prescription labels While I have no issue with this, it does present a problem at our next international port, where I’m sure we are going to be asked why the packets of prescribed drugs have been opened with no notation in the record sheets.

The next team then entered. EVERY area that could be opened, was opened and very well searched with gloves and lights. In the areas they couldn’t open, they asked for help to open them. We were also asked for a document showing access ports. The only document we had, came with the yacht from Leopard Catamarans. They then ventured outside and asked for assistance with all lockers outside where the same rigorous process took place.

Of note is that an Australian non-commercial vessel is not required to have a logbook So, I was very surprised when I was asked to present the logbook In the logbook, they photographed various pages, I assume to crosscheck against what I had written on previous ports documentation, not sure I was then questioned why some lat and longs were missing from the logbook entries By the way, I keep a logbook for adding to my experience record for Insurance purposes and get additional Insurance perks as a result.

The whole check took around one hour and was very thorough, including looking in the drawers' sailbags, fridge, freezers, inside shoes and clothing. The cushions were unzipped and checked.

While I could be picky and say that everything was not put back like it was prior to their arrival, they did try their best to return all gear as it was.

As our yacht was in charter and came with all bedding, they did question why we had so many bags of towels and bedding. After some explaining, they were appeased.

So, what was our takeaway from this experience? The Fijian officials were very courteous, very kind. They continually kept us in the loop about what they were doing in a very professional and engaging manner. They also had a tribe of ‘observers (in training)’ and always asked if we minded them following their leaders through the process I didn’t have an issue with this at all, as long as they removed their shoes

We are fond of the quiet amber and red liquids. Here too, they checked our stocks against that which we had recorded on entry to Fiji. We had since purchased here in Savusavu in addition to that on the entry records. So was very surprised when I was told (two weeks after entry to the country), that “We have a problem here,” he said. “And what’s the problem?” I asked. “This is above the legal entry requirement,” he said. I calmly said that they had been purchased since our arrival, to which he asked for proof. Now, I’m not a receipt person. It was just fortunate that I had made this particular purchase on my Visa card. I try and pay cash for everything. After two or three officers saw my electronic Visa record, you could see the wind blown from their sails.

On a funny side note, Customs were debriefing at the yacht club an hour later on the grass, when my First Mate walked past with another two cartons of beer. Their expressions were priceless.

Later, at the bar talking to other cruising yachts, we were told this was the norm. The searches are random, some when you first arrive, others a few days later, and then like us, nearly two weeks later. They had all been boarded and courteously searched Just our luck that we were against the pontoon that Monday morning with all their recruits eagerly awaiting their training turn I strongly support this and compliment them on their proactive approach I also understand that this approach may not be to the liking of some and could have easily escalated by ‘standingonesground’ This is their country and I am told they have a huge drug problem, so are working hard to control the importation of illicit substances.

Join the new 36° Brokers Lagoon Owners Club and become a part of a group of like-minded people. Whether you enjoy a Lagoon sailing or a power catamaran, this group is for you.

Gather each year for an on-the-water event hosted by 36° Brokers and connect with other Lagoon owners.

Join our Facebook group, Lagoon Owners Club New Zealand, for event updates, exclusive offers available to you and the latest news. Or take advantage of the group to touch base with one another.

36° Brokers created this exclusive club to connect Lagoon owners throughout New Zealand and beyond. Become a part of a family that shares a love and passion for the ocean. D I S C O V E R T H E L A G O O N O W N E R S C L U B

JOIN THE BENETEAU OWNERS CLUB

Are you a Beneteau owner? Join the 36° Brokers Beneteau Owners Club and connect with fellow Beneteau enthusiasts. Established with the purpose to unite fellow Beneteau power and sailing boat owners across New Zealand and further. Each year, 36° Brokers hosts an on water event where members can gather and network with other Beneteau owners.

Register as a memeber for free on our website, and join our Facebook group, Beneteau Owners Club New Zealand. Stay up to date on events, access exclusive offers, and get the latest news, or connect with fellow Beneteau Owners.

Spices: The Ultimate Superfoods For Sailors

Sometimes it is the smallest of things that serve us the most and spices most definitely fall into that category. They are fantastic superfoods for sailors, providing a burst of health benefits that take up little space and are easy to store onboard.

Rich in antioxidants, they help protect against sun and sea-induced oxidative stress. Turmeric and ginger's anti-inflammatory properties soothe sore muscles and joints after long days of sailing. Garlic and oregano help boost your immune system, helping you to stay healthy at sea. Spices also enhance digestion and help maintain stable blood sugar levels. In fact, the humble spice rack is, in my opinion, a great preventative medicine kit to complement your first aid kit onboard and should be used without moderation. Spices not only enhance the flavor of your meals but also offer numerous health benefits that can enhance your health and wellbeing.

Beyond their health perks, spices add warmth and depth of flavour to what can otherwise be bland and plain meals. They are my favourite ally and I always have a plentiful stock onboard. I don’t think there is a day that goes by, where I am not using one of my spices in my cooking. I am also a big fan of creating my own blends and am excited to share some of my favourite spice mixes in this month’s recipe post here. These blends transform everyday ingredients into extraordinary dishes and are an excellent way to nourish and look after your body.

Incorporating Spices into Your Diet

It is a lot easier than you may first think to get the many health and nutritious benefits of spices on a daily basis. Using a variety of spices not only enhances the flavor of your meals but also ensures you reap the diverse health benefits they offer. Here are some tips for incorporating more spices into your diet:

Season Your Meals: Add spices to your dishes while cooking. For example, sprinkle turmeric into soups, add cumin to rice, or use ginger in stir-fries.

Spice Mixes: Create premixed spice blends to simplify seasoning your meals. Blends like garam masala, curry powder, and Italian herbs can be used in a variety of dishes.

Spiced Drinks: Make beverages like golden milk with turmeric, ginger tea, or cinnamon-infused coffee.

Marinades and Dressings: Use spices in marinades for plant-based proteins or in homemade salad dressings for an extra nutritional boost.

Toppings for Overnight Oats: Sprinkle cinnamon and nutmeg on your overnight oats

Spices are not only flavour powerhouses but also pack a significant nutritional punch. While they are used in small quantities, their concentrated nutrients and bioactive compounds can offer impressive health benefits. Here’s why spices deserve a place in your galley not just for their taste, but for their nutritional value:

Nutritional Benefits of Spices

Rich in Antioxidants

Spices like turmeric, cinnamon, and cloves are high in antioxidants, which help combat oxidative stress in the body. Antioxidants are crucial for protecting cells from damage caused by free radicals.

Anti-Inflammatory Properties

Many spices, such as turmeric, ginger, and garlic, have strong anti-inflammatory effects. Chronic inflammation is linked to various health issues, including heart disease and arthritis, making these spices valuable for maintaining overall health.

Boosts Immune System

Spices like garlic, ginger, and oregano have antimicrobial and immune-boosting properties. They can help the body fend off infections and illnesses, which is especially important for sailors who may be far from medical assistance.

Improves Digestion

Spices such as cumin, fennel, and coriander aid in digestion by stimulating the secretion of digestive enzymes. They can help alleviate digestive issues like bloating and indigestion.

Regulates Blood Sugar Levels

Cinnamon and fenugreek are known to help regulate blood sugar levels. They can improve insulin sensitivity and lower blood sugar spikes, making them beneficial for managing diabetes.

Heart Health

Spices like garlic, turmeric, and cayenne pepper contribute to heart health. Garlic helps lower cholesterol levels, turmeric improves endothelial function, and cayenne pepper can help improve circulation and reduce blood pressure.

Rich in Vitamins and Minerals

Spices contain essential vitamins and minerals. For instance, paprika and chili powder are rich in vitamin A, while cumin provides a good amount of iron. These nutrients are vital for maintaining various bodily functions and overall health.

Examples of Nutrient-Rich Spices

Turmeric

Contains curcumin, a powerful anti-inflammatory and antioxidant compound.

Ginger

High in gingerol, known for its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects.

Cinnamon

Packed with antioxidants and beneficial for blood sugar regulation.

Garlic

Contains allicin, which has potent medicinal properties, including antibacterial and antiviral effects.

Cayenne Pepper

Rich in capsaicin, which helps boost metabolism and improve heart health.

Cumin

High in iron and helps improve digestion.

Oregano

Contains thymol and carvacrol, which have antibacterial and antifungal properties.

Welcome to Small Vegan Kitchen. We are dedicated to living a sustainable, healthy plant-based life as we sail around the world on our 41ft yacht KAHU.

Drawing on our professional experience in the food industry, in-depth knowledge of healthy nutrition and passion for good food, we coach fellow cruisers and sailors in provisioning and cooking nutrient-rich, plant based meals from the smallest of kitchens to help support their active lifestyle.

Our recipes are 100% plant-based and have been lovingly created, tested and made in the small kitchen of our boat at sea, anchor and in marinas so you can trust that they nutritious, delicious and easy to prepare.

We are working hard to make Small Vegan Kitchen a fantastic resource. Our webinars are available for you to purchase online here.

For our personalised and highly sought after coaching sessions please send and email to join our waiting list.

Sign up to our monthly Newsletter below and receive our Galley Guide packed full of useful tips, tricks and hacks and interviews to get the most out of your Galley, equipment, ingredients and nutrition.

PORT DENARAU MARINA THE FIRST CLEAN MARINA IN THE PACIFIC ISLANDS

Port Denarau Marina is proud to announce that its status as the first and only accredited Clean Marina across the Pacific Islands has been renewed. Located in western Fiji, just 20 minutes’ drive from the country’s international airport in Nadi, the marina is an official port of entry to Fiji’s idyllic cruising grounds.

The fast-developing marina is home to 52 fully serviced berths and 16 swing moorings, including 20 berths suitable for superyachts measuring up to 85 metres in length. On-site facilities also include a refit workshop as well as blackwater pump-out, refuelling and slip services

This important accreditation – which was first granted in 2017 and just renewed with a recent audit in April 2024 –is given by the Marina Industries Association (MIA) as part of the Clean Marina Program (CMP) and Fish Friendly Program (FFP). The audit resulted in Port Denarau Marina obtaining a score of 96.90% on the official audit checklists –well over the 85% required to b considered a Level 3 International Clean Marina and Fish Friendly Marina.

Key to achieving this high score was the effort Port Denarau Marina has made to protect its surrounding environment and implement renewable energy strategies. Examples include the installation of rainwater tanks and solar panels, as well as efforts to proactively recycle waste, despite limited recycling infrastructure within Fiji

Following a recent dredging campaign undertaken as part of expansion plans, Port Denarau Marina has now also gathered valuable, extensive knowledge of marine wildlife in the area, which will help inform opportunities for fish friendly design in future construction.

As adventurous yacht owners will know, it can be difficult to find developed yachting facilities in far-flung and exotic destinations. Port Denarau Marina, as the gateway to South Pacific sailing, provides owners with access to idyllic islands as well as the facilities needed to cruise in complete comfort.

Following the renewal of its clean and fish-friendly status, Port Denarau therefore remains the first choice of marinas in the South Pacific region – appealing particularly to environmentally-conscious owners who wish to explore the untouched wonders of Fiji’s waters while minimising impact on the country’s precious marine life.

Cynthia Rasch, CEO comments; “Port Denarau Marina looks forward to welcoming future yachting visitors to Fiji’s beautiful cruising grounds.”

Port Denarau Marina, +679 675 0600 www denaraumarina com

Cruising Preparation Online Course Content

Our Comprehensive Offshore Cruising Preparation Course is available online for just NZD$129.00 and on demand.

The course content is broken down into easy to digest 1 hr sessions, View the course content as often as you wish.

View when it suits you.

Learn at your own pace.

Pause / Rewind at any time.

Contact the course presenters via email or telephone at any time with questions.

Preparing the Vessel

Ship Registration: Guide to ships registry

Category 1: What is ‘Cat 1’and how does it apply to you and your vessel

Safety Gear: Vessel specific – EPIRBS, MOB devices

Rigging: Tips for extended cruising & safety including deck layout, preventers and more.

Sails: Selection, balance, tuning, maintenance, furling systems.

Anchors & Anchoring: How many, types, warps, windlass

Water treatment: Filtration, purification, disinfectant, watermakers.

Vessel Systems: Plumbing, gas, fuel

Battery Systems: Capacity, measuring power consumption, troubleshooting, preventative maintenance and charging systems

Power generation: How much do you need to generate and the pros and cons of various options including wind, solar and mechanical

Electronics: Radios, charting, GPS, Radar, autopilot, AIS, etc.

Steering: Tiller, wheel, wind vanes, autopilots & emergency systems

Diesel Engines: Troubleshooting, spares

Fuel systems: Filters, injectors, avoiding ‘bugs & bad fuel’

Navigation: Basic equipment requirements

Charts: Tables, filing, requirements

Preparing the People

Sea Survival: Coastal and Offshore

Watchkeeping & safety protocols

Safety Gear: Personal EPIRBS and MOB devices, personal AIS

Seasickness: Remedies, management & avoidance

Log Keeping: How to keep a ship log and why plus basic record keeping

To Crew or not to crew: Pros and cons of having crew aboard, where to find crew and your responsibilities.

Sailing to a schedule: A recipe for disaster

Medical Kits and medicines

Money Matters: Credit cards, foreign currency, Power of Attorney

Insurance: Vessel & Travel

Staying Sane: Identifying roles, communicating aboard & sharing small spaces

Offshore Communications

Voice Communication options including Satellite, Radios – VHF/ SSB/ HAM & Radio Schedules

Electronic communications including email at sea: why is it important?

Vessel tracking and position reporting

Computer’s, Tablets, Phones and apps

Weather Forecasting: Coastal & Offshore

Weather information: Sources of weather info, how to interpret and use weather info.

Weather routing for Passage Planning & Passage Management

Personal Health

Preparing and maintaining the Mind & Body

Search and Rescue

How to Contact, Response times, authority & scope of SAR.

Provisioning

What to take, where to put it & what is available when you get where we are going.

Sourcing Products & Services

Where to get great discounts and deals on marine and cruising lifestyle products and services

Cruising Guides & Reference Books: Recommended, pilots, reference manuals, cruising guides

Viani Bay - Fiji are hosting a weekly POTLUCK with tasting of Fiji Sea Salt. All Cruisers welcome, bring a plate of food to share! Join us every Thursday from 5PM.

Our contribution

⚓. Fijian tasting menu from our kitchen

⚓. Fiji Sea Salt tasting

⚓. Full table set up

⚓. Fire place lit up for BBQ

⚓. Information about Viani Bay and the Rainbow Reef

⚓. Happy Hour Prices on Drinks from 5-9pm

⚓. Admission Fee 15 FJD per adult, children free of charge RSVP by 12pm

https://www.diveacademyfiji.com/vianibayresort

The countdown to the Go East & Pacific Rally is on and the Pacific Rally participants will be participating in the Sea Lovers Gin "Why Are You A Sea Lover? Competition"

A reminder that we’d also like to offer special goodies exclusively to crew taking part in the rally. If you use the code ‘PacificRally’ on our website it will be noted on our side that you are a crew member and you receive a free goodie!

1x bottle of gin = A stainless steel reusable straw pack. 3x bottles of gin = A special burgee flag to use during the rally.

The Sea Lovers Gin Burgee for crew members can be used at anchor - fly your burgee flag to show other rally members that you are open for socialising! i.e. when the burgee is flying, other crews are welcome to come aboard for a drink/sundowners Cheers to that!

How To Enter the "Why Are You A Sea Lover? Competition"

Whilst docked for the day, perhaps enjoying a glass of Sea Lovers Gin, we challenge the crew to simply take a snap of what's going on, tagging us @sealoversgin and answering the question "Why Are You A Sea Lover?". The photo or video can be of anything you like - from enjoying sea lovers gin, a snap of big smiles from your crew at the end of a big day or anything you think captures the wonder that is being out at open sea! We'll be keeping a firm eye out on socials we're tagged into on Instagram (entries are valid via Instagram story or Instagram post!), no limits on entries. Enter as many times as you like. The lucky winner will score their boat a branded chilly bin full of exclusive Sea Lovers Gin merch. RRP over $400 NZD. *T&Cs.

GRAND PRIZE INCLUDES:

SLG branded chilly bin

Beach towels

East Imperial Tonic

SLG tote bags

SLG t-shirt

Stainless steel straw sets

Join Us in Vanuatu!

Boat expressions of interest for 2025 AWBF now open

Embark on a maritime odyssey unlike any other as the Australian Wooden Boat Festival (AWBF) announces the opening of expressions of interest for the prestigious showcase of vessels ashore and afloat at the AWBF 2025. Held 7 - 10 February 2025, this grand event, held in Tasmania, stands as the largest celebration of maritime culture in the Southern Hemisphere.

The AWBF, renowned for its magnitude and cultural significance, transforms the historical Hobart Waterfront into a bustling hub of maritime festivities over four captivating days. Notably, the 2023 edition of the festival witnessed an attendance of 60,000 patrons, while garnering expressions of interest from over 450 wooden boat owners.

The 2025 theme is 'New Zealand and the Pacific Ocean', and the AWBF 2025 aims to shine a spotlight on the rich maritime legacy spanning from Japan to the west coast of the USA, and across the vast expanse of Pacific Islands leading to Australia. Anticipating an international influx of vessel expressions of interest, the organisers have already begun fielding inquiries, with 49% of expressions in 2023 originating from beyond the borders of Tasmania.

Organisers extend an invitation to wooden boat owners of all classifications to submit their expressions of interest by September, as berthing opportunities are limited.

Once again, vessels ashore will be thoughtfully curated across the festival grounds, including within the stunning City Hall, which, following its successful integration in the 2023 program, offers a secure venue for the exhibition of dinghies, kayaks, and sailboats in all their rigging.

The AWBF 2025 promises to be an exceptional gathering of maritime heritage, culture and community. Organisers encourage enthusiasts to seize this opportunity to partake in the celebrations. For further details and registration of expressions of interest, please visit the official website.

The next Australian Wooden Boat Festival will be 7 – 10 February 2025.

For more information please visit the AWBF website – awbf.org.au

Pacific Rally boats enjoy Half price beer for the first drink when visiting Mounu. Have a night ashore! 3 Course fine dining experience dinner, accommodation in beach side fale and yummy breakfast - Special for Cruising yacht group only TOP$380 per person. Contact: mounuislandvavau@gmail.com

Theft in Paradise

By James Coomer

After a 24-hour sail from Savusavu to the remote islands of the Southern Lau Group (East of Fiji), we dropped anchor at 1300hrs. The passage had been uneventful in the confused swells. Winds had dealt us a royal flush for the passage, some stages reaching 9-10 knots close hauled.

While uncomfortable to sleep, we managed the shifts well and couldn’t wait for bed. The anchor was quickly set and lunch/dinner started. With bellies full, we were ready for bed when the hum of an outboard was heard. A spokesperson and his young nephew arrived in the Komo Village School long boat. They offered us a basket full of bananas, and while we took a few, we returned with some Kava root, reading glasses and lollies and arranged to meet the next day at 02:00 pm on top of the hill for Sevusevu at Komo Village.

Being very religious in this area, we were warned that Sundays were precious to these people. Village dress codes were also a must, no hats and covered shoulders.

By 02:00 pm, we had dinghied over to the beach, set a forward anchor in a metre of water and aft line to a huge boulder on the beach. We marched up the hill to be met by the village spokesperson who kindly showed us down the other side into the Komo village. They appeared very proud of their school which catered for 30 students to Year 7. Komo’s population was 100.

The village was deserted. Everyone was down for their afternoon nap (including all the kids and the Chief). We were later told that the afternoon church service started at 03:00 pm and many were taking a nap before the service.

We continued our guided meander before finally bidding farewell and being gifted local bread, which we returned with powdered milk and enough lollipops for the school kids. We then started the hot ascent back up and over the hill, a walk of 20 minutes. We both commented on how the school had been left wide open and even the houses, had all doors and windows wide open. Some houses didn’t even have doors. Quite obviously, the village has little to no theft, and a refreshing community spirit of trusting your neighbour.

On reaching the beach on the other side (some 45 minutes later) I heard the shriek, ‘The dingy’s gone…’.

As we often joke, I muttered ‘Yeah right’, but it was nowhere to be seen.

The wind was still blowing easterly around 15knots. So if the dingy had slipped anchor, AND for some reason, the bowline came loose, AND the three coils of rope around this huge boulder had somehow unwound, it should be downwind somewhere.

At pace, the downwind search started. 5-minutes in, it was suggested that we should engage the Komo spokesperson to assist as it may have blown around the side of the island heading to the edge of the reef.

While one of us kept pace along the rugged beach edge, the other dashed back to Komo village. A teacher at the school gestured to a young child to locate the spokesperson. Soon the search was on, except, there was no fuel for their outboard motor. Offering to pay for any fuel, a villager kindly gave some fuel to our driver.

It was onto the water and within two minutes… there it was.

It appeared to have someone in it. Thinking the other person had found the dingy and was coming around to pick us up, big smiles returned. As they got closer, it was soon realised that the person in the dingy was a young, local islander who had stolen the dingy from the other side of the island. We quickly approached our dingy (some 150 metres from the rocky beach), and a verbal confrontation ensued. Our driver quickly grasping a long paddle, was gesturing for the thief to jump or get hit. He chose to jump into the water and started swimming the 150 metres back to shore. Given the island population, the thief would have been known to our spokesperson.

Relieved that we now had our car back, we all returned to our yacht for refreshments. Our driver and his young nephew were heroes as far as we were concerned. All they wanted was a cup of coffee (for the driver) and a cup of tea (for the 9-year-old nephew). We parted with a few dollars as we had no spare fuel, trying to show our gratitude for their assistance. Oddly, not a word of sympathy or concern from our onboard guests about the theft. Were they involved? We cannot confirm. Could someone have tipped off the thief that we were going to leave our dingy on one side of the island to walk to the village on the other side at 2 pm? Again, we can only speculate.

We both breathed a big sigh and pondered the aftermath of these shenanigans, questioning what lessons could be learnt. We later found that the fuel hose clamp to the outboard was loosely in place (not clipped in as it normally is). The fuel locker latch had been left open (normally closed securely), and the dingy anchor d-bolt was unbolted (normally secure). The motor was padlocked, so that was not going anywhere. The kill-switch cord had been left in place. We later found the outboard had been jimmied 20mm off its mount on one side. We think that the padlock saved us from losing the outboard. We suspect the thief was after fuel and was trying to quickly take the fuel tank and hose. Realising the fuel tank was too hard to remove and the fuel line ran under the floor, he decided to take the whole dingy.

How he thought he was going to get away with it, where there are no other islands around and a total population of 100, is anyone’s guess. Was there more than one thief in on the action? We can only speculate again. Our lessons, lock the fuel locker and remove the kill-switch cord. Do not prearrange a time to meet, just show up unexpectedly for Sevusevu, even on a Sunday. The jury is still out as to whether the thief was tipped off about our prearranged meeting time. The incident was reported to the Authorities on the mainland, but are yet to receive a reply.

While it may appear to be a perfect island paradise in the Lau Group, don’t be fooled.

Can You Help? Life Jackets for Susui

Vanua Balavu - Lau - Fiji

My name is Ateca, I am writing from Susui in Vanuabalavu.

We, are a small island of less than 100 villagers, we have a primary school that has 21 students and our high school students travel across to the main land daily which takes about 20min to reach school. Our high school students used to stay with familys across on the mainland, just this year we have started taking across daily, so they can be in the safety of their home every evening away from all the influences of drug and all sorts of unwanted mischieves. But we are lacking safety gears for our students, I are humbly requsting for you help if you can provide or captain Jerry with 20 life jackets and rain coats to cater for the 12 stuudents and adults as well.

Your kind consideration is highly apreciated

Advanced Sea Survival Course

HYDROVANE IS BOTH:

A Self Steering Windvane System:

A completely independent mechanical system (ie. non-electrical) that steers the boat on a wind-based course. Easiest to operate, with no lines in the cockpit, and excellent on all points of sail and in all conditions.

It is an Auxiliary Rudder type of windvane system – the Vane drives its own Rudder via a sophisticated Drive Unit linkage.

An Emergency Rudder/ Steering System

Inherently a second Rudder and Steering System for your boat.

It is the strongest Emergency Rudder and Steering System available today. Always in place, nothing to set-up – takes the fear out of losing your rudder or breaking your vessel’s steering mid passage or close to shore.

We are very proud to be a part of the South Pacific Sailing Network - a group of like minded businesses and countries around the South Pacific who are all committed to promoting sustainable yachting tourism and advocating on behalf of cruisers exploring the South Pacific.

Our Pacific rally is the pathway that connects the islands and sailors together

Read more about the aims of the SPSN here.

A Saviour For Mooring Owners and Sailors Alike

Mooringbnb is a new platform designed to allow mooring owners to maximise their earnings while making it easy for sailors to book a mooring from anywhere. It’s the ultimate win-win set to take off this summer.

Mooringbnb for mooring owners

Often,mooringssitunusedforextendedperiodsoftime. Mooringbnb.co.nzmakesiteasytohireyourmooring outwheneveryou’renotusingit.Itworksalongsimilar linestoAirBnB,allowingsailorstosearchforan availablemooring,bookitandpayforitonthespot.

Mooringbnbautomatesalltheadminwork,from marketingtotakingpaymentsandevennotifyingthe harbourmasterwhenthemooringisbeingused.It’sfully customisable,soyoucancontrolitsavailability,and chargewhateverrateyouwish.

Registeringyourmooringcostsnothing,andyouget paidtherateyouset.

It’savailableinNewZealandatthemoment,butissetto expandintoAustraliaandthePacificIslandsin2024.

Formooringowners,it’sauniqueopportunityto generateincomethatrequiresminimaleffort.Itmakes morelocationsavailabletosailors,includingwhenthe weatherturnsbadandtheyneedasafeplacetostayat shortnotice.

Thenumberofmooringsareincreasingmonthlyand sailorsarealreadymakingbookingsforthenextfew months.Withthesummersailingseasononthehorizon, it’stheperfecttimetolistamooringandgenerateextra incomewhileyousailoffelsewhereyourself.

UPDATED CRUISING GUIDE FOR QUEENSLAND

Greg Luck has been a frequent contributor to the Down Under Rally Magazine He has released a new third edition of Cruising the Queensland Coast, his guide for yachts cruising from the Gold Coast to Lizard Island.

While cruising in 2023, Greg was struck by the number of cruisers who had adopted Starlink. The cheapest way to use it is on the Roam plan, designed to work over land. At sea, the very expensive Maritime plan must be used. Starlink “land” includes many islands and some reefs using a hexagonal tiling system. It can be hit and miss as to whether an anchorage or mooring is on “land” or sea for Starlink. New in the 3rd edition, each anchorage and mooring includes a Starlink icon to indicate land or sea.

Along with a print edition, the book comes as an eBook for tablets. However, the big players support a limited number of countries, and usually not the overseas territories of those countries such as Noumea or Tahiti. This has been a problem for some cruisers. The 3rd edition adds Rakuten Kobo, which supports 244 countries and overseas territories with excellent coverage for the Pacific.

The third edition is fully updated with:

•many new public moorings for the Townsville, Discovery and Cassowary coasts and the Whitsundays

•new anchorages, taking the total to 503 anchorages and moorings

•new public pontoons

•updates to the K’Gari Coast for the new Great Sandy Marine Park management plan

•Starlink land versus ocean status for each anchorage, mooring and marina along with the Telstra mobile reception

•digital TV reception strength for each anchorage

•latest marina changes including comprehensive information on super yacht berths and resultant marina berth layout changes

•S63 official Hydrographic chart references for each coast and how to use Australian

Hydrographic charts on apps and chart plotters along with other navigation data sources

•expanded coverage of the Gold Coast and Moreton Bay

•recalculated wave roses for recent Waverider buoy placements such as the Wide Bay Bar

•higher-resolution aerial images and photos in the print version

•numerous other changes and updates

Down Under Rally and Island Cruising members get a 10% discount on the print book and a 20% discount on the Google Play Books eBook. Contact Greg at book@curlewescape.com.au with your member number to get a discount.

The Ultimate SOUTH PACIFIC SAILING ROUTE

TherearesomanyoptionsforInternationalCruiserswhenitcomestocruisingtheSouthPacific.Oftenwesee peoplewhozoomstraightthroughandmissoutonsomeofthebestbits!Ourrecommendation-don’trushand makethemostoftheprevailingwinds.Here’sasuggestedSouthWestPacificitineraryforboatsheadingfrom Panamainthisdirection-Watchthevideoanimationhere

Year 1

March CrossfromPanamatoFrenchPolynesia

April ArriveFrenchPolynesia(unlessyou’vegotalongstayvisaoranEUpassportyou’veonlygot 90daystoexplorethisincredibledestination).

JointhePacificRallyforheapsofinclusionsasyoustartyourpassagewest.

July CookIslands

August SamoaandorNiue

September Vava’u-Tonga-checkouttheBlueWaterCruisersFestival

October Ha’apai,Tongatapu,Minerva,NewZealand

Stop in NZ to escape cyclone season - enjoy tax free repairs on your boat, Or Join the South Island Rally to sail south to explore incredible Fiordland or head home for Christmas.

The Ultimate SOUTH PACIFIC SAILING ROUTE

Year 2

May JointhePacificRallytosailbacktoFijiorbacktoTonga

August Vanuatu-jointherallyeventsthroughoutVanuatu

September NewCaledonia

October BundabergAustraliaontheGoWestRally.

December SydneyHarbourtowatchthestartoftheSydneyHobartRaceandfireworksonNewYears Eve

Australia is another great place to stop for a while with great boat repairs and places to leave the boat while you explore ashore or head home and of course some excellent cruising grounds too!

Year 3

January Tasmania-JointheVDL-CCruise

February CruiseslowlybackuptheEastcoastofAustralia,enjoythestunningWhitsundaysandthen OnwardstoAsiaoralternativelycrosstheTasmanandheadbacktoNewZealandto enjoyexploringwiththeSouthIslandRally

May OrreturntothePacificontheGoEast-PacificRallytorevisittheplacesyoumissedor . enjoyedthefirsttimeround.

October BacktoNewZealandorAustralia-bothgreatplacestoendyourjourneyandsellyourboat. Or carry on doing circles in the Pacific or continuing on around the world!

Love great wine?

Say goodbye to heavy, breakable bottles onboard!

Greenskin Wine presents a premium wine experience in a convenient 750ml soft pouch, ideal for those who want to enjoy fine wine without the hassle of cruising with heavy, bulky, breakable bottles onboard.

With 8 varieties to choose from, they have a superb choice of whites and reds from the worldrenowned Margaret River and Great Southern wine regions of Western Australia. You can pre-order through their website and nominate to have your wine delivered anywhere within Australia for just $4.95 per 6-pack (3 or more cases FREE delivery).

Greenskin Wine pouches hold 750ml but are around half the size and weight of a standard bottle of wine, which will save on weight and loads of fridge and storage space onboard. They are also unbreakable, making them ideal when on the water. And once the joy is over, they fold flat, so you do not have to lug bulky empties with you!

Another fab bonus. If you just want a glass or two, simply squeeze all the air from the pouch and reseal, and your wine will stay fresh for up to 3 weeks, saving on wasted wine and money!

Sip Sustainably

Not only is the wine great quality, but Greenskin Wine pouches take 80% less energy to produce than a glass bottle, and due to their lightweight, compact nature, they take a lot less energy to transport.

The ultimate kicker is that the pouches are 100% recyclable. They even take care of the recycling. Every 6-pack comes with a postage-paid satchel, making it super easy to return your empties via AusPost for recycling.

SPECIAL OFFER - Enhance your sundowners with Greenskin WIne! Greenskin Wine generously offers our Island Cruising & Down Under Members 10% OFF all orders.

Simply visit: https://greenskinwine.com/

Use your member's discount code for use at the checkout to receive 10% OFF each, and every six-pack of Greenskin Wine ordered.

Dear Captain Jack,

BOATING BOATING ETIQUETTE! ETIQUETTE!

Got a question? Ask a Pirate...

I am confused about where to anchor in a bay so I prefer to go up really close to other boats and just hang out with them Is this ok?

Yours Mr Hook

Ahoy there Mr Hook,

Other yachties appreciate that everyone needs a nice spot to drop the pick in a bay, but we all enjoy our privacy I find when I bring the Black Pearl into a harbour that it is courtesy to sail past and call out a friendly “Ahoy” to your fellow bay inhabitants and perhaps ask them if they have any tips on where is a good spot to anchor, ask what the holding is like, if there are any hazards to avoid etc?

Friendly people will appreciate being asked and will generally make some polite suggestions The key thing is to leave some space to ensure everyone has enough swing room and avoid laying your anchor over the top of anyone elses.

This becomes pretty tricky in crowded anchorages, where you might not be able to have as much scope out as you might like, or perhaps not as much space to swing as might be preferrable, But the key thing is to be polite, and communicate.

Those who are in first generally get first dibs - so you need to anchor accordingly around them, Give everyone space and privacy if you can. Avoid anchoring near moorings, make sure you check the tide, current and weather forecast, ensure your anchor is well set and keep an eye out for your fellow cruisers

Anchoring “incident’s” do happen - chains get tangled and people get a bit too close at times, but try to work together to come up with solutions instead of getting grouchy. We can all work together to overcome any problems and make sure everyone is safe and happy

Happy sailing!

YoursCaptJack

For Sailors

Thefreedomofbeingabletosailwhereveryou wantisoneofthegreatestthingsabout cruisingthissummer.Youcanfollowweather patternsorcoastlines,meanderyourwaytoa setdestinationorjustfollowyournoseandsee whereyouendup.

Justaslongasyoucanfindamooringora placetoanchor...

ForPeterKershaw,atriparoundtheBayof Islandspiecingtogetheravailablemooringson thefly,postingonFacebookpagesandasking localsforhelp,madehimthinktheremustbea betterway.

Peterdecidedtocreateanonlinebooking platformthattookcareofallthedetailsand madeiteasierforyachtiestoplansailingtrips.

WithMooringbnb,youcanseeavailable mooringsanywhereinNewZealand,andbook themwithoutneedingtogoonshore.It’sa much-neededupgradeofthetraditional bookingsystem,givingsailorscertainty, convenienceandcompliance.

There’snoneedtocheckmooringsizelimitsor notifytheharbourmaster-alltheconditions andlogisticsaretakencareofwithinthe bookingplatform.

Offshore Marine Medic

Two-dayOffshoreMedicalCoursecustomisedtoprovidestudentswiththebasicsrequiredfor OffshoreCruisingCoursealsocoversahandoveroftheOffshoreMedicalKit(CAT1)andhowto useit.

With a friendly boating mad team always on hand to offer practical advice, tips, and make product recommendations, we’ve got the answer for you. Our chandlery will ensure you get back out on the water, faster!

For any boating problems, come see the team at All Marine.

Always on hand find that hard-to-find boat part you’ve been searching for – even if it’s not on our shelves – we’re sure to know where to find it. Priding ourselves on stocking our great product range and having fantastic service, shop online or come on down in store and have a yarn. Don’t see what you need? Give us a call, we’ll be happy to help. 09 438 4499 Check out our website here.

NEW ZEALAND

IT’S EASIER THAN YOU MAY HAVE BEEN LED TO BELIEVE……

CRUISING THE SOUTH PACIFICONE SEASON IS NOT ENOUGH

With 8000 miles from Panama to Australia and thousands of unique islands and atolls to visit along the way, one season is simply not enough time to truly explore the South Pacific Fiji, Vanuatu and New Caledonia are destinations in themselves and deserve much more than a fleeting visit.

We strongly advocate spending at least 2 seasons in the South Pacific to really experience all the variety that the region has to offer It’s a long way to come and for many a once in a lifetime opportunity

TAKING A CYCLONE BREAK

Irrespective of how fast or slow your pace, when November approaches most cruisers will be considering their options for the cyclone season. Some cruisers spend the summer in Pacific Islands, but they are playing with the odds as well as enduring the heat and humidity of the wet season.

Many more look forward to a break from the islands for a while, and New Zealand is the logical destination for a cyclone break, especially if you are returning to the Pacific Islands for a second season

AOTEAROA - NEW ZEALAND

As an island nation, New Zealand's maritime traditions are deep rooted - from the earliest Polynesian settlers who migrated across the mighty Pacific, and the Europeans who voyaged from the other side of the world

Dependent on the sea for trade and communications, New Zealanders were forced to build seaworthy, reliable boats and to develop a deep understanding of seamanship No part of New Zealand is far from the coast and, from its thousands of bays and coves, New Zealanders venture forth from an early age in all manner of boats.

Our largest city, Auckland, is known as the 'city of sails' and is the host city for the next America’s Cup Regatta The oftenquoted statistic is that there are more boats per capita in New Zealand than anywhere else in the world In 2014, Auckland had over 135,000 registered boats, or one boat for approximately every 11 of the 1.45 million people living there. Unlike other parts of the world, sailing in New Zealand has never been an elitist pursuit.

Many of New Zealand's top sailors began their careers in

boats

that emerged from hours of devoted labour in garages and backyard sheds

The late Sir Peter Blake, for example, whose sailing successes included the America's Cup, Whitbread Race and Jules Verne trophy, tested his mother's patience and ruined her flower beds by building his first boats in the family garden Boat designer Bruce Farr, whose yachts have won most of the world's top yachting silverware, first produced lightning fast dinghies and skiffs in the family shed

“New Zealand is a wonderful country for sailors. The Bay of Islands Is a world-class cruising area, and many folks never get any further. Whangarei is also a large cruising center, and there are excellent haulout yards “

Jim Corneman – Letters from the South Pacific

THE PASSAGE TO NEW ZEALAND –CORRECTING THE MISINFORMATION

Naturally the voyage from the Pacific Islands to New Zealand is always taken with a bit of trepidation, especially for firsttimers For most cruisers, it is the first time sailing out of the predictable trade winds for many months, these concerns can be exacerbated by a lot of the misinformation that tends to circulate in cruising circles.

A common one that is often heard being repeated is; “to get to New Zealand you have to face the notoriously dangerous Tasman Sea twice”

We would just like to take this opportunity to correct this misinformation by providing some navigational re-education to those that disseminate this

The Tasman Sea is in-fact a section of the southwestern Pacific Ocean, between the south-eastern coast of Australia and Tasmania to the west, and New Zealand on the east Most cruisers heading to the East coast of New Zealand from the Pacific Islands will not encounter the Tasman Sea.

With modern forecasting and a flexible timeframe, the trip from the Pacific Islands to New Zealand and return can be spectacular, with many yachts opting to stop at North Minerva Reef for an incredible mid ocean reef experience

MINERVA REEF - A UNIQUE MID-OCEAN EXPERIENCE EN ROUTE TO NZ

Weather develops in two areas that will affect the passage this time of year One is from the south west; systems form to the east of Australia moving up and across the Tasman Sea The other is from the north west; in the Coral Sea off the north eastern Australian coast where tropical depressions form, possibly growing to cyclones.

Therefore, it is important like with all ocean crossings, to wait for a good weather window before departing on the 1200-mile journey.

MARINE SERVICES – WORLD RENOWNED

New Zealand boasts some of the most creative and dynamic marine industry professionals in the world, our boatbuilders are world renowned and we pride ourselves on using quality products and providing exceptional service

It is a great place for major projects with sailing-oriented marine services of all descriptions available at an affordable price

As international cruisers Customs will be provided with a temporary import permit for your vessel which will also enable you to get many things GST free automatically saving you 15% You don’t have to request a GST refund on departure or prove that your projects were completed less than 60 days before you leave!

CRUISING NEW ZEALAND

The northern part of the North Island is geographically subtropical and the southern part of the South Island is very close to the Southern Ocean and the sub-Antarctic islands. For this reason, New Zealand offers a unique cruising experience contained within only 1000 miles of coastline between the two islands

Coastal cruising is very easy with thousands of excellent sheltered anchorages within a short distance of one another and plenty of very affordable marinas throughout New Zealand

Take the opportunity to do short day hops between anchorages and explore some of our fantastic hiking, safe in the knowledge that our wildlife cannot harm you…… shoes optional!

Our sub-tropical waters also offer excellent swimming, snorkelling and diving with unique marine environments to experience and no need for stinger suits here!

For the New Zealand summer – November though to April –large high-pressure systems tend to dominate the country, giving settled weather with light north-easterlies

INDEPENDENT INFORMATION CHECK OUT THESE LINKS

You don’t have to take our word for it, there is plenty of independent and unbiased information available online from fellow cruisers

Read the following report from cruising family who have recently completed the Tonga to New Zealand passage and had a fantastic stop in Minerva Reef with 11 other cruising yachts:

https://sailingmirabella com/2019/05/12/passage-to-new-zealand/

If we could do it again, how would we do it?

This is a great retrospective article from cruisers who spent 2 seasons in the Pacific:

https://outchasingstars com/2017/11/07/cruising-south-pacific/

North Minerva Reef – A once in a lifetime opportunity for a mid-ocean reef stop:

https://www facebook com/pages/MinervaReefs/139017926117334

For some great information on passage planning to New Zealand, see this informative article on Noonsite

https://www noonsite com/report/passage-planning-from-the-swpacific-to-nz/

Join our Sail South Rally or Pacific Rally in 2024 and enjoy all that New Zealand has to offer!

Ariki is is currently back from the Island Cruising 2023 Pacific Rally and wouldn’t take much to get back to Cat 1 for 2024. If you’re not into cruising she makes an excellent coastal cruiser and cheap live-aboard. She is very roomy!

Check out all the details on Trademe Here https://www.sailingtraveller.com/

Various Boat Gear For Sale

Large,EMT/First responders bag, as new, with Oxygen bottle

Storm anchors, 60lb HT Danforth, 60 lb & 45 lb ,3 piece Hershoff pattern fisherman

6 man,VIKING Offshore Rescyou A very nice high quality raft, needs re cet , $1500

Various Safety gear, new inflatable harness’s etc Tohatsu 2023 6 hp 4 stroke, long shaft, outboard Contact Jaques on Boatsmithe@gmail.com or 022-634-8878

Lagoon 440 In Montenegro

Step aboard this well maintained and well-appointed 2008 Lagoon 420 priced at just €280,000 Currently based in Montenegro, its four cabins will provide ample room for family and friends to join in on unforgettable voyages There is a spacious saloon for indoor gatherings and a massive cockpit which can seat a big crowd The smart (custom-made in 2020) sunshades can be rolled down to fully enclose the cockpit or rolled up to enjoy sundowners or when sailing Custom made Bimini clears were made at the same time from Strata Glass and are still in mint condition

The two three hundred litre capacity water tanks provide loads of water for the three showers and two cockpit showers. With a reliable 120 litre per hour Rainman water maker (120L/hr) powered by a new Honda portable generator 22EU running out of water is never an issue.

This vessel is loaded with extras, including a set of bronze three-blade fixed propellers installed in 2020, 4x230Ah AGM batteries with Victron battery monitor and two of the latest Cristec 12 volt 90 amp chargers installed in 2020 plus a 2,000 watt battery inverter.

Recent upgrades include a Lagoon-designed strengthened bow sprit and a 70 square metre code zero made of Dacron with UV protection on a Selden top-down furler, as well as newly replaced running rigging in 2023. There is a new supercomfortable captain’s seat in the cockpit from which you can view the GPS Raymarine Axiom 12-inch chart plotter installed in 2022 Recent upgrades also include new hull windows in all cabins, new monsoon shower heads, and high clearance taps in all en-suites

Other notable additions include a new three drawer Vitrifrigo 110 litre freezer and new rear deck bar fridge with a 110 litre fridge in the galley There is a top loading 6kg automatic washing machine plumbed in, an air-fryer and most importantly, a fabulous Magna rail mounted BBQ The newest addition to this vessel are two new bow trampolines just installed

Take off for the land in the Gala 310 RIB with custom-made chaps powered by a 2020 6hp four stroke Mariner Safety is paramount with a Spinlock life jacket featuring personal AIS for night watches along with four self-inflating life jackets and Class B AIS wired into the chart plotter showing your position 24/7

There is a built in Onan Generator 17.5KVA which provides more than enough power to run all five reverse cycle air conditioning units with plenty of power to spare. There is no need to tie up to shore power. Anchor in safety with the Rocna 33KG anchor with 110 metres of 10mm short link chain attached to an 1200w beefed up Quick windlass.

The 420 is heavily built comfortable ocean voyager – perfect to bring to New Zealand!

Don't miss your chance to own this excellently kept and well-loved vessel, ready to embark on your next adventure on the open waters. For more information follow this link https://www.ydyachts.com/yacht/lagoon-420/

For more on this vessel’s adventures since 2019 go to https://saltytalesfrombalihai.com/2019/11/28/buying-sunday-on-amonday-a-tuesday-a-wednesday/

For sale - Hydrovane windvane selfsteering

New out of the UK 2016, been to the tropics and back to NZ 2018-2023. Was sitting unused over COVID period in Vanuatu from Nov 2019- Sept 2023 during which time it was covered, and the boat was on the hardstand. The unit was mounted offset on a walk-through transom Beale 33.

It is a very reluctant sale due to ill health and therefore no further offshore sailing for the boat. This extra crew named ‘Albi’ on our 2 handed adventures was our best investment for open water passage making, so simple and totally reliable

This unit has a ‘stubby’ windvane which suited the backstay set up We also had the autohelm able to be attached to its tiller for motoring

‘Albi’ comes complete with pictured brackets and unit cover plus new spare pins and the original red Hydrovane vane cover which we didn’t use. Instead, I made one and kept this as a spare.

www.hydrovane.com are super supportive and will give advice all the way. You can also check out www.hydrovane.com/our-product/specifications/ for more details.

$5,500 ono, unit is in Waikawa Marina This price is for pick up

Contact: felicityloncar@gmail com

Q2 - For Sale

Truly turn-key - currently cruising Fiji & Vanuatu. Professional New Zealand build to survey Prev “Just in Time” Designed by Angelo Lavranos (St. Francis 50, Knysa 50)

View all the details online here

I have been based in New Zealand for the past 5 years after cruising on and off for 8 years, having sailed the East Coast of Africa, the West and East Coasts of Australia as well as Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia. My wife and I live on our boat and are still fully involved in the cruising lifestyle. I am a Licensed Immigration Adviser for New Zealand and, as a yachtie, have a particular interest in helping yachties with their immigration issues. Island Cruising NZ Members get a 30% discount

Radix makes delicious meals, ideal for when it's rough or when you need to refuel on the go. Quick, easy, nutritious, delicious. Discounts for Island Cruising members

Click here to order - discount code SAILNZ10

ARE YOU OFFSHORE READY?

Island Cruising & Down Under Rally members receive weekly emails with tips and suggestions on how to go about getting prepared for a long coastal or offshore voyage. There are webinars, videos, templates, downloads, and in person get togethers.

Suitable for boat owners or crew members, experienced sailors or beginners alike

You can start any time, and work through the topics at your own pace. Join in any time. Just NZD$129.00 per year and take advantage of our great sponsors deals too!

Workshop topics include:

Getting organised - a system for storing all the information for your Passage Plan, Safety

Manual, Maintenance log, Important

Documents, Boating Qualifications and more

Your vessel information - a template for collating all the specifications of your boat

The Cat 1 & 2 Regulations

Boat Registration

Reporting Incidents

Insuring your boat

VHF & MMSI

Meteorology - Forecasts

Communication options at Sea

Rig - rules for Cat 1 & 2

Sails for offshore - the Cruising Wardrobe

Fire Safety

Anchoring

Your Maintenance Records

Provisioning

EPIRB's

Your sailing resumé

Navigation

COLREGS

Passage planning

Provisioning

Safety gear

Diesel engine basics

Fuel systems

Servicing winches

Checking your rig

Anchoring tips

Sailing at night

EPIRBs

VHF/AIS

Communications

Man Over Board

Fire

Flooding

Abandon Ship

Preparing a Grab Bag

Meteorology

Tides

Docking

Plumbing

Electrics

Batteries

Charging systems

Keeping healthy

Sail trim & new sails

Boat registration

Taking on crew

Dinghy tips

Fog signals

Biosecurity

Seasickness

Coping in emergencies

Security

Skipper responsibility

Log keeping

Search and Rescue

Steering

Heavy Weather Sailing AND MUCH MORE!

Island Cruising

Providing cruisers with support, education & connection

SocialConnection

RunningyachtralliesaroundNewZealandandtheSouthPacific

Organisingsocialevents,activitiesandsocialmedianetworks

Learningaboutandbeingrespectfulofthecultureswevisit

· Promotingpositivesocialimpact,communityengagementand long-lastingconnectionswiththepeoplewemeet

Support

· Beinganinclusive,diverseandsupportivecommunity

· Advocatingforandassistingsailorsinneed

· Adviceonimmigrationclearances&formalities

Yachttrackingandshorecrewsupport

Education

· Assistingsailorstopreparethemselves,theirvessel andcrewforlongcoastaloroffshorevoyages

PromotingSaferBoatinginitiatives

Beingarichpoolofknowledge,supportand resourcesforcruisers

Encouragingupskillingandgoodseamanship

Collaboration

· SupportingthestrategicdirectionofYachtingNewZealand

· Formingstrongrelationshipswithyachtclubstopromotelongcoastalandoffshoreraces,ralliesandcruisingeventsandactivities

Environmemt

Runningasustainableandenvironmentally sensitiveorganisation

Supportinglocalandglobalenvironmental initiativestoprotecttheOceanandtheplaceswevisit

· PromotingSaferBoatingandgoodseamanshipalongside CoastguardandMaritimeNewZealand PartneringwithDownUnderRallytopromotecruisinginthe SouthPacific

Encouragingsailorstobeeco-consciousand reducetheirimpactontheenvironment

PromotingCitizenScienceprojectsaimedat oceanhealth

Communication

Producingaregularnewslettertokeepcruisers informedonthelatestcruisenews,upcomingevents andpromotingpartnerproducts&businesses.

PromotingtheNewZealandMarineindustryand providingapositiveandmutuallybeneficial connectiontotheirtargetmarket

Encouragingandwelcominginternationalsailors toNewZealand