After a few days rest in Opua my crew, Kenley, returned to the US with the
experience of having made a passage to NZ. INTENTION and I sailed for Paihia
and are now anchored at Russell (Photo). I have arranged for a birth at West
Port Marina, Aukland and am heading 150 NM south to leave INTENTION to
travel to the US to visit friends & family for December and will return to
NZ Jan. 9th to begin a Haul out/bottom job after 3 years of cruising. Other
cruising friends have their boats there and can keep an eye on her during
the time I am gone.
++++++
Went ashore this morning to see and explore the quaint little town of
Russell. Upped anchor and by my self had gentle winds of 10-12 knot sail
which took the remainder of the day to round Cape Brett and anchor in
Whangamumu Harbor For the night. Had Some wine and discussions of the day’s
sailing with Doug & John on CARTREF. Especially when single handing it is
nice traveling in the company of another boat/cruising friend.
+++++++
Today was another day of beautiful light air, 5-10 knot winds, sailing 25 NM
south to the next protected anchorage, Tutukaka Harbor. With a boat speed of
only 3-4 Knots it took all day with grey high 100% overcast
skys.(See picture of INTENTION from CARTREF) While anchoring we were
welcomed by two dolphins cavorting around INTENTION. It began raining about
an hour after anchoring and has been blowing hard from the south and raining
all night and the next day. CARTREF and INTENTION are being tossed around by
the wind and waves even in this snug little harbor to wait out the passing
of this cold front. The wind and sea conditions must be much worse
especially sailing south.
++++++
We, CARTREF & INTENTION, decided to go into Tutukaka Marina and spent 2
days exploring the community and the headlands (See photos) while waiting
for the strong southerlies to so stop blowing. Due to insuficent time
and inclement weather I will not get to Auckland and put INTENTION at
Marsden Cove Marina, Whangerai which is only 20 miles further south.
Getting south those 20 miles in 25- 30 Knot winds alone was not easy but
INTENTION and I tighed-up safely to the dock at Marsden Cove just before
sunset with CARTREF tucked in alongside.
I feel cold after 3 years in the tropics being at Latitude 37 degrees South
is the same as San Francisco at north latitude. This is the NZ spring moving
into summer. Long sleeve shirts, Sweaters, long pants, what is this all
about? I’ll need to dig out some cooler weather clothes for here and a
California winter.
I’m having a great time back in the San Francisco area visiting friends and
Family until Jan. 8th when I’ll return to INTENTION.
I WISH ALL OF YOU A VERY HAPPY HOLIDAYS and NEW YEAR. Thank you all for
sharing 2007 with me.
LOVE
Jim

It was a very pleasant sail through most of the bay of Islands to tigh-up at
the Customs dock (photo included) in the small town of Opua. I had faxed,
emailed and radioed ahead to NZ Customs when I would be arriving but forgot
about the time change so they had already gone home on Sunday. No hot shower
until Monday morning until after we were cleared in by Immigration,
Quarantine and Customs. Mark and Sue came in just after us so we made a
night of eating and drinking most of the items thay were going to be taken
away by the agricultural inspector the next morning. Their list is quite
extensive. All the officials were vey friendly and we had a great time going
through the food lockers.
The brigentine SOREN LARSON (see photo) came in Tuesday next to the ferry
dock (Ferry photo included).

If you haven’t already picked up on checking the position reports, please do. It allow you know where I’ve been and feel more connected. We’ve been able to sail a lot today and probably all night tonight so the fuel situation should be OK even with the long entrance into the Bay of Islands, Opua.
Yesterday was motoring all day and night. Sue and Mark on WIND CHASE waited for 2 hours for INTENTION to catch up to them and they generously floated to me 20 liters of diesel fuel they had extra. This should allow us to reach Opua sooner. I continue to be blown away by the cruising community as it is such a wonderfully helpful supportive group of people.
Today was all sailing to conserve fuel and get us in position to catch the wind shift to sail directly to Opua.
We are only 40 NM from the entrance to the Bay of Islands which is the beginning of the end of this longer than planned passage to Opua, NZ. WE will hopefully get to the Customs pier tonight,Sunday, Nov. 18, and get a good night’s sleep before drying out and cleaning up INTENTION. There may even be a hot shower available to make ourselves a little presentable to a majority of society and finding some warm clothes as it is much cooler here than Vanuatu or Fiji.
Love Jim

In the morning we sailed passed and North by 10 miles of Norfolk Island. We were able to make out lots of the Norfolk Pine trees that originated there and are found through out this Pacific region. A pod of 5 Dolphins were following us for miles. I was sitting in the seat I built at the bow of INTENTION watching and talking to them as they took turns riding the bow wave. I wonder what it would be like being a dolphin? Having that speed and maneuverability in the water would be wonderfully exhilarating. Watching them, I sometimes try to imagine what it would feel like?
The sunsets have not been the spectacular shoes of reds and pinks but silvery streams of the sun’s rays shining through the clouds onto the horizon of blue-grey water. The days have had occasional periods of morning or afternoon sun. The temperatures are getting cooler so sleeping without any thing covering is no longer possible. I’m now needing a sheet and a blanket to sleep warmly.
Love to all
Jim

Yesterday was a day the Gods of the winds having fun with or tested me. I must remember to have humility, patience, and be thankful for all I do have. We had 25-30 knots SE winds from the direction of our destination. INTENTION was sailing SW which would have been wonderful if we intended to make landfall at Brisbane, Australia. The next morning at 9AM the wind began to shift more southerly until we went onto a starboard tack with the port caprail often being washed with clear blue waves to a SSE course heading directly for Norfolk Island about 85 NM away. We should pass by it some time before sunrise. Weather we pass North or South are at the whims of the God of the wind. We’ll not be stopping because according to the forecast the winds are suppose to continue to be southerly but lighter at 10-15 kts instead of the 20-28 kts. and 3-6 foot white capped seas today. I had hoped to at least get a glimpse of Norfolk.
Love Jim

Our position 24 degrees 26.6 minuets South & 166 degrees 40.2 minuets East 24 hours after leaving the outer reef Pass sailing as close to the wind as the confused seas would allow or close hauled. By the following day at 6 PM Local time it gave us a very respectable day’s run of 127 NM. The wind & seas then began to build during the evening so we sailed slowly through the night with a doubled reefed mainsail & staysail. This morning we set a reefed Jib close hauled again and are averaging over 5.5 Knots in messy 3 to 6 foot confused seas. We are heeled over with grey overcast skies and the cap rail in in the water and occasionally taking breaking waves across the bow. It is forecast to be like this for at least the reminder of the day.
So far we have been in regular VHF radio communication with another boat, CANTREF with Doug, Mary & John aboard. They are currently about 18 NM ahead of us on the same course to Norfolk Island. It could offer a safe anchorage for a short rest if the wind is blowing in the right direction for anchoring and/or is too strong or unfavorable for New Zealand.
Love to all
Jim

We departed Noumea this evening. Just managing to get out of the pass and clear of all the reefs at dusk. We are sailing on a close reach almost due South in 30 to 35 kts. of wind. Seas are moderate and it feels comfortable. Occasional spray in the cockpit. Radioed a large container vessel who passed a mile off our starboard quarter heading for Australia. I can still see the glow of the lights of Noumea astern. My first watch is just about ended so good night.
Love Jim

We were only allowed to stay four days in Lifou before needing to sail to
Noumea to check in with Immigration and Quaritine. Starting our passage of a
day and a half at 4:30 AM to catch a good tide into Havannah Pass at the
south end of the Island of New Caledonia we saw our officials at Port du Sur
Marina. Noumea is a very modern European type city without the feeling of
crowding. The French have built this city and run this country because they
are open pit mining 25% supply of the world’s nickel, 90% of Cadmium. You
can see parts of mountains have just disappeared leaving exposed red earth
with no vegitation growing as there is no top soil.. The people are enjoying
the benefits by getting money and lots western stuff like new houses, cars,
SUVs, etc. and the world gets their natural resources.
Sue and Mark on WIND CHASE & Kenley and I took a 30 min. walk to explore the
Aquarium for the afternoon to see the fish, turtles, nautilus’s in the large
tanks and the beautiful array of different colors and types of coral.
Weather people are calling this year a La Nina year with the very developed
strong Trade Winds. And strong trades is exactly what we have been having.
It has been consistently blowing 20 to 30 knots. This makes the 6 to 8 foot
seas is a little difficult when going to windward. And we have been sailing
into those southeast trade winds most of the time. We are waiting for a good
weather window for our passage to New Zealand.
Love
Jim

Sailing through Wooden Cannel Towards Noumea

Exposed red earth on the hillside

Modern Apartments next to the Marina

The Aquarium

Winds along the beach

We are currently 2 hours away from We, Lifou. The fairly cloudless full moon
last night was like having having our own flashlight in the sky. It was a
magical evening. Feeling the steady warm winds and watching the very visible
moonlit seas passing beneath INTENTION and twinkling with Phosfouressence.
The Loyalty Islands are rural, very relaxed, friendly French speaking
people, lots of selection in the stores and markets. We took a ride to the
leeward side of the island with a French couple with their boat near ours
who rented a car. We found a picturesque beautiful white sand beach, people
swimming, and a sailboat anchored just offshore. While riding across the
island it was very interesting to notice that each local’s modern house also
had their traditionally made round house as well. It was goo to see they had
not given up their culture for all of what seem like the comforts of western
society.
Love
Jim

Lifou church

Traditional round hut

White sand beach

We are back in Port Vila after our Volcano adventure. While in Tanna AJ felt
he needed to quickly return to NZ. So we made a quick passage in high winds
and seas to PV. We are currently waiting for the rain to stop and more
importantly the wind to come from the east to northeast for an easy sail to
the Loyaltys and Noumea. I am back to looking for a third crew member to NZ.
We, my crew Kenley & I, just sailed out of Port Vila for the Loyality’s a
few hours ago. At our current speed it will be a little less than a 2 day
sail.
We had a slight delay in our sail to Lifou, Loyalty Islands. The wind picked
up to 25 & 30 knots and it was not any fun so we anchored in Dillion Bay on
the west side of Erromango Island. We started again the next morning on a
comfortable close reach in 15 to 20 knot winds and subsiding seas for the
150NM trip. We’ve had company of Mark & Sue on WIND CHASE all the way from
Port Vila. It has surprised me how our two boats are so very evenly matched
as we sail together effortlessly. Even during the night their running lights
stayed visible about two miles off out port quarter. I do not find this
happens very often as just wave conditions can change a boats speed let
alone all the other factors.
Love
Jim

Sue & Mark on WIND CHASE