worldwide sailing – Page 5 – Sailing with Saphir

Marie’s visiting us in Fiji continues

The first dive for Marie after she took her license needed to be celebrated with bubbles and some nice food. Next morning we check out and head towards the Yasawa island and to see the caves. This time the passage was much calmer and we had a nice current with us we went though it quick. We will not make it to the other reef before it is dark so we anchor in a bay and enjoy the sunset, the stars(picture taken with my Mobil. So much easier when the boat is not moving) and the sunrise. At 5.00 we wake up and head out to get through the passage and hoist the sail.

We have a great sailing day. The wind is around 8-10m/s and waves 1,5-2m. The wind is getting stronger and the waves got higher so we decide to reduce the mainsail. It didn’t work that well……the sail came out in full instead. This was not good. The wind was 15 m/s (30knots) and the waves was 2-3m so we didn’t feel comfortable to go up on deck to get the standing battens out of the mainsail. We change course and went behind the main island to get wind shade. Here was less wind and no waves so time to get these standing battens out of the mainsail. Since we furle in our sail in to the mast the battens are standing and are very long from 4m up to 20m. Now when the battens are out the sail can come down and together we tighten it up around the boom. New plans is made since we can’t make it the caves.

We found a bay close to the reef opening and anchored there for the night. Lots of smoke coming from the controlled fires on the island. Luckily the wind is right so we don’t smell the smoke. Time for a night swim before we go to bed.

Next morning we head to Blue lagoon next to Nanuya island. Suddenly we have 20 dolphins around the boat. Now everything feels much better and seeing dolphins compensate a bit that we missed the caves.

After we had anchored at Blue lagoon it was time to fix so that we could furle in the sail in the mast. Since we had this problem seven years ago(that we couldn’t furle in the mainsail)Edgar made sure we had the spear part that was broken that time. It was a small metal thing but it was a bit to long so it needed to be cut off. Me holding on to it with a poly grip and Edgar cutting it. Took us a few times to get the right length but we made it and the problem is solved. The furler is working and now we need a very calm day to hoist up the sail again.

We enjoy the sunset but are a bit frighten when we see big fires on the island next to us even though we understand it should be under control. Feel sorry for the people who are staying at the resort on that island. Must smell alot. The fire was on for two hole days also.

Time to explore the island and walk over to Lo’s tea house. It was a long, hot and beautiful walk. The view was great when we came up to the top. We was rewarded with a fresh lemonade and Fiji donut.

The ferry can’t get in to the pier so smaller boats comes out to leave and pick up people. In the evening we had dinner at Sami’s house and celebrated also his sons birthday. Herman and Ute from Thetis was also here at the Blue lagoon. So nice to see them again.

We wanted to dive again so we hoist the anchor and went south to Manta rays passage. First we snorkelled in the passage hoping to see some Manta rays but no luck but we saw lots of fishes and nice corals. We got to dive the next day. This time we was six divers and 2 instructors which feelt good until we started to dive. Our diver friends did not keep distance from us or swam together with their buddy which made it a bit enojing . You miss part off the fun in the dive since your focus is more keeping away from the others ( which of course you always do but then you expect the other also to keep away) Part from that it was a interesting dive in tunnels. Not a fan of that but fun to have done it. We saw one shark but not a great picture though and and we saw also an giant moray looking out from its hideout. All in all it was two okey dives. The sight was good even if the the water was not that clear. Feelt like it was a lot of plankton in the water.

I went snorkelling next to our boat after our dive. This is still my favourite snorkelling spot so far. Lots of cool corals, fishes and colours. Got a cool photo of the sun shining in the water

Next stop was Musket Cove. It was quit many boats there but we found a spot to drop the anchor. Here we stayed a few nights before we needed to go back to Vuda Marina. Me and Marie went for a long walk around the island perfect timing when it was low tie. We ended it with a dip in the pool.

Me and Marie went out to dive the next day and this time the other divers knew how to act which made the dive so much easier and more fun. The first dive I had problem with my tank. It was leaking a bit but managed anyway stay down for 37 min. The rest of the group came up 5 min later. Lots of fishes and a few black tip sharks as well. On the second dive we went next to a sandbank which appears only when it is low tie. Here we saw a very cool coral that looks like cabbage I also saw a moray. Which I didn’t catch on my camera this time.

Join me in to the water

Time to head back to the marina to prepare the boat for getting it out of the water since we are going to paint the hull. Not me and Edgar though we let the Yacht help do it for us. The freezer and fridge needs to get emptied since they don’t work when the boat is on land as they are water cooled. Good that the marina has a freezer where we can keep our food. And it was really time to defrost them as well. I took out all stored food boxes and realised we still have little more than we need of dry food ,cans and spices for our sailing to New Zealand. I have to make sure we don’t have any food that is not allowed to bring into New Zealand so we just buy the nesicery that we need as some fresh food and water. The dinner was taken at First Landing . This is the first time we are sitting indoors eating dinner, but it was raining heavy this evening. Luckily it had stopped when it was time for the fire show .

In the Marina there is a sea swimming pool more or less hidden on the island outside the restaurant. I have been out there several times but not swimming in it. Now it was time to try it and it was lovely. Since it is getting seawater in it naturally there was some small fishes and also some crabs.

Last dinner at the Boat Sheed restaurant with Marie before Karan picks her up and brings her to the airport. Thank you Marie for sailing with us. It was great to have you onboard and hope you learned to slow down and relax a bit. I am extra happy that I got a diving buddy

Hugs Eva

This was an extra long post. There will come a blog later from our days in between guests in Fiji. Until then enjoy the days we had with Marie. Love to here from you readers

Marie visiting us in Fiji

28Aug to 17Sep

Marie arriverad and we introduced here to Fiji dance and she gladly joined. The next day we leave for go up to Vanua Levu and Suvasuva. It is a bit up so we will do it in two stop. First some rest and the Marie is full energy and start cleaning the windows which was really in need. We find a perfect place and anchor outside Nananu-i-Cake Island.Just in time befor the sun goes down. Lovely to finally be able to jump in the water from the boat. The moon is shining very bright this night.

Next stop is in the north tip of Vitu Levu next to Nananu-i -Cake island. We have a lovely sunset and a fantastic sunrise

We take the dinghy to see if we can find a good snorkelling place. We did see a lot of nice corals. Unfortunately not so many fishes though.

Next stay we have a sunny day and some wind so we can sail. I forgot to but enough sunscreen so my face got a bit red…

New bay and another sunset view. The moon is still very bright. We leave early in the morning to get true the passage in right time. Don’t want the current against us, it is enough with rough to go throw the passage.

Entering Suvasuva and Copra shed marina. We have to use our anchor and unfortunately it didn’t stick properly so we needed to get some help from the harbour master. He and Edgar went out to through it in and it worked. Edgar found the best place to race shave him self. The last photo shows where we are and all the blue dots are places we have visited. As you see some places have we been a few times

Me and Marie explore the town and find some nice things and gifts. We also find the market that was hidden behind some ground working place.

We also found Ocean Ventura Fiji dive center and booked us for a dive the next morning with Sara and Matthew. First we had to take a cab for 40 min to get to them on the other side of the island and then it was 30 min boat ride to the dive place. The first was called the the Zoo and the second the white tip . This was Marie’s first dive after she took her license just before she came to us. Both of the dives was great. Lovely corals and fishes. Some scared ones and some curious and puffer fish.

Moore will come. Time to leave Fiji and no internet for a week to ten days.

Hugs Eva

Fiji week with Elin

In beginning of Aug my cousins daughter Elin came to visit us for a week before she is flying back to Sweden after spent 6 months in Australia. Luckily she didn’t have jet leg so she was ready to go and explore part of Fiji. The wind forced us to stay in the harbour for a few days so we went to visit Sri Siva Subramaniya Swami Temple a wooden colourful Hindu temple in Nadi. After that we decided to go to Sleeping Giant zip line, Orchid falls & Jungle Safari. The way there was very interesting. First it was a nice road but after a while it started to be very bumpy and narrow and on top of it a bridge whiteout any fence. Luckily not that high bridge.

Me and Elin had a great time riding the zipline. Edgar didn’t dare or maybe not that keen on it so he stayed on the ground and watch us. There was some lovely orchid and other flowers. We was a bit tiered afterwards so we didn’t go up to the waterfalls. It was a quiet a bit to walk uphills. Might do that if I will visit the place again.

On the way back I got a better picture on the bridge without any fence. Glad we didn’t meet anyone on it. On the other side the farmer had started to burn on the field. Was a bit scary to drive through that but everything went well.

Back in the marina we had high tie and it was easy to walk out on the pier totally opposite from the morning when it was low tie. A tour in to Lautoka ended up with Edgar cutting of his long hair. I didn’t expect it to be that short but it will grow out in a few days/weeks. Now when he was so shorthair why not dress as a Fijian as well. The jumper to Nellie is finally finished only need to attach all yarn ends… and they are a few.

We went to First Landing for dinner and this time they had the show down by the water. This was by far the best light show we have seen there. The effect being in the water help a lot.

The weather was better and we motor sailed over to Muskat Cove. Nice to be able to jump in the water from the boat again. It was women’s world championships football and the Swedish ladies was playing. With help from my cousin we manage to see the game via messenger.

Outside Musket cove on a reef there is this place called Seventh Heaven that we went out to check out. It is a floating restaurant/bar and bathing platform where you can stay during daytime. We had a great day snorkelling, swimming and Elin jump from the tower. I was told that during the last year they have started to feed the fishes and also put in some metallic things that looks like beds to get the corals to grow. We had a great day there and I know that Elin was extra happy since she got to speak to an actress that she really likes. Don’t ask me who she was… not anyone I have ever seen. But happy that Elin was happy.

A week goes quickly and it is time for us to say bye bye to Elin. So glad that you came and stayed with us .

Hugs Eva

Fiji days with Ella and family

We had almost 25 hours to clean the boat, do the laundry, going to physiotherapist (me) and have a dinner just the two of us before Ella, Filip and Nellie arrived on Friday 14July.

The plan is to stay in the Marina get batteries hopefully on Monday or Tuesday. Lucky me I got a nespresso machine. From now on nice coffe onboard Saphir. Not the best weather over the weekend rain and cloudy. With right cloths and umbrellas we are of to get some ice cream.

The rain stops and we decided to go to First Landing for dinner or me and Edgar take the bikes and Ella and Filip walks. Nellie has the best place in our wagon and granddad pulling her. Hopefully she will fall a sleep on the way back. Hmmmm

Ella wanted us to come with here when she was going to have some massage at First Landing the next day. Not much of a beach as it was low tie but Nellie had fun and I enjoyed a coffee.

We rented a car since the batteries will take little longer time to get. Bio security will fume them? Don’t understand why and then of course some paper work… Driving on the left side is not for me so Edgar has to be our designated driver. Our first stop at Sri Siva Subramaniya Swami Tempel. I had brought my sarong and one to Ella so we was good but the guys had also to cover their knees.

Made a stop in Nadi to find a support belt for my hip. Didn’t find the correct one but one that will do for know. Will continue look or get someone to bring it with them from Sweden. Me and Ella meet this lovely lady that introduced Ella to Savusavu. Ella was not so keen on it either.

Next to the roads there is railways and also in to the land. These is not railways for commuting it is for the suger plants. Now is the season to harvest so we see a lot of them.

In the Marina they have started to build some nice shades and put up hanging chairs(hammock?). Very nice to sit in and watch the boats coming in and out of the harbour.

I have a training partner. She is cheating a bit though and are done long before me. Some how I promised Nellie in a weak moment to make her a rainbow jumper. These are the colors. Pict on the jumper will come. Let see if I manage to make it before they leave. So training, knitting is not all we do when we hang around in the boat I also do some baking. Since we end up staying here until Thursday and we took out the pool for Nellie so she could have some fun. An 80feet catamaran came up next to us and suddenly we feel very tiny…

Thursday the batteries arraives after Edgar and Karran (our taxi driver) went to the warehouse to make sure we got them. At 5.00 pm the batteries are here and now we wait for the custom to come so we can lift them onboard. We bought them as yacht in transit to avoid vat. 5.30pm the custom guy arrived and saw them taken onboard our boat. Yippie we can leave the Marina after 10 days for us and a week for Ella& fam. Friday morning we are off to Muskat Cove. We get some help with the lines from the marina since we are moored with two buoys in the front that crosses over the other boats. Getting out of the marina Nellie enjoys the sailing or motoring for be exact. After 3 hours we have anchored outside Musket cove.

We will go in and see if they have some space for us tomorrow. For now we will enjoy not being in a harbour and the benefits of jumping in to the water whenever you feel for it. It is though so much easier to be in the harbour with the family. Then everyone can leave the boat when they want and not need the dinghy. First of all we need to cool down and enjoy the water and freedom to jump of the boat in to the water when ever we feel like it. This is the one off the best things with anchoring in a bay.

The morning after we went in with the dinghy to have a look and there was a lot of free space so don’t know why he said we couldn’t come in yesterday. Never mind we went straight out again and took Saphir in to the harbour since it was high tie.

Nellie loved the pool and tried to get friends or getting help with the water. Nellie did meet a new friend and her name was also Nellie. They had great fun together at the pool and also at the restaurant.

We went to the song and dance show at the restaurant this time also and Nellie loved it and also went up dancing

Me and Ella went snorkelling on the reef just outside the harbour. It was okay but the sight was not that clear. I have seen much better places. Fun for Ella to snorkel and the first time for me in six weeks. Feelt good that I can do that again. Saw a lot of blue starfishes and a cool heart shaped pink coral and a few fishes as well

A week goes fast and it is time to leave Muskat Cove for this time and head to Vuda Marina again. It is not that far but someone got tiered. I am working hard on the jumper to Nellie, still have some color strips to ad before it is done…… can be hard to be done before they leave. In the marina we end up next to the catamarans again and we do feel very small although our mast is almost the same hight.

Went in to Nadi again to have a look around the town. Visit the fruit and vegetables market that was very nice. We also went to visit the handicraft market and that was a bit of disappointment. Felt that many of the things was not made in Fiji.

Back in the boat and our last evening Nellie wanted to make ponytail on grandma with help of grandpa that didn’t work that well… so grandpa let her do Pippi Longstocking ponytails on him instead….with some help from grandma.

Need to show the sunset. Been a few days without it… Nellie decide that she wanted sleep with me and grandpa since it was her last night with us until we come home . A bit tight in the bed so I ended up turning me around. Seems my feet didn’t smell to bad. The next morning they are off and will see them in end of October. Safe flight back home to Sweden.

Big hugs Eva

Fiji days with Erika and her family

Five days to recover more in my back/leg, before Erika with family arrives. We also need to rearrange the boat so they can sleep in the beds. Luckily the cleaning we got help with. Thanks to a neighbour boat I got in contact with a new physiotherapist that help me much better. Got new exercises/stretches and she also gave me massage and this electrical muscle stimulator that felt really good. Hopefully this will help but it will take a while and need to do my stretches 3times a day. Puh!!!

Erika, Oskar, Max and Mia have arrived ! They are a bit tiered . It was a long journey 36 hours with not much sleep. We are so happy to have them here.

After a day resting and grocery shopping we head out off the Marin to go to some off the island near Musket cove. As often the wind is not right so we use the iron genua instead. Nice to have help with all lines and fenders.

We passes some reefs and need to be looking out for corals heads since not all are marked on the sea chart. There are some very nice resorts that we pass and we anchor outside one. So nice to have a swim in the sea. I have been swimming in the sea since we was in Tonga and that is three weeks ago. With the sup board in the water it is easier to get M&M in the water. They think it is a bit to high to jump from the platform in the back off the boat.

We had anchored outside an adults resort ops!! so we couldn’t go in to the beach with the kids and didn’t find any other nice place to go ashore. Edgar took an extra drive around with the kids in the dinghy before we left to a new place.

We ended up on Cast away island. A bit rolly here also but much better then the last place. I thought when we where inside the reef it should not be rolly , of course not totally calm but less then we had. Now everyone is ready to go ashore so we took the dinghy in to Cast away resort. It was on its way to get low tie so we was lucky to get in to land. Now we had to wait for the high tie to come , which takes 3-4 hours. Good that they had a restaurant so we could get some lunch and a swimming pool that we could use. M&M enjoy swimming and playing in the pool and I enjoyed sitting down and relaxing and not needing to walk.

The next day we went to Musket cove to spend some time with the World Arc fleet before they continue in a few days to Vanatue, Australia and onwards. Since we are not joining we thought it would be nice to be their start boat and wave them off. Musket cove turned out to be a perfect place to stay with kids with the beach and a pool to swim in when the tie is low.

It was very nice to spend time with the fleet. We enjoy every minute. We will miss them all a lot. When we started our sailing a year ago I thought/ hoped that we would meet some nice sailors. Never in my mind I thought we was going to be part of such a super great group and find truly new friends.

The starting day for WARC is here. We welcome Tim onboard. Erika will be in charge off the starting flags using our boathook as help. It was a bit scary start when Salt and Sara of Sweden past us and headed straight towards the reefs. You can see on the picture where we had anchored next to the reef. They turned in time and we wave to our friends. Some off them came very close up to us before the went away. We wish them all a great sailing to Vanuatu and onwards.

The bar was located just next to our boat where we could have some food as well. Good for me I didn’t have to walk very far. In daytime when it was high tie we cold have a swim next to the bar but at low tie you could walk all the way in to the beach without getting wet.

Slowly getting better in my hip and leg due to my stretches 3 times a day. The massage I took also help a lot I straighten out so to say. I continue to bike everywhere since walking to far hearts and standing still is not working more than a minute or two. Will come back to this lovely place and get more massage fore sure.

We spend another day here by the pool and in the evening there was a dance performance that we all enjoy. Two fascinated kids sitting like a light as we say in Sweden. Meaning they are sitting totally still and not moving around. Mia wanted to join the dancing so Erika and her went up.

The next morning we headed out and went a bit north and ended up at the island Waya outside the village Nalauwaki. After the anchor was drop Edgar and Mia went in to meet the chef and give cava. We was all invited to the savusavu ceremony later in the afternoon followed with song and dance by the locals. To be allowed to snorkel, swim in the water,walk on the beach etc you have to meet the chef of the village and bring cava and drink it with him. This is not the cava with bubbles this is made out of cava roots and mixed with water. Not very nice taste according to me.

We went in to the village for the savusavu and dance. The tradition is to drink up everything in the bowl so we hade to take a few drinks. It was a very nice song and dance performance. Mia and Edgar join the dance but Max didn’t want to dance.

Nice sunrise and then we are off to Vuda Marina. A bumpy motor going so the kids ended up sleeping.

The next day was a fun day in the water park. Even me went on the slide once with Mia. It was really fun.

Vuda Marina has a built part of the playground like a boat and the kids loved it. Sometimes it is nice to watch a move and just relax in the sofa.

Two weeks goes fast when you have fun. Time for the family to go home. Will miss them a lot. Love you Max and Mia

Hugs Eva

Fiji with Elise

Suva yatch club anchor place didn’t make a good impression on us rather the opposite. Lots of ship wrecks and ships that almost are a wreck.

We decided to leave and found a bay just around the corner. This feels much better. Although it is a bit rolly when the tie comes and goes. We stay here over night and I did some very stupid thing so my hip and leg got really bad. Hope it will get better soon. Elise is a bit yet lagged and I try out my new baking machine. This will take a few times I guess to get a great result. First I guess was to much flour.

We leave the bay next morning and head up to Nadi. Outside Denarau Marina we drop the anchor since the marina was full. We take the dinghy in to the marina to do some shopping and fill up petrol to the dinghy. When we came in and starts walking I realise that my leg /hip is worse then I thought. Can only walk 10- 20m before it is to painful to walk. After done the shopping I am totally exhausted and can’t walk…. Grateful that Erik is in Denarau and gives me a pain relief shot and some strong pills. Feels already much better on the way back to Saphir.

Laying in anchor outside Denarau was not the best place and we realise that many of the fleet is in Vuda Marina so we decided to go there. It is a very nice relaxed marine. Not as commercial marina as Denarau.

As Elise have been on big cargo ships she have learned a few tricks how clean a boat. I am very happy that she us to clean part of the boat. She also went up the mast to free the flag that had got stuck in the mast.

We went in to the Boat Sheed(the restaurant in the marina) for dinner in the evening together with Chris and Karen. We had a great evening that ended up with Chris singing karaoke and Karen joining him.

Often it is something that needs to be fixed, repaired or replaced on the boat when we come to a marina. This time the boat was okay but me and Edgar where broken. I can hardly walk and Edgar have problem with his back. Poor Elise was looking forward to sail around the island in Fiji but ended up in Vuda Marina and a few day at a resort. The days in the resort help Edgar a lot and I was feeling a bit better but still not good enough to walk . We did enjoy our days at the pool and lovely dinners. So nice to sleep in a full size bed, a bed you don’t need to crawl in and is totally still.

Elise went on a day trip on a catamaran. She snorkelled and saw lovely corals and fishes. This is what I hope to do and see soon.

Back in the marina after days at the resort Edgar and Elise goes to do some grocery shopping while I rest… So glad that we have our folding bikes onboard. This is my life saver. I am not stuck on the boat although we can take the dinghy in to the marina where there is a restaurant, chandelier and a food/ cafe/gift shop. To walk from the boat to the marina takes about 5-10 min and for me probably 20 -30 min, since I have to stop every 20meter due to pain. Biking is without any pain and the roads are okay to bike on. I can easily move around. We saw that is was going to be a market on First Landing resort so me and Elise took the bikes over to check it out. Found some nice things. Most of them handmade by the locals. I even bought a small bag that I had to wait for to be done

Vuda Marina next to the resort. Short distance but long to walk to.

In the evenings we went there with our friends and had dinner. They had performance and invited us up to dance with them. It was only Elise and Karen who went up. New drinks has to tries and Elises was very blue and good she said.

Our last evening with Elise. She leaves early morning to fly home to Sweden and start work. Safe flight back Elise and next time we hope that you can sail a bit more …

Hugs Eva

Getting to Fiji

Together with Amanzi and Matilda we hoist the anchor in the sunrise and set course to the Lau groups in the west side of the Fiji Island.

I have prepared our sleeping spot in the salon on the floor since it is going to be a very wobbly crossing. To make it softer I even put a madras’s against the cupboard and pillows on the other side to make it softer. This is definitely the best spot. Don’t understand why I haven’t done this every time. Slept so much better here. It is a two night sailing and approximate 300NM. At 2,30 in the morning we have 190 NMs left. We will be in Lau group early morning next day.

First some lovely sunset pictures.

At 8.20 Tonga time we reach the opening of the reef. This is the first time since our start of sailing that we turn back the clock 1hour and not forward. That means we are on the other side of the world from home. It took us a year to get here and if you fly it takes 30-36 hours depending on hours in airports. A bit different. We arrive in Lomaloma on the Vanuatu Balavu island and drop our anchor at 10.30. Now we wait for the rest of the fleet and specially Rob from World Arc. We didn’t have to wait long. An hour later we have been checked in to Fiji. The 4 authorities plus the agency came out to the boat. Very efficient and we are ready to leave and take us slowly around to the other side of the island.

After some very tricky narrow passages with lots off coral reefs and the scary coral heads that can be just under the surface we dropped the anchor at a lovely spot. Later we heard that five boats hits this coral heads and some needed some repairs later. What a lovely place. Would really love to come back and explore more.

Next morning we found this jello thing under our roof in the cockpit. How did it get in?? And what is it? No time to wonder just clean up and we are of to the main island and Suva to pick up Elise our youngest daughter that arrived on the 14th. She is staying at a hotel in Suva. Apparently not the safest city so no fun going outside the hotel area.

One night crossing and we will be in Suva. At noon we have 144NM left and at 5 next morning 40NM left. It takes time to sail. We have a lovely sunrise and greets by dolphins when we get closer. They where not the only one checking on us. Suddenly there came a rib boat with the coast guard asking to come onboard to check our papers. They said it was a routine check. No others boat friends after us had them onboard. This is the third time we have been checked by the coast guard. Wonder what so special about our boat?

Finally we see Suva. We talk to Elise and can see hers hotel we think. She sees us sailing outside the reef. Lots of boat wrecks and boats that are almost a wreck here. This place doesn’t look very safe or nice. It doesn’t matter we drop the anchor and Edgar takes the dinghy in to pick her up. Elise have arrived and now we have 9 days together to explore part of Fiji.

Hugs Eva

Days in Niue

When we arrived to Niue the swells was quite big and it made it very tricky to go a shore. We decided to take a slow relaxing day , fixing on the boat and go in the next day. You will understand what I mean by tricky to go a shore when you see the movie.

So after breakfast we head in to land and the pier where the dinghy hoists up on the pier. It is a bit tricky but after a few times you learn.

We headed to the government building to regístrate us in to the country. At the same time we also made the paperwork’s for leaving, very convenient. Three different institutions, custom, immigration and bio security. We filled in the immigration paper , the same one you get on the plane when entering a new country and rest was already done by ARC. Edgar just had to sign some papers and pay tourist tax.

We started to walk to the shop, The Arc had organised a sunset drink in one of the few bars. After that a dinner with performances at a resort on the island. It was a nice evening with great company.

The next day we went for a guided tour to see part of the island. There is a lot of caves and and some freshwater pools to walk/climb in and also to take swim in. The water was a bit cold but it was refreshing and after a while you get use to it. Even Edgar went in snorkelling. Felt little strange that there was almost no salt even if it was connected to the ocean although not a huge opening

In the evening one of our guides open up her house for us to have a barbecue. We all went to buy meat and drinks for the evening . So nice of here and her friend to open up her home for us. We had a great time. Lots of laughs, singing and dancing. It was very long time ago I dance so that was really fun. We adults showed the young adults how to move.

Happy that is not only me and Edgar that have to get the dinghy in to the water in the middle of the night. It all went well.

Relaxing Sunday including a short walk

I went diving on Monday afternoon with Laura,Michel,Cory and Luc. We went in to a cave which was fantastic. Little scary with all these snakes in the water. Even if they didn’t do anything except being very curious and scared me when it came up to check on me. The landscape outside the cave was fantastic and so different from what I have seen before. Hard to not to go lower then 18 m which is what I am certified for when the water is so clear and bright.

After the diving it was time to move on and go to Tonga. We welcome Rob onboard. He is working for the ARC and needed a lift. Toghether with Misty, SolanaV , Pec and Pippin we hoist our sails and headed to Tonga ready for two nights sailing.

Hugs Eva

BoraBora to Niue with stop in Suwarrow or not

After Eva had left it was time to focus and prepare for the next leg that is including to stop before we are in Tonga. We got divide in two groups since the island we are going to visit don’t have space or enough buoys at their bay for all 24 boats at the same time. The first group starts on the 14th of May and we take our dinghy to watch the start and wish the first group fare winds.

Since we already where in the dinghy we decided to go around the corner where we have seen that the cargo boats goes in. The yellow houses is probably the warehouse for the goods. Further in is a small village and they have built some large pools that we couldn’t make any sense of.

The upcoming days we went shopping with Matt and Fiona on Matilda. Luckily they rented a car so it was easy to go drive between the different stores to find what we wanted. Me and Fiona took a walk by our self to see if we could find some nice pearls but no luck. I did found some on my next trip… The boat needs to fill up. Don’t know if it’s a sailing boat but guess. Saw that they had hoist the sail in the evening and put lights on them when still where anchoring. When we came back after filling up diesel our dinghy was laying there keeping our place

We had some sun downers and dinners in the evening toghether with the rest of the sailing group. One night was with performance.

There was a lot of training around our boats but I manage to to some paddling around without disturbing their training. Last sunset in Bora Bora for us

We are getting ready for five days at sea. The bed is made for us on the couch since it is to rolly to sleep in our own bed. The Norwegian flag is hoisted and Pippin is getting to the start field

The start went of at 12.00 and we hoist our second jennaker that is on a rolling thing and not in a sock as the other one. This is the first time we hoist it since we left Sweden 10 months ago. The wind was twisting and turning around the Island so it took some minutes before we got some wind in our jennaker.

Just after the start we got some dolphins jumping next to us

As it is Norways Independence Day we celibrate it with waffles for lunch with the Norwegian brown goat cheese and drink Solo. Happy Independence Day Norway 🇳🇴

We avoided some squalls during the night so our route is no that straight more zig zag between the squalls.

On our third day at sea we get information that we need to change our course and go direct to Nui and not to Suwarrow. The first boats had arrived there and was denied to get in due to some paper that was wrong. Since we all have the same paper with us the World Arc asked all off us to go direct to Nui. We had 402 NM left before we changed the course and now we have 810 NM to Niue. 3 extra days on Sea so total 6 days before we are moored. This news took us down a bit. As we say in Swedish “the air went out of us ’ We was really looking forward seeing Suwarrow. Specially since this is such a remote place and really hard to get to. I hardly believe that we will get a chance to get there unless we do a new pacific crossing…. I Hmmm maybe not.

One early morning at five we caught up a sailing boat. Just when Edgar thinks we will pass it the wind to blow up and the sailing boat speeds up. Edgar hois the sails and hope that the sailing boat speeds up and that we can get back on our course by going behind her. They where heading to Fiji so our courses crossed each other . Took a while though but finally we could go back on our course and head to Niue

After a few days at sea the days goes in each other. We make turn on watches. You sleep or try to when the other is on watch. I knit, listen to books, play some games on my iPhone, work on the blogg during my watches. It keeps me awake. If it would have been less rolly I also would have done some exercises so my back,hip /leg will get better. This rolling makes the pain worse and almost impossible to do the exercises correct specially when it involves keeping balance.

The view I really like both the nice days but also the rough ones. Sunset, sunrise and so on . All jas it charms almost. Do not like the squalls with thunder.

Finally we can see Niue. This little flat Island in the South Pacific is one of the smallest countries in the world.

It will be very nice to relax for a few days now.

Hugs Eva

Tahaa to Bora Bora. 8-12Maj

When we arrived to Tahaa we stop for the night right inside the reef and had a glass of home made white Sangria. Will definitely do that more times. We had dinner and then went over to Thetis for a sundowner drink and was home first around 22.00 arrived there around 17.30. Very long sundowner and also so nice to meet them and lots of the Arc boats.

The next morning we went to coral garden that we had heardIt the the in so much about. Took us a few turns until we had the anchor in. It is nice to know the depth underneath us. Our depth meter is broken and we do have the charts telling us the depth but it is not the same to know the exact measurements. It makes a difference. I hope Edgar can fix the depth meter soon so we we are sure about the amount of chain we need to have and that we do not need to end up to far out from land. There are some boats from the Arc laying here already and more are coming. Its a very popular place.

We take the dinghy in to the coral garden. It is a opening between two Islands so the water is quite flowing. Very lovely snorkelling place. Here I meet again some curious fishes.

After been I snorkelling all things needs to be cleaned in freshwater due to all the salt. Do some washing at the same time and this time it has to dry in the boat.. The night is magical and we continue playing hitster. This time all of won.

Before we leave the next day we have to snorkel one more time. This time I see black tip sharks and to giant morays. Lots of other nice fishes and corals as well.

Time to leave this beautiful place and to Bora Bora. We have a bouy at Bora Bora Yatch Club that is located 10 min drive with the dinghy to the town. This is also the place where we will meet up the other boats before we do the 5 leg on our sailing with World Arc. Here they come out to you so we can pay for the bouy. Great service! They also comes and pick up our garbage.

Me and Eva are ready for exploring Bora Bora when we are here. We didn’t get that far since we had to turn around to not miss the happy hour although we saw some cool things om the way.

We went in to town to check how the connection works to the airport and to walk around a bit. We found this cool map showing all the island in French Polynesia covering almost hole Europe. It gives you a perspective how huge French Polynesia is. The hard part is you need a boat or a plane to get to the other places here . On the way back we got rain…. Have not had much of that during the sailing and I knows it needed even if I do prefer the sun. Locking on the bright side it is not cold when it’s rains.

We had a great last evening with Eva and in the morning after we drove her in to town in her new hat she bought yesterday. From town there is a boat transfer to the airport.

It’s been a great time having you onboard Eva you are missed already and we wish you a great summer sailing back home in Sweden with Bullen. Hope to see you soon. Thank you for joining us on our adventure.