Pebbles’ first trip – South Pacific, 2015.

Seven months. Five countries. 7,000 nautical miles, 500 hours of motoring, four fish and a lifetime of experiences.

With the Island Cruising Association we sailed from New Zealand to Tonga, Fiji, Vanuatu, New Caledonia and back. Phew. What a trip.

 

NZ – Tonga – Fiji – Vanuatu – New Caledonia – Norfolk Island – NZ – 2015

Wellington-Auckland. 1-5 April. 4 day sail. Scary scale: 8/10. Lovely to start with and then Cape Palliser had a treat in store for us; an unpredicted 30 knot northerly. We lost our headsail and tacked out and into the coast, without much progress. We then decided to bash into the northerly. Hideous. Janie very seasick. Dean nervous. Surely it couldn’t all turn to shite before we’d even left New Zealand? We considered hiding into Gisborne but wind started coming round to the west and we have a lovely sail/motor into Auckland.

Auckland-Opua. 15-27 April. 12 day island hop including Rangitoto and Kawau Islands. Scary scale: 5/10. 25 knots and big seas out of Tutukaka. Rudder seal started leaking. Learnt how to anchor in Whangaruru Harbour!

Opua to Minverva Reef. 2-7 May. 5 day sail. Scary scale: 9/10. Motor in calm seas for 24 hours then a headbash into 20 knot easterly all the way to bloody Minerva Reef. Sailed like a demon for the last 12 hours to avoid another nightshift. Some boats had to circumnavigate to get in in day light. Had a dinghy party in the middle of the reef. A very windy and salty stay. Janie discovered she’s also terrified of snorkelling.

Minerva Reef to Ha-api Group, Tonga.10-12 May. Two day sail. Scary scale: 3/10. Lovely – northerlies 5-10 then SSW 13 to get us in. Anchored outside Ha’api Beach Resort who delivered a yummy dinner (steak, chips, oh God)  as we’d missed customs clearance for that day.  A lovely few weeks in Tonga, kind of shell-shocked at the poverty, lack of anything, and absolute beauty. Very windy most of the time and not a lot of ‘paradise days’. But very, very happy to be here.

Ha’apai Group to Vava’u Group of islands, Tonga. 21-22 May. Overnight. Scary scale: 4/10. Anchored in Port Maurelle before heading to Neiafu. An amazing few weeks here.

Tonga to Fiji. 8-10 June. Two day sail. Scary scale: 4/10. Wind all over the show but only 5-15 knots. Cleared into Northern Lau group, Yanu Yanu, before anchoring in Bavatu Harbour. An incredible, unbelievable, gorgeous, fascinating two months in Fiji. Only just touched the surface. If we came back we’d explore more of the southern island, including Southern Lau group.

Fiji to Vanuatu. 7-10 August. Three day sail. Wind E 15-25, behind us, so OK. Cleared into Analgawat Bay, Aneityum Island.  Very moving seeing Vanuatu as it’s just three months after Cyclone Pam. This country has been ripped from its roots yet its people are resilient and inspiring. This is our favourite place and we will be back. Then went to Tanna Island and around Port Villa. Not enough time here to go further north than Port Villa.

Vanuatu to New Caledonia. 5-6 September. Two day sail. SE 10-15 knots. Scary scale: 4/10. Some motoring. Saw tuna jumping but not onto our fishing lines. Fish count: 3 in 6 months. Anchored in Lifou, in the Loyalty Islands. Very interesting country – pity about the French. The Kanaks are a beautiful people and we look forward to them getting their language and country back. After Lifou went to Ouvea, then sailed down Eastern Side of Grand Terre. Then went to Noumea, Baie de Prony, Isle de Pines, southern lagoon, and left from Noumea.

New Caledonia to Norfolk Island. 21-24 October. Three day sail. E-NE, 10-15. A perfect sail. Only motored to recharge batteries. Scary scale: 2/10. Norfolk Island is totally fascinating – the penal colony history and the Pitcairn history. Would love to come back. The landscape is dramatic and people very friendly. Terrible anchorages (very rolly) but better than heading to NZ in the wrong weather.

Norfolk Island to Opua, New Zealand. 26-29 October. Three day sail. SE 5-12. Calm sea. Scary sail: 1/10. Motored in light winds half the time. Poled genaker for a day. Speed up to 10 knots. Seeing NZ was very emotional. Mixed feelings at being back – it’s bloody freezing but soon we’ll see our doggie and families. Spent two weeks in Opua for Dean to recover from his spider bite, and to wait for the perfect weather window. Shall we go down the west coast or east coast of NZ?

Opua-Mana 13-16 November. Three day sail. Southerly winds up to Cape Reinga, easterly across the top, northerly down to New Plymouth. Perfect. Then bam, a bloody SE 25 all the way home. Sigh.

Now we are home and are mini-celebs. But this will wear off and we will be flat. Now what? What do you do with this kind of experience? Where is adventure gone? Where are our mysterious dinghy rides up a river? New villagers to get to know? A bay to explore and discover?

Watch this space. Please email us if you’d like to know more about our trip. We’d love to hear from you. Watch out for my posts too –  I’ll be writing about the things that went wrong, what we’d do next time, the most special islands/bay we went to, and the people we met. Email Janie on jwalkernz@live.com And to sign up for blog posts, go to the homepage here.