Planning a passage is never straightforward. There is the clearance paperwork for departure and the same for the new arrival country. There is the passage planning…when is the best time to leave based on wind and waves?

After months of thinking we wouldn’t see them in Fiji, we were finally catching up with Ian and Ann. Long story short, they are our buddy boat from the Aura days and one of the main reasons I agreed to buy another boat. Sailing with friends is great for sharing thoughts on weather forecasts, anchorages and playing Mexican train.

While all our guests have been fabulous, there are guests and then there are ‘boat owner’ guests.

There is something special about a ‘first’

It had always been a dream of mine to visit these pristine islands. When we had planned to visit the Yasawa group in 2008

Thankfully, FELIS had looked after us remarkably well during the passage to Fiji. Apart from a few minor issues, we had escaped without any major breakdowns, something I was quietly grateful for. The biggest job was repairing a tear in the boom bag

Fiji hear we come - part 2

The next few weeks were a blur of provisioning, packing, boat jobs and trying to decide whether we really needed yet another packet of biscuits. We had provisioned for the umpteenth time. Kim cooked meals until the freezer could physically hold no more. Even the ice cube trays were sacrificed in favour of additional storage space. Apparently, ice was less important than curry and casseroles.

Having friends visit is always exciting, especially when they are the first visitors to your ‘new to us’ catamaran. It is considered a mini break from your general routine, while providing a sense of purpose, not to mention fun.

Every boat is different and comes with its own unique problems and challenges that mainstream life doesn’t prepare you for. In my experience, the first few weeks of owning a new boat are probably the hardest