Noumea to Brisbane, Australia - The last Leg!!!

TUESDAY 29TH JUNE - NOUMEA TO

BRISBANE , AUSTRALIA -

THE FINAL LEG!!!

DAY 1:  The day after my 56th birthday!

0630 hrs - depart Moselle Bay and pass thru Boulani Pass at 0900 hrs.

1300 hrs - Position - S 22 deg E 166 deg 07'

 After hours spent looking for the leak in the fuel lines, once underway, Bob found a loose injector pipe on #4 eye was spraying it out - now fixed.

The rudder shaft cog is leaking and Bob is tightening it up in stages - found that the supporting block has cracks and is leaking water into the hull and that the fibreglass is also coming loose from the timber. Water is also seeping under gland plate.

The bilge pump is regularly getting blocked and we had to remove about 2 buckets of rubbish from the bilge. Strange that it has taken all these days at sea and almost 12 months to start showing up in the bilge, as I had the bilge cleaned out before we left Napa Marina back in October the previous year.

This waste consisted of  shards of old flow coat, old oil absorbent and just plain dirt, I just don't know how it accumulates like this.The only thing I can put this down to is the time Fete spent in Hilo for the 5 months and the changing seasons in the Hawaiian Islands.

DAY #2:

0600 hrs - Still under engine with main and jib as we have had little wind, and the wind we are getting is very light.

Position - S 23 deg 18' E 164 deg 10'

1200 hrs - Position - S 23 deg 29' E 163 deg 34 - Light S/E and partly overcast - Still same conditions at sunset.

- Motored Sailed all night!!!

DAY #3:

0600 hrs - Position - S 24 deg 06' E 161 deg 43' - we have travelled 35 nm in the last 6 hrs.

0915 hrs - Dipped port tank - it has 240 nm left = 1/3 of tank. 

 - Not a useful breath of wind all day and nite!!! - We have been motoring since leaving Noumea with No1 main and mizzen up to get any use of possible favourable breezes.

1200 hrs - Position - S 24 deg 19' E 161 deg 07'

1800 hrs - Position S 24 deg 33' E 160 deg 35' - Distance run since 0600 is 68 nm

2400 hrs - Position S 24 deg 42' E 160 deg 02'

DAY #4:

0600 hrs - Position - S 24 deg 54' E 159 deg 26' - still calm running on engine and sails as mentioned yesterday

1200 hrs - Position - S 25 deg 06' E 158 deg 53' - distance run Noon to Noon 131 nm

1800 hrs - Switched to starboard tank as we have run from Noumea on the Port tank + 22 gals
                 Position - S 25 deg 21' e 158 deg 15'

DAY #5:

0600 hrs - Position - S 25 deg 51' E 156 deg 38' - N/W wind came in over night with strong squalls initially, but these moderated by morning and had turned S/W by mid morning.

1200 hrs - Position - S 26 deg 02' E 156 deg 14' - S/W gale continues and its getting a bit damp on board!!

1800 hrs - Position - S 26 deg 06' E 155 deg 53' - S/W strong all night with very rough seas.

DAY #6:

0600 hrs - Position - S 26 deg 30' E 155 deg 19' - Wind shifting slightly to the South.

1200 hrs - Position - S 26 deg 43' E 154 deg 48' - Currently experiencing wind, rain, squalls and rough seas, too rough to use all sails and maintain speed and course so engine and main only.

DAY #7:

Arrived at Flinders Reef and entered Moreton Bay - What a great sight. We knew we were home and it felt good to know there would only had a few nm's to go to The Rivergate Marina on the Brisbane River to get customs clearance. Then for the final part of this long journey, down thru Moreton Bay and back to the Gold Coast, where Berth F 44 at the Southport Yacht Club was waiting for Fete.

Rivergate Marina, Brisbane River, Qld. Australia

We travelled thru the nite under power just to get to port early and arrived at the Rivergate Marina just after 7am local time.
Jock phoned Customs and they and AQUIS arrived approx an hour later at around 8 am. After the inspections and paperwork were all done, we fuelled up and headed off for the home base at Southport - time of departure 11 am.

It was a long day motoring down thru  Moreton Bay but it was great to have Fete here at last.
We arrived at The Southport Yacht Club at 7 pm that nite to a great reception from some close friends. This has truly been a great experience for all of us and my thanks go out to those who shared this journey. To Jock Wilson goes my undying thanks for all that he has done in getting Fete back and to Bobby Lawrence, genius, thx for all the work you performed to keep Fete going on the voyage back.

I am deeply grateful, as well as thankful, to all of those who had a hand in this adventure from Napa California, to the Gold Coast, Australia, and in particular I would like to thank:

Napa Valley Marina

Kirby Long - General Manager Napa Valley Marina for his assistance in the purchase of Fete. Kirby and the crew at the marina helped us more than anything in getting Fete prepared for this trip and although I now reflect that I should have taken a bit more time to check everything, this highly dedicated team of professionals bent over backwards to assist us.

Fete at her Napa Marina Berth

Greg & Laura Guinn - The previous owners of Fete, I owe a lot. Greg was more than generous with his time in assisting us with getting Fete ready for the trip. Greg had his new boat moored beside us here, inside and under cover from the berth where Fete is pictured at left in the Napa Marina.
His lovely wife, Laura, treated us like family and took us home for a great home cooked meal. She also introduced me to "Texas Caviar" a dish which I have introduced to our neighbours at the Southport Yacht Club, and they love it!!!

Mark & Patricia Barmettler aboard Fete in the Napa
Marina shortly before we left.
 

Mark & Patricia Barmettler - This delightful couple were simply tremendous. Their hospitality,
their kindness and overwhelming assistance in more ways than I can ever begin to detail here in this blog, is something I will always treasure. I hope that Mark finishes his 7 year (in joke) project - a 50ft Morgan, and that he, Patricia and I meet again  somewhere on the worlds oceans, to continue our friendship. Thank you very much, till we meet again.

Mike & Ku'ulei Thomas - Mike, as I have mentioned earlier in Blog, "#3, Hilo Hawaii", was the skipper of the Pilot vessel and the one I entrusted to leave Fete with in Hilo when I flew home to Australia.
He and his lovely wife Ku'ulei (I still can't pronounce this beautiful name) went out of their way to help more than I ever expected. He kept her safe thru the stormy wet season over Christmas when and apparent  hurricane went thru the Big Island in December 2010. He covered her sails so as to protect her from the UV, he moved her into the dock from out wide and placed the 2nd anchor out to guarantee her moorings and inspected the bilges and much much more . .  . and for this I am eternally grateful.
To Mike and Ku'ulei I know we will meet again as I will most definitely come back to Hilo.

Finally, it would be remiss of me not to mention the Staff at the Port Of Hilo who helped me thru this period - they are, in no particular order:
David Waldram - Our first contact in Hawaii on arrival and who helped us in the Port.
Tennyson Noyes and Ana Marie Aiu both from Administration - Thank you for all of your friendly assistance - it was, and is still, greatly appreciated. Many thanks and Aloha.

There is one final thank you and that's to a dear friend without whom I would never had got Fete back home and that is to Tim Holmes - my undying gratitude.

All in all this has been the culmination, and the start, of a 30 year adventure which will be ongoing for many years to come, and I will blog these to you as we go.

Fete at her mooring at the Southport Yacht Club

So until next time...

Suva, Fiji to Noumea - Third Leg

Suva from the harbour

DAY #1 - Tuesday 15th June 

So its time to leave Suva for our 3rd leg to Noumea

1300 hrs - lifted anchor for departure. Winds 15 knots from S/E - Under full main, 3/4 Headsail
"reaching"

Beqa Island

 1800 hrs - cleared Beqa Island and set course for Noumea - 235 deg.

This Island is situated 10klms to the S/W of the main harbour area and it's main source of income is Tourism. I believe that there are approx 8-9 villages + some resorts on it. I was also told that one of their main attractions is the "Fire Walking", diving and surfing - I will definitely have to re-visit here.

2400 hrs - Position  W 177 deg, S 18 deg 15' -
wind increasing had to put 1st reef in main.

This Leg:

Distance to Noumea - 700 nm = 5-6 days
Course - 250 deg (T) 238 deg
Destination - Port Moselle Marina.



DAY #2

2400 hrs - Position: S 19 deg 07' E 175 deg 04'

0600 hrs - Position: S 20 deg 02' E 174 deg 39' - Strong winds with heavy seas and rain. Found new water leaks in topside

0630 hrs - Position: S 19 deg 15' E 176 deg 40' - Wind still increasing - dropped main completely
still experiencing strong winds (to 30 knots) and rain.

0715 hrs - Jock went to reef  Jib and discovered Furling line broken.

0915 hrs - Strange noise emanating from prop shaft - Bob checked and found that the nut from the gearbox flange was undone & flange had slipped back from gearbox - Shaft & Flange are grinding on spline - had to stop shaft spinning and Bob put ring spanner on flange bolt to stop it.

1015 hrs - hoisted Staysail to get under way - 4.5 hours
                 Position: S 19 deg 27' E 176 deg 18'

Never a Dull Moment here! I wonder what other surprises are in store for us!!!

DAY #3

- Bob was more able to inspect gearbox as the seas have abated a bit. Spline and thread to rear of gearbox appears to be OK - Cannot see spline on flange. If we can get a calm period or find a safe anchorage, Bob may be able to disconnect flange and replace to gearbox.

- Still running under Staysail only at about 5.5 knots

- Conditions still heavy and overcast with light rain.

- Wind remained strong to gale force all night and shifted towards the North, but lightened up a little before dawn.

DAY #4

Hoisted Jib at dawn as wind had eased and moved towards NW.

1200 hrs - Position: S 19 deg 58' E 172 deg 25'

                 Distance run at Noon - 110 nm

Wind -NNW 18-20 knots - - using #1 Jib (Headsail) and Staysail, Steering 240 deg when possible. (seems like this whole trip we have been heading 236 deg - 240 deg).

- Tightened nuts (back) on forestay turnbuckle.

- During the night the winds calmed and we lowered all sail to stop the flapping.

- Becalmed all night in rotten rolley swell. Everything in the boat is rattling and banging making a terrible noise and Jock stated that he wished the motor was working so we didn't have to put up with this.

DAY #5

0700 hrs - Position: S 21 deg 23' E 171 deg 50'

- Still becalmed - faint breeze from NNW - Bob is busting his arse in really bad conditions to fix the engine. The boat is really rolling around in the conditions and he has to lean down into the bilge while he works.

0920 hrs - He's done it - Bob has fixed the engine and we are underway again, motoring in dead calm conditions. The swell is also subsiding in no wind conditions.

Evening - Some swell appears but diminishes as night envelopes the sky.

1800 hrs - Position: S 21 deg 24' E 171 deg 06' - A glorious sunset - this is one of those things that most sailors truly enjoy on their travels.











DAY #6

Absolute calm all night, engine running erratically - Bob checked and found fuel filters dirty and some water in the bulbs almost black in colour.

0800 hrs - Filters drained etc - back on track. later we found where the spare filters were stored in the aft cabin and changed the old ones for new - engine now running well.

- Fixed forestay tension and furler anchor bands and lashed them.

- Still dead calm - under power on another beautiful sunset.

Day #7

Entrance to Moselle Bay, Noumea

Motored all day and night to make landfall at 10 am local time.

Ch 67 Pt Moselle have some space as we are currently moored at the visitors wharf.

We had motored some 54 hours from Saturday to arrive at Port Moselle @ 3 pm local time Monday

Bob is back working on the engine.



DAY #8

Port Moselle Marina

Bob working on locking the nut up on the spline housing @ the rear of the gear box.
Spent all day searching Noumea to find a 1 11/16" socket which we eventually found and then we had to find a socket driver - a 3/4" drive - hard to find.
Bob also was looking for that diesel leak - Bob moved the engine battery and engine room floor to check fuel lines but found no leak - actually there was quite a lot of water in the bilge - a concern.


DAY #9

Port Moselle Marina

Wed 23rd June - We are looking @ departing here on Sunday 27th and it looks like a good 6 day sail, meaning that we should arrive in Australia on Friday 2nd July, so we decided top advise the customs people that our ETA would be Thurs 1st July so they would be expecting us.
I had employed Kane Bygraves of Aurora Logistics to assist in the importation of Fete into Australia and have sent thru all details pertaining to our arrival.I a future Blog, I will detail the import requirements and some of the silly things that had to declare but that can wait till we get home.


DAYS #10 - #14 INCLUSIVE

Wide shot of Port Moselle with the marina in the foreground

Le Bout Du Monde - a great place to wine & Dine

The next couple of days consisted with Bob working on the gearbox and Jock looking for some replacement lights - which he eventually had to borrow from one of his friends, Christian, a local resident. Also at this point we started cleaning out and re-stocking for the last leg to Brisbane.
We organised clearance with George from immigration in preparedness for leaving although we were still waiting on the seal housing which will delay our departure till Sunday - New ETA to Brisbane is Sunday 4th July.

Suva, Fiji

Sunset in Suva

In my last blog I may have been a little harsh on Fiji but in hindsight and after a long voyage and our little misunderstanding with the local Customs people, and as we had a little time to have a good look at Suva I found that there is really on one word to describe this tropical paradise - "Idyllic" - what else can you say. 

Suva is the capital of Fiji and is a harbour city built on a peninsula reaching out into the sea. It has a mix of modern buildings and traditional colonial architecture.
The city is perched on a hilly peninsula between Laucala Bay and Suva Harbour in the southeast corner of Viti Levu. The mountains north and west catch the southeast trade winds, producing moist conditions year round.
Suva is the commercial and political centre of Fiji, though not necessarily the cultural centre, and the largest urban area in the South Pacific outside of Australia and New Zealand. It is Fiji's main port city.
Although Suva is on a peninsula, and almost surrounded by sea, the nearest beach is 40 kilometres (25 mi) away at Pacific Harbour, and the nearby coast is lined by mangroves. A significant part of the city center, including the old Parliament Buildings, is built on reclaimed mangrove swamp. (Information from Wikipedia)

The original inhabitants of Fiji called their home Viti. These were Lapita people, probably from Vanuatu, who arrived about 1220 BC and stayed for only a short while before disappearing from the archaeological record. Their descendants, who became assimilated with people who arrived from Melanesia, were coastal dwellers, who initially relied on fishing and seem to have lived in relative peace. Around 500 BC a shift towards agriculture occurred along with an expansion of population - probably due to further incursions from other parts of Melanesia - that led to an increase in intertribal feuding. Cannibalism became common and in times of war, villages moved to ring-ditched fortified sites. By around AD 1000 Tongan invasions had started and continued sporadically until the arrival of Europeans. 

Eventually the islands became known to Europeans as Fiji. The story goes that Captain Cook asked the Tongans what the name of the islands to their west was. He heard 'Feegee', the Tongan pronunciation of Viti: so 'Fiji' came from an Englishman's mishearing of a Tongan's mispronunciation!   (Read more: http://www.lonelyplanet.com/fiji/history#ixzz2EuIkkAzC)

Downtown is a jigsaw of colonial buildings, modern shopping plazas, abundant eateries and a breezy esplanade. Small passages transport you to a city somewhere in India with curry houses, sari shops and bric-a-brac traders. Dribbled along the hilly ascent behind the central business district are Suva's suburbs, some of which have the best urban views in the country. When the sun is out the city is relaxed and ambient and you can easily fill a couple of days visiting the sights and shopping.
Suva is Fiji's political and administrative capital and home to almost half of the country's population. It's 

also the largest city in the South Pacific and has become an important regional centre; students from the Pacific region and a growing expat community make up a significant chunk of the population. As with most cities, crime and poverty are factors to be aware of and around half of Suva's inhabitants are crowded into settlements on land that has no title. 
On a less serious but equally grey note, clouds tend to hover over Suva and frequently dump rain on the city (around 300mm each year). You may, however, find this a welcome relief to the heat and humidity that often cloak the city. (Read more: http://www.lonelyplanet.com/fiji/viti-levu/suva#ixzz2EuK2ZpWZ)

Also as stated in my last blog, it took 5 days to clear and the day our clearance came thru, we were about to haul up the anchor and depart. Fiji is an interesting place and now after a lot of after thought, I will eagerly sail back there to see all of what Fiji is about and hopefully, like Eugene,  Fete's original owner, spend some time enjoying the whole of the archipelago, but this time I will ensure that I follow the correct protocols

Now it was time to get underway and head for Noumea. Next Blog will be Suva to Noumea




Below I have left some images of Fiji which I borrowed from the net so as to give you a better picture of Suva and on my next journey I will take some more pics to share with you . . .  so until then enjoy!!!