Category: adventure

Definitely the gnarliest ocean passage to date, and someone asked me, “weren’t you scared?” Strange but no. I somehow have always had trust in the Universe. I have faith that I will be protected somehow, always. My whole life I’ve had a strong sense of adventure, but in this ocean passage, from NZ to Fiji, I never felt like I was risking my life. The big, wide ocean doesn’t scare me. It’s immense, dark, loud, looming and very angry at times, but I chose this life. It’s a BIG life, that’s for sure, but I chose to sail the world.

I, and my strong stead of a captain/husband, are living our fullest lives possible and have no regrets. We plan, prep, research, and prepare for this sport, mentally and physically, and strongly feel that we can handle the very worst. Not always champagne sunsets, but we are suited well for it. Yes, of course there are moments of weakness, fatigue, chaos and doubt, but never fear. Scott and I try to take the calm approach when the seas and tasks get gnarly. We are an amazing team out here, I am so proud of that!! And now, on our new performance catamaran, Kalea, we choose to play an entire new game. A fast one and in big seas. It’s difficult to describe. The sounds are like riding a wagon train with an 8 horse team at the helm. It feels like we are in a washing machine. With an occasional salty spray coming into the cockpit. The sights are also unimaginable. Laying here cozily in our salon, with a cup of herbal tea, I write these words. I watch the rainy horizon go up and down, from pure grey sky to pure grey ocean. The swells behind us feel like massive monsters, but Kalea surfs smoothly down the hill, quickly going from 9 to 18 knots, then she slows down again. I think she likes it fast. Scott makes a few adjustments, tapping the autopilot up or down 2 degrees or winching in just 6 inches of a sheet. Now she is even happier, flatter, smoother and quieter. And so are we.

A highlight of this adventure passage has been us 5 catamarans sailing side by side headed to Fiji. 2 boats are previous cruiser fun friends, 1 boat is a Swiss family of 4 we just met on the charts, and lastly, sailing a Gunboat 48, is John John Florence. We amazingly all are staying within 14 miles of each other. We chat on the vhf, spy on each on the B & G, and occasionally a photo sent via starlink. The giant Mahi Mahi that Thomas caught shocked us all, imagine cleaning it in these seas! His Outremer 55 has big back decks!

Some of us send out screenshots of our instrument panels, bragging rights I guess. As for other daily chores and activities; it’s mainly taking watch, eating, napping, sail changes, 10 minutes of starlink for weather updates and a few chats home. Maybe we try to refuel the generator, due to no solar power (see video). Very rarely it’s cooking, showering, cleaning the mess, board games or reading. And, latest update, winds and seas are too big to head up to Savusavu, so we head to the South Island and into Port Denerau. So, with that, I sign off of FB and find a slip in a marina. Thank you reading!

We have had an absolutely amazing half a year in New Zealand. About 3 months adventuring and sailing around Auckland and 2 months traveling up and around the beautiful Bay of Islands. Rumors of this place are right! What a great, clean, safe and friendly country with beautiful anchorages. Stay tuned for more stories of the Bay of islands. We are now planning our next half a year sail plan, which starts in just a few weeks. Cyclone season is over in NZ about May 1, so we can head north again and enjoy warmer weather, warmer water and swim in the beautiful South Pacific Islands. We are prepping the boat for the jump (or passage) to Tonga. This means a long list of “to-do’s” including check in and check out paperwork, filling the ditch bag, setting up the jack lines, doing a float plan, listing our 2 crew (Dave La Rue is joining us and a local Kiwi friend wants to hop aboard) updating the first aid kit, all system checks, buying flags and currency, completing oil changes, (that’s 2 since have 2 engines)…

On this passage, we hope to do a diving stopover in the famous Minerva Reef, which is about a 3 day passage, but as we always say, depends on the wind Gods! We will rest up, then set sail another 2 days to Tonga, hopefully also staying in the remote area of the Ha’apai island group. We will cruise new islands of Tonga for about 6 weeks, then our next passage will be about a 2 day sail to Fiji, planning for 8 weeks stay there. Last year, we were so busy prepping and selling Sea Bella, that we didn’t explore many spots in Fiji, so hope to include at least the northern Yasawas, and a month in the Lau group of islands. We still are hanging out with a few great friends from Mexico and have met a dozen new fun cruising friends here in BOI (Bay of Islands) who also are planning a similar route this season. It’s always good to meet new friends, typically quite international, now that are so far from the US. We will need to put Kalea on a mooring early September for our flight to California, as our daughter Montana is getting married. This is special news, and we will be able see all the family as well. Another big trip! This will be our only visit back this year and a rather short one, since last year was nearly 3 months and had many cherished memories with all!

We will then fly back in September and return to our new home on SVKalea. We are loving her and are relaxing into our new special place on the water. She is spacious, safe, and comfy both anchored and at sail, so no regrets. Happy Scott & Kathy! We soon will see how she is on overnight passages.

Our third passage will be to Vanuatu, our 8th country to sail to. We have heard amazing things and hope to adventure into the local people and culture. I believe a favorite TV show, Survivor, is filming there and they have blocked off a few islands. This happened years ago to some cruisers and local fishermen back in the Marquesas’, French Polynesia. Same show! No wonder I really liked that program! A little secret; I actually applied to be a participant in 1999! Another way for me to see the South Pacific I suppose.

For our next cyclone season, our Insurance company needs us out of the South Pacific again, so we aim to return to New Zealand for a few months then cross to Australia for the remainder of the season. We plan to head north and into Indonesia after that! Big Plans!