Category: Sailing

Sailing South for Cyclone Season

by Scott and Kathy Erwin, Sail the World, posted in adventure, Sailing

⛵️ Kalea, our sailing home 49’ Catamaran, left New Caledonia and headed back South to Opua New Zealand. We had to say goodby to the warm tropical waters and beautiful coral sealife, to seek safety from the upcoming cyclone season. Most cruising boats leave the region of Tonga, Fiji, Vanuatu and New Caledonia by December and head south, to NZ or OZ, all hoping to return in May, when it’s safe again.

NZ small gulls

This journey started as a 20 knot bash, meaning close hauled, with not much swell, heading east at first. Rather uncomfortable and loud. As we tacked south, the wind shifted and we still were bashing. Still uncomfortable. Finally the 3rd day we were blessed with a speedy downwind blow but with 3 meter swell forward of the beam. A bit calmer feel, but you still need to keep a seat or hold on while moving about. Every angle of wind and swell is a different feel on a boat, especially on a catamaran. And as most of you know, bashing is never comfortable, in either boat.

Still sampling the sea water

Some friends asked about the most used sailing tools that we use. As you can imagine, paper charts are a thing of the past, since Starlink. Our most common tools are PredictWind, Open Cpn, Navionics and out boats Chartplotter program. Also handy are:

ZOLEO
Marine Traffic
Noforeignland
Google Earth

You wonder what we do for 5 days in a boat beside sail? Mainly sleep (or try to) eat (or try to) read (or try to) cook (or try to) and maybe watch a few downloaded movies. I have been successful at ocean water sampling for Citizens if the Sea, a fun side hobby so far. If you know me well, I did finish my puzzle the first day, played rummicub the second day, and I tried bananagrams, but it was a bit too lumpy that day. But overall, I am still enjoying the ocean, sunrises, sunsets, stars, my amazing captain, our passage crew friend from California, and our sailing home.

Then, it’s Land Ho! We Motor sailed the last few miles into Bay of Islands, aka Opua, New Zealand. All is well, nothing broken, just ready for some land time. Not much to report about for sealife, one squid on the bow and a few black seabirds, and no fish caught. Oh well, the lamb and meat pies are sounding great! 😋

A ton of boats returned to NZ, but we saw none out there on the passage south. PredictWind is an amazing tool.
I finally got some great photos of the full moon last month

And last but not least, my favorite video this year, taken on my go pro 12 in New Caledonia. Most of the little islets, as the this French colony calls them, are homes to multiple endangered migratory seabirds and friendly Sea Turtles! We only got to stay a week waiting for the weather window to jump south. So we will be back in May!

Free mooring balls at all the islets of New Caledonia, this helps protect the corals.

Life on a Sailboat, Year 4 Begins

by Scott and Kathy Erwin, Sail the World, posted in adventure, Sailing

The trade-offs for this amazing experience: smaller spaces, fewer conveniences, missing family and a level of unpredictability most people would never sign up for.

My life on a boat; the highs, lows and a few other oddities. It’s probably often that you see sailing posts and YouTube stories about all the glamorous aspects of sailing. But it’s important to know that it’s not all champagne sailing nor is it all that it seems to be. It’s tough at times. This month had amazing highs for me, but did have lows, and some tough lessons that I am grateful to have learned.

Most of you know me, I am an optimist. I trust the universe. I have conquered fear (to date, anyway). I don’t like to complain or be negative, ever! I look for the good in every tricky or uncomfortable situation. And, I always remind myself that 4 years ago I “chose” to live on a boat.

Life is a choice. So I will start with the lows, but painfully: Since we chose to visit the very remote Lau group of islands in Fiji, we chose to have 0 amenities off the boat. 0 restaurants, 0 stores, 0 taxis, 0 resources, and 0 gas stations….for 6 weeks. I am so grateful that Kalea provided so much comfort and safety, because the feeling of isolation, without any other option, does creep in. Cooking 3 meals a day x 42 days is 126 meals, straight.

Thats one thing, but food management is another. So I have to make my own yogurt, bread and grow sprouts. We also got quite low on dingy fuel, which created more time on the boat and less adventuring. We didn’t catch any fish. And lastly, we got attacked by mosquitoes and no see ums both in the jungle and on the boat. Enough of that! On to the highs!

Too many to count….The stunning beauty. The amazing friendships. My bread machine. The friendly Fijians. The clearests waters. Shell searching. Very little humidity. Yoga. My amazing husband. South beach Ogea. My best girlfriend, Candice. Bugspray, bug couls and bug screens. Happy hour with friends. Sprouts. Cookies. Adventuring. Sailing. Cruising with Sea Bella. Wingfoiling. Playing with the local children. Jokers and marbles. Helping fix the villagers sewing machine and generator. Bonfires. And lastly; KALEA!

This life isn’t about escape. It’s about alignment. It’s learning what really matters and building a life around that. And, I am so grateful cuz it’s one of the best decisions I’ve ever made.

We now head back into civilization again. A quick stop at Kadavu for some world class diving. Then to Musket Cove. Fiji. I am excited to say we fly to California soon for Montana’s wedding. This October we head to Vanuatu, December New Zealand, March Australia, June Indonesia. (Loose plans for now)

Venua Belava, aka Bay of Islands, Fiji.

by Scott and Kathy Erwin, Sail the World, posted in Sailing

A quick photo dump of the beautiful Island of Venua Beluva, Fiji. We stayed a week, had some great hikes, dingy raft up, limestone caves, Scott’s 60th birthday, swims, and a bonfire with friends! Gorgeous! There are no homes around these parts due to the unforgiving landscape. The video below shows it all!

Scott Erwin is feeling grateful on his 60th Birthday 🎶🎶🎶

by Scott and Kathy Erwin, Sail the World, posted in Sailing

Today, on my 60th birthday, I find myself in a church on the island of Fulqana, surrounded by Kathy and some of our closest friends, listening to a minister speak in Bauan Fijian. The “word of God” feels as foreign to me now as it did 50 years ago as a boy in South Carolina. Back then, my Sundays were split: church with Mom when Dad was at sea on his submarine, or sailing South Carolina’s coast with him (Dad) when he was home. Even at 10, I knew where I’d rather be—to Mom’s chagrin. (laughs)

It’s no surprise which path I chose. Sailing wasn’t just a hobby; it became my life’s rhythm. Today, I’m overwhelmed with gratitude for the people who’ve shaped my incredible journey. My father who taught me that sailing could be a way of life, not just a weekend escape. My mother who sparked my curiosity and instilled a toughness that carried me through. My brother (my best friend) who taught me that our lives can be so short. Business partners like James Cooley and Jeff Paul taught me about money—sometimes the hard way. Employers who turned a blind eye when I slipped out early on Fridays, already halfway to the water.

Then there are my friends—too many to name, but each a thread in my tapestry. Folks like Thomas Sinnickson who kept my quirky, “I can be different” edge sharp. My cruising partners, some with me since our early Mexico days. My kids, who brought so much joy but also knew Dad was off to “do his thing.”

And Kathy! The one that gives me the courage to be brave. The one that shares the necessary fortitude “we need” to greet the wide open sea when we leave the safety of the harbor and head out to our next destination.

My journey is a mosaic of moments: running the fishing boat Mello Boy in college, sailing my first Hobie with Ollie in Fresno. Logging thousands of miles on inland lakes with Kathy and all our Hobie friends. And, captaining whale and harbor tours in Morro Bay before we set sail on Sea Bella. Every experience, every person, has built this life.

To all of you—thank you. Your support means the world, and we’re thrilled some of you follow our adventures. At 60, I’ve learned it’s just a number. This ride has had its ups and downs, but it’s only getting better. As Jimmy Buffett sings in Changes in Latitudes, Changes in Attitudes:

“Oh, yesterday’s are over my shoulder, so I can’t look back for too long. There’s just too much to see waiting in front of me, and I know that I just can’t go wrong.”

-P.S. We’re stoked for Vanuatu in October! I’m diving into a book “Getting Stoned with Savages” a hilarious book about the islands. It’s opening chapter nails it: A life trapped in a soul-sucking career, which may leave you with money, but trapped in a career with a dead end life that leaves you with few experiences and memories. Somehow I relate.

-Scott

Maiden Offshore Passage on Kalea, Outremer 49! New Zealand to Fiji.

by Scott and Kathy Erwin, Sail the World, posted in Sailing

Sailing to Fiji from Opua, New Zealand! I know, I know, it was supposed to be Tonga, but… oh well, life sucks, lol. Winds were not in our favor. We are blessed though, as always, we spent 6 weeks in Tonga last year. It will be a sporty, swift 6 day sail to Savusavu, Fiji. A country we barely explored last year due to selling Sea Bella. By the way she is there waiting her new family. We may just see her out there on the water somewhere. Bittersweet, but mainly thrilled with the new family moving aboard soon.

Scott, Dave, Mark, Kathy

There are about 6 boats headed out together in just about an hour or so. But by noon we may not even see them till Fiji. We decided to have 2 crew join us in our maiden passage on Kalea. Dave LaRue from CA and a local Kiwi sailor friend, Mike Clough. We are all leaving NZ right as a Low pressure system passes by will slingshot us northeast off the top of it. Lows are typically pushed out of the way by a following High pressure system. These High pressures or anticyclones are massive. They can stretch thousands of miles high and wide. Typically they have mostly settled weather with sun and little rain or squall activity. That will get us maybe 200 miles a day without pushing the boat too hard. You can watch our track live on the link below, even see the weather etc for us as well. I will post updates there as well as here. Thanks all for your support, interest, encouragement and likes. ❤️

Exploring the Bay of Islands, New Zealand-2025

by Scott and Kathy Erwin, Sail the World, posted in adventure, Sailing, Travel

We are so glad to be sailing back to these beautiful islands next November, as we have never seen such an amazing cruising grounds as the Bay of Islands (BOI). Take a look at our video, such beauty! What makes BOI so unique is there are so many places to tuck into and most of the islands are uninhabited, nature reserves. If I was planning a trip to the northlands of New Zealand, I would book an Airbnb in the darling town of Russell for a week, then take daily ferry trips out to these islands for hikes, beach walks, kayaking, swimming, paddle boarding and maybe even camping out on our favorite island; Urupukapuka. The views from all the well manicured hiking trails are spectacular. You can wander through the fields of sheep and signing birds, right down into a charming outdoor cafe for lunch and some live music. Since we are on a boat, this island gave us 6 beautiful anchorages to choose from, as the winds change directions nearly every week! The video says it all.

Urupukapuka Island

The last few boat projects on the dock in Auckland are done! We finally set sail, New Zealand.

by Scott and Kathy Erwin, Sail the World, posted in Sailing

Getting a boat is kind of like your first date, so exciting but it takes months to get to know them. Well, same here on SV Kalea. We were sure busy in Auckland, New Zealand, both on and off the dock. She came equipped with everything needed for sailing, and some of the basics and extras like scuba tanks, paddle boards, compressor, an extra portable freezer, and this and that. However, like any boat, things break or need to be replaced, just like a house. Scott spent time trouble shooting our main power winch. This is a must have, as the mainsail is very heavy and our shoulders are starting to feel it. The gear box had seized up and needed to be replaced. Luckily, we were docked and just a stones throw away from a Marine store that luckily had our replacement. Then, our house stereo and our portable freezer (backup) both needed to be replaced, under warranty still thankfully! A quick uber ride across town, a bit of labor and all is well. Other items repaired including the water heater, diesel heater, head sail tac and obviously getting all the fishing gear prepared.

We got off the dock a few times to explore the neighboring favorite tourist island of Waiheke. Fun, but a bit high priced. We toured around, learning our sails and systems and as always meeting fun new people. We even met some friends who all wanted to go for a day sail to a favorite beach for a picnic and yoga. 12 of us in all had a good day.

Monthly scrubbing
Boat polish
Filling up
New power winch
Roland inspects
Chain regalvenized

Kathy searched high and low for a Heavy duty sewing machine for her various canvas projects for Kalea. The Sailrite LZ1 machine is most cruisers favorite. New machines flown in from the states would be too pricey for our budget. Used ones are hard to find and nearly the same price. Placing many adds on social media groups lead us to a great connection with a past cruiser needing to part with her LZ1. Hurray! Back in action. BBQ and Jerry can covers, helm seat cover, side shade screens pillows just to name a few.

Loading chain
Counters every 25’
New/used Sailrite
Sewing notions
Grommets are tricky
Shower curtain
Fun pillows
Shade screens

AC Panel
Drones come in handy to view the mast top

Now, back to cruising, it’s been nearly 8 months to switch boats and countries, but we did it! The first few remote islands were blissful and so rewarding. Our favorite was Motutara island with its huge sunken ship, see our reel below.

Sail GP 2025, Foiling Catamarans preparing to race in Auckland New Zealand, Feb 2025

by Scott and Kathy Erwin, Sail the World, posted in Sailing

Nice front row seats (from our dinghy) for the practice runs for the Sail GP races in Auckland New Zealand. We got to hang at the leeward gates to see these magnificent sailboats practice speedy maneuvers. Auckland was buzzing and helicopters wereflying. These people love their sailing.

Sail GP foiling race boats are so spectacular! What a privilege it is to be here this week. 12 countries practiced all week. Imagine the work in taking down and putting up their entire rig daily.

The next day, we went out for a dingy ride in Westhaven near Auckland and the small, colorful sailing dinghies were out racing around. Much slower than SailGP of course! turns out, the skippers were all people who were paraplegics with wheelchairs back at the dock.

Auckland New Years Eve!

by Scott and Kathy Erwin, Sail the World, posted in adventure, Sailing

Staying in the biggest Marina in the Southern Hemisphere has its benefits! Views Galore! Parties Galore! Everyone on holiday for the month.

Us cruisers from Mexico having fun for New Years in Auckland New Zealand last night. We get to recover today and watch California celebrate at 9:00 tonight. Strange world. Strange time zones. The kids here are all on their 2 month summer vacation, picking berries and going swimming! Walking around the city I noticed the new architecture, clean streets and laid back attitude. Liking New Zealand a lot!

Maybe a bit too much fun! Pictured in this post is Michele and Michael on Elvira, the boat with the pole, and it is actually for sale now. Joanne and Scott on Fundango and Candice and Jason on Deguello.