Our voyage has followed the classical tradewind route, west about through the tropics. Now, after more than five years of sublime cruising the South Pacific, we are reluctantly moving NW to base ourselves in SE Asia for some years. The need to be closer to our familiy and especially our grandchildren is proving irresistable.
We have a diving compressor to recharge our tanks as well as two mountain bikes aboard and naturally some robust hiking boots. Walking and climbing for serious exploration has become an essential element of the cruising life.
The voyage so far is shown in black whilst the rough plan follows on in the pink :-
Monday 5th Jul'99 - Departed Hamble, crossed to Alderney in the Channel Islands next day
Iberian Peninsula
Arrived La Coruna, (12/7), explored the enchanting Rias of the Galician coast. Left Bayona (15/8) visiting 14 ports in Portugal and Atlantic Spain. Arrived Gibraltar (13/9) for 10 days of fun and re-provisioning
Atlantic Islands
Left Tarifa in the mouth of the Mediterranean (23/9) for the Madeiras. Porto Santo (27/9) then Funchal, Madeira Grande for 10 days of mountain and levada bashing. Arrived in Canary Isles at Graciosa (15/10), then Lanzarote, Lobos, Fuertaventura, Gran Canaria and Tenerife.
Sunday 21st Nov'99 - Left Tenerife on the Atlantic crossing
West Indies
Arrived Rodney Bay, St Lucia, (15/12) Then to St Vincent and Bequia for Christmas. Tobago Cays, Mayreux and Union Island returning to Anse de Piton, St Lucia for a splendid New Year. Marin, Martinique (19/1) Anse Mitan, Fort de France and St Pierre. Prince Rupert Bay in Dominica (2/2) then Les Saintes. Pointe-a-Pitre, Guadeloupe, (9/2) Basse Terre, Pigeon Island, Deshaies. English Harbour, Antigua (21/2) Barbuda and almost all Antigua with 4 sets of friends and family. Nevis, (30/4)St Kitts, St Barthelemy (Barts), St Martins and Anguilla
South America
Venezuelan offshore island of Blanquilla (1/6) Margarita, Coche, Cubagua, Tortuga & Los Roques. Puerto Caranero & Puerto La Cruz on the mainland, with trips inland by air to Merida in the Andes and to the magnificent Angel Falls in the Cainama National Park. Inshore island of Borracha, (20/8) Chimana Grande, Chimana Secunda, Islas Arapos & Islas Caracas. The Mochima National Park, Gulf of Cariaco, Peninsulas of Araya and Paria. Trinidad (11/9) for 9 weeks of fitting out with wonderful interludes touring and exploring
Monday 20th Nov'00 - Re-launched at Chaguaramas, Trinidad ready for sea again
NW Caribbean
Prickly Bay, Grenada (5/12), Marin, Martinique (19/12), St Anne for Christmas, Anse d'Arlet & Trois Islets Christiansted, St Croix, USVI (30/12) for New Year. US & B VIs, St Thomas, St John, Jost Van Dyke, Tortola, Virgin Gorda plus lots more. Culebra, Spanish Virgins (22/1), Roosevelt Roads, Puerto Rico (24/1), Palmas del Mar, Salinas, Ponce, Boqueron. Boca Chica, Dominican Republic (16/2), Isla Beata. Santiago de Cuba (21/2), Marea del Portillo, Cabo Cruz. Many cays and islands to Cayo Largo (16/3), flew to Havana. Cayo Guano de Este, Cienfuegos, Cayo Blanco del Casilda, Casilda, Cayo Cinco Balas, Pasa Cachiboca, Cabo Cruz, Marea del Portillo. Isla Beata (27/4), Boca Chica (2/5), Boqueron (6/5), St Thomas (8/5), St Martins (15/5), St Barts (19/5), Dominica (22/5), Martinique (24/5), Bequia (29/5), Tobago Cays (30/5), Petit Martinique (1/6), Carriacou (2/6), Tobago (5/6), Trinidad (11/7).
Monday 16th Jul '01 - Hauled out at Chaguaramas, Trinidad
Returned to the UK for the 1st time in two years for Bruce & Tracey's wedding (4th Aug)
Tuesday 18th Sept '01 - Re-launched at Chaguaramas, Trinidad, heading west
SW Caribbean
Chacachacare, Trinidad (21/9), Los Testigos, Venezuela(23/9), Porlamar, Margarita (27/9), Cubagua (5/10), Tortuga (6/10), Los Roques (12/10), Las Aves (18/10), Bonaire (23/10), Curacao (31/10), Aruba (12/11), Monjes del Sur, Venezuela (13/11), Five Bays, Colombia (15/11), Rodadaro (22/11), Punta Hermosa (23/11), Cartagena (25/11), Islas de Rosario (13/12), Isla Pinos, San Blas (15/12), Many tiny palm clad islets through till 26th Jan '02, Portabello (27/01), Colon (28/01).
Tuesday 5th Feb '02 - Transited the Panama Canal from Colon to Balboa
Pacific Crossing (2002)
Isla Flamenco, Balboa (5/2), Isla Contadora, Las Perlas (3/3); Galapagos (14/3) Isla Santa Cruz,; Isla Isabela(31/3); Marquesas (4/5) Fatu Hiva, Via Tahu, Tahu Ata , Ua Pou (11/5) Haka Hau, Hakahetau; Nuku Hiva (15/5) Taiohae, Hanga Haa, Anaho Bay, Daniel's Bay; Tuomotus, Makemo (7/6); Tahiti, Papeete (1/7); Moorea, Opunohu (17/7); Huahine (27/7), Fare, Baie de Avea; Raiatea (6/8) Uturoa; Tahaa (7/8) Baie Hurepiti, Motu Tau Tau; Bora Bora (12/7), Rarotonga (30/8), Beveridge Reef (9/9), Tonga, Va'vau (20/9), North Minerva Reef (9/10), Opua, Bay of Islands, New Zealand (21/10),Tutukaka (5/12)
Thursday 8th May '03 - Left Tutukaka, NZ heading north to Fiji
Fiji (2003)
Whangamumu (8/5); Opua (9/5); Departed Opua (26/5); Savusavu, Fiji (4/6); Vanua Balavau, Lau Group (20/6), Bavatu Harbour, Bay of Islands, Navana, Daliconi; Matangi (2/9); Matei, Taveuni (4/9); Savusavu (6/9); Nambouwalu (13/9); Yandua Island (17/9); Nananu-i-ra (18/9); Nathilau Point (21/9); Vatia Wharf (22/9); Lautoka (23/9); Saweni Bay (26/9); Musket Cove (29/9); Vuda Point (14/10); Departed for NZ (16/10); Opua, Bay of Islands, New Zealand (25/10)
Monday 8th Dec '03 - Hauled out at Tauranga, Bay of Plenty, New Zealand
Returned to the UK on 10th Dec for birth of our 1st grandchild, Sean William Jesinger (4th Jan '04)
Tuesday 18th May '04 - Departed Tauranga heading north for Tonga
Tong, Samoa, Wallis Island, Fiji (2004)
Nukualofa (27/5); Atata Island (29/5); Kelefesia (15/6); Nomuka-iki (21/6); Tungua (23/6); Haafeva (24/6); Ouleva (1/7): Pangai, Lifuka (2/7); Ha'ano (4/7); Neiafu, Vava'u (5/7); Port Maurelle (9/7); Tapana Island (11/7); Vaiutukakau Bay (13/7); Niuatoputapu (15/7); Apia, Samoa (25/7); Asau, Savii (12/8); Wallis Island (19/8); Savusavu, Fiji (16/9); Nambouwalu (22/9); Yadua Island (23/9); Sawa-i-lau, Yasawas (3/10); Blue Lagoon (5/10); Somosomo, Naviti (7/10); Yalobi Bay, Waya (9/10); Saweni Bay (16/10); Lautoka (18/10); Musket Cove (20/10); Saweni (24/10); Opua, NZ (3/11); Whangamumu (6/11); Tutukaka (7/11); Great Barrier Island (8/11); Great Mercury Island (11/11); Tauranga (12/11)
Returned to the UK in Feb '05 for younger son Paul's marriage to Emma (5th March)
Sunday 26th June '05 - Departed Opua, NZ for Fiji
Fiji & Vanuatu (2005)
Lautoka (4/7), Malolo Laili (7/7), Waya (13/7), Saweni Bay (15/7), Tanna, Vanuatu (31/7), Aneityum (4/8), Port Vila (10/8), Havannah Hbr (23/8), Nguna (26/8), Emae (28/8), Lamen Bay (29/8), Awai, Maskelynes (4/9), Uliveo (5/9), Bangon Bay, Malekoula (6/8), Ranon, Ambryn (7/9), Waterfall Bay, Pentecost (12/9), Loltong (13/9), Asanvari, Maewo (14/9), Luganville, Santo (17/9), Surundu Bay (30/9), Aesi Island (2/10), Petersen Bay (10/10), Hog Hbr (8/10), Port Orly (10/10), Palikulo (17/10), Luganville (19/10), Bundaberg, Australia (30/10)
Australia (2005/7)
Kingfisher Bay, Fraser Island(12/11/05), Garry's Anchorage, Fraser Island (15/11/05), Elbow Point, Fraser Island (19/11/05), Scarborough Marina, Redcliffe Peninsula (35km N of Brisbane (21/11/05), Cruising the Morten Bay area and Brisbane River (05/06), Departed Scarborough via Bribie (23/4), Pancake Creek (25/4), Great Keppel Island (26/4), Island Head Creek (29/4), Mackay (2/5), Port Newry (4/5), Shaw Island (5/5), Cid Harbour (6/5), Nara Inlet (7/5), Cape Gloucester (9/5), Cape Upstart (10/5), Townsville (11/5), Magnetic Island (14/5), Orpheus (16/5), Gayundah Creek (17/5), Mourilyan Harbour (18/5), Fitzroy Island (19/5), Cairns (20/5), Low Islets (28/5), Lizard Island (29/5), Flinders Island (31/5), Morris Island (3/6), Portland Roads (4/6), Shelburne Bay (5/6), Adolpphus Island (6/6), CAPE YORK and Seisa (7/6), Departed Seisa (9/6), Gove (11/6), Elizabeth Bay (15/6), Wigram Island (16/6), Guruliya (17/6), Refuge Bay (18/6), Malay Bay (19/6), Black Rock Bay (22/6), Alcaro Bay (23/6), Beatrice Bay (24/6), Fannie Bay DARWIN (25/6), Cullen Bay Marina (27/6)
Indonesia (2007)
Departed Darwin (20/7), Kupang (24/7), Departed Kupang (31/7), Kalabahi, Alor (1/8), Pandai, Pantar Is (7/8), Balurin, Kawula Is (8/8), Lewoleba, Lembata Is (9/80, Adunara Is (14/8), Tanjung Gedung (15/8), Pular Besar (16/8), Maumere (17/8), Batu Boga (20/8), Maurole (23/8), Riung (24/8), Lingeh (27/8), Bari (28/8), Labuhan Bajo (29/8), Loh Buaya, Rincah (31/8), Sebayor Kecil (3/9), Labuhan Bajo (7/9), Gili Lawa, Komodo (8/9), Gili Lawa, Rincah (9/9), Gili Banta (10/9), Bima, Sumbawa Is (11/9), Tg Tengker (14/9), Satonda Is (15/9), Pulau Bedil (16/9), Gili Lawang (17/9), T Sirrah (18/9), Amed, Bali (21/9), Lovina Beach, Bali (22/9), Menjangan Is (29/9), Pulau Raas (30/9), Bawean Is (2/10), Kumai, Borneo (4/10), Tanjung Kelayang, Belitung (11/10), Lengkuas Is (13/10), Linnga (15/10), Mesanak (16/10) - CROSSED EQUATOR at 03.16 UTC on 104° 54.9'E, Uban (17/10), Putri Is (18/10), One15 marina, SINGAPORE (19/10)
Malay Peninsula (2007/8)
Departed Singapore to Pulau Pisang (2/1), Water Is (3/11), Port Dickson (4/11), Lumut (12/11), Pulau Jerejak (15/11), Penang (16/11), Gabang Darat (21/11), Kuah, Bass Hbr, Langkawi (22/11), Telaga Marina, Langkawi (19/11), Koh Lipe, Thailand (12/12), Koh Rok Nai (13/12), Ko Phi Phi Don(14/12), Nai Harn Bay, Phuket (16/12), Patong (30/12), Freedom Bay (2/01), Nai Harn (6/1), Yacht Haven (8/1), Koh Phanak (20/1), Koh Yang (21/1), Koh Pan Yi (22/1), Yacht Haven (23/1), Panwa Bali (27/1), Patong (28/1), Ban Thap Lamu (29/1), Koh Phra Thong (30/1), Koh Surin Nuea (31/1), Koh Surin Tai (2/2), Koh Tachai (3/2), Koh Ba Ngu, Similans (4/2), Koh Mieng (6/2), Nai Harn (10), Ko Yao Yai (13/2), Ko Phi Phi Don (14/2), Ko Phi Phi Le (15/2), Ko Muk (16/2), Ko Phetra (17/2), Kuah, Langkawi, Malaysia (18/2), Rebak Marina (24/2)
Short Term 'Plans'
Undeniably, many of the places we have visited have seemed attractive places to settle but as time has gone by, the value we place on family and the ability to see our grandchildren develop seems to be drawing us back to the European area. Longer term options to consider:-
To name but a few!