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Day 1878 ‐ Jun 4, 2026

8 612.5 km
Saldanha, South Africa ‐ Dec 26, 2024

58 km

IT'S A WRAP! On Dec 31st, the last day of 2024, Arabella was hauled out at the yard in Saldanha. Captain Grant has safely led and completed circumnavigation with the family and officially retired from being captain of the boat. Bravo Captain!

+12

Final wrap up!

Happy New Year - 2025 When one door closes, another opens! Yes, there is often sadness associated with something ending, but that's not me. I’m certainly a glass-half-full kind of guy. Hence, I am fil...
Britannia Bay ‐ Dec 23, 2024

180 km

+19

Christmas in BB

+12

Sail to Britannia Bay
Cape Town ‐ Dec 8, 2024

295.2 km

+68

Pre Cape Town Party Week

+29

Table Mountain Hike (CT Party Week Day 1)

+22

FOREO Lunch (CT Party Week Day 2)

+18

Padel/ Penguin ((CT Party Week Day 3)

+50

CABO Main Party (CT Party Week Day 4)

+47

All Whites Lawn Bowling Day (CT Party Week Day 5)

+19

Winelands Tour (CT Party Week Day 6)
2 Day Passage Knysna to Cape Town ‐ Dec 7, 2024

318.6 km

+28
Knysna ‐ Nov 12, 2024

149.5 km

+51

Knysna Yacht Club

Knysna - a tribute to the town and the Knysna Yacht Club I was born in Knysna Hospital 47 years ago. My father, a celebrated sailor, was a proud member of the Knysna Yacht Club. It was here that my br...
- Woodridge College & Preparatory School ‐ Nov 16, 2024
  
  228.7 km
  - Thunzi Bush Lodge ‐ Nov 17, 2024
    
    23.1 km
    
    Jeffreys Bay ‐ Nov 17, 2024
    
    59.5 km
    
    St. Francis Bay ‐ Nov 19, 2024
    
    26.7 km
    
    Eersterivierstrand ‐ Nov 20, 2024
    
    87.1 km
    
    Plettenberg Bay ‐ Nov 21, 2024
    
    103.8 km
    
    Knysna ‐ Nov 22, 2024
    
    32.8 km
Passage Port Elizabeth - Knysna ‐ Nov 11, 2024

215.8 km

+30
Passage East London - Port Elizabeth ‐ Nov 10, 2024

176.4 km

+6
East London ‐ Nov 8, 2024

315.6 km

+5
Passage Durban - East London ‐ Nov 7, 2024

161 km

+4
Durban Marina, Point Yacht Club ‐ Oct 17, 2024

171.6 km

+33

Passage from Richards Bay to Durban

+41

Girls with Uncle William & Warren
- Sala Beach House, Thompson's Beach ‐ Oct 20, 2024
  
  +10
- William's Amazona Farm ‐ Oct 20, 2024
  
  +35
Zululand Yacht Club, Richards Bay ‐ Oct 12, 2024

1.3 km

+26
Day 8 - Magagascar to South Africa ‐ Oct 11, 2024

215.5 km

Location - Richards Bay, S 28 49 E 32 06 Distance Traveled last 24 hours (COG)- 109nm Total Distance Traveled - 1344nm Average Speed Journey - 7.4 knots Top speed - 14.4knots (surfing) Good morning everyone. It’s Sunday here, and although we arrived on Friday evening, I was too tired to write yesterday. So, here’s the final log entry. Our arrival was anything but straightforward. Over the past 4 years, almost every passage we’ve made has ended in some kind of crazy weather or drama—t [...]
his one was no exception. Now, looking back, we laugh, but at the time, it was anything but funny. Let me share our final 109 nautical miles into Richards Bay. We rely completely on weather software that gives us a 10-day forecast. While the first few days are generally more accurate, it still provides a decent guideline for planning. In our case, we had been watching a weather system moving up from the south, expecting it to hit Richards Bay sometime Friday. Initially, we weren’t sure if we’d make it in one go from Madagascar or make a pit stop at Bazaruto (where I took Delphine for our honeymoon). However, halfway through the journey, we estimated we could arrive just before the bad weather hit. I didn’t get much sleep Thursday night or Friday morning. The wind was blowing a steady 35 knots from behind, which we’d expected, so we had positioned ourselves far south for a dead-down run into Richards Bay. We were supposed to have a helpful current, but that didn’t kick in until we were about 40 miles out. I calculated that we needed to average 8.5 knots to arrive before the bad weather struck. So, with this in mind, I added the engines to our sail thrust. You might wonder why—well, with wind gusts pushing close to 40 knots, we only had our storm jib (a small staysail) flying. We were doing 7-8 knots, surfing at times to 10, but the boat was breaching slightly, and the autopilot was struggling to keep us steady. Using the engines helped stabilise the stern and kept us on course. This plan worked well, but we had another issue. Our hydraulic steering system has a leak, causing the rudders to creep outward. We’ve been managing this for months without access to a machine shop, by realigning the rudders every 2-3 days. But during this passage, it had escalated to needing adjustments every 12 hours. Worse still, fixing it meant opening the engine bays—a risky move in rough seas. Friday at dawn, we did our last fix, and of course a massive wave dumped a ton of water into both engine bays. It was a mad scramble to pump out the water and dry everything, but we got through it and pressed on. Remember my "Day 8" post about the red sky? “Red sky at night, sailor’s delight; red sky in the morning, sailor’s warning.” Well, as I sat on the flybridge enjoying my coffee at 10 a.m., I saw a huge cloud bank approaching fast from the south. Given the 35-knot winds from the north, anything coming quickly from the south couldn’t be good. I immediately messaged people in Richards Bay for updates—no signs of the southern winds there yet, but someone in Durban (90 nautical miles south) said the southerly had arrived, and we needed to hurry. The next six hours were magical. We raced down toward Richards Bay with both engines roaring, 35 knots of wind at our backs, and our storm jib flying. It might sound odd, but we desperately wanted to beat the incoming southerly winds. With just 6 nautical miles to go, we were still flying along at over 10 knots, the wind behind us at a steady 40 knots. The sun was shining, and life was good. So good, in fact, that I went to my cabin and changed out of my foul-weather gear into board shorts, a t-shirt, and bare feet. What could possibly go wrong? Well, as I came back up to the deck, I noticed a strange fog—more like mist—heading straight for us. The wind on the surface of the water had shifted, but our instruments still read 40 knots from the north. It was a surreal sight: large whitecaps, and spray flying off the backs of the waves like a strong offshore wind at a surf break. But, within minutes, the temperature dropped by 10 degrees, the mist engulfed us, and the wind swung 180 degrees, blowing 28 knots directly at us. Our worst-case scenario had arrived, just 40 minutes from Richards Bay. To make things worse, both fuel tanks started alarming. We knew that we were tight on fuel but figured we’d be fine with the northerly wind at our backs. But now, with the wind against us, we were down to 2-3 knots and looking at another 2-3 hours at sea. Now the gauges showed zero percent fuel. Panic hit and we weren’t sure if we would make it to Richards Bay. On top of that, our rudders were out of alignment, and the autopilot had given up. We were in serious trouble. That red sky kept replaying in my head. Somehow, after 2.5 gruelling hours, we slugged our way toward the harbour, listening to the fuel alarms blare. As we neared the entrance, we pulled out a sail and actually sailed in to conserve the last bit of fuel for docking. Just before dusk, we arrived to a warm welcome from locals who helped grab our lines and congratulate us. The relief was indescribable. The emotions I felt are really hard to put in words. This was my dream to sail around the world but I had brought my family along and I am solely responsible for their safety and wellbeing. In the beginning of this journey it didn’t seem like a big deal but as the journey progressed, this feeling of responsibility for their safety became increasingly pronounced. The constant thoughts wondering if I could ever live with myself if something had to happen to them. It sounds all mushy and stuff but it is a real emotion that grows like a heavy lead weight in your belly. Arriving here feels like we have made even though there is still a bit more but for now we had made it—the most challenging and last major passage complete. My family has been following our journey closely and they all sighed a huge breath of relief when we were safely docked. My brother William has asked friends of his (Juliette and Jan) who live in Richards Bay to deliver homemade boerewors rolls with tomato and onion sauce, and milt tart. What a wonderful treat and we all agreed that it was the best boerewors rolls and milt tart ever. Thank you William, Juliette and Jan. From here, we have a few more legs before reaching Cape Town and finally anchoring in front of my Mum’s house. Richards Bay - Durban (85 nm)  Durban - East London (250 nm)  East London - Port Elizabeth (140 nm)  Port Elizabeth - Knysna (140 nm)  Knysna - Cape Town (260 nm)  Cape Town - Britannia Bay (85 nm) Highlights will include crossing the 30th East Longitude (the same longitude where we started this journey in the Mediterranean), officially completing our circumnavigation, and sailing into the Heads at Knysna—my childhood home and birthplace. So much to look forward to. PS. If I hadn’t caught the Marlin I would have arrived 1 hour before the bad weather. Just a thought!

+30
Day 7 - Madagascar to South Africa ‐ Oct 10, 2024

369.8 km

11 October 2024 (04h30) Location - S 25d 08 E 35d 29 Distance Traveled last 24 hours (COG)- 186nm Total Distance Traveled - 1235nm Distance Remaining Richards Bay - 100nm Average Speed last 24hours - 7.7 knots Good morning everyone. How do I feel this morning? Excited, relieved, a little anxious still—and tired. This morning’s sunrise feels a bit eerie. Over the past few years, I've been up for countless sunrises, and I've often noticed a connection between the morning sky and the weathe [...]
r that follows. There’s that old sailor’s saying: “Red sky at night, sailor's delight; red sky in the morning, sailor’s warning.” While it’s part old wives' tale, there’s truth in it too. And this morning, I’m taking it to heart. The sea is rough, the wind is strong, and the crew is tired. The word for the day? Caution. Since last night, we’ve been sailing under just the Genoa, heading almost downwind. The wind is holding steady at 20 knots, gusting up to 28, and it’s forecasted to rise to 35 as the day wears on. So, I suspect this is the sail plan we’ll stick with. We’re now less than 100 nautical miles from Richards Bay and, if all goes well, we should arrive by sunset—assuming we don’t fall victim to any sailors' superstitions or mishaps along the way. The final stretch of any passage is always exciting, but there’s something extra special about sailing into your home country. It’s even more meaningful for me, as this will be the first time I’ve sailed into South Africa from abroad. Over the past four years, we’ve visited over 40 countries, but today feels unique. It also marks the end of our long multi-night passages. From here on out, we'll mostly be doing shorter, single-night sails until we reach Cape Town. The wind is picking up, so I’ll wrap it up here and focus on the task ahead. Follow our journey here: https://forecast.predictwind.com/tracking/display/SV_Arabella/ or on our website: http://horsfield.family. Have a wonderful, stress-free day. I wish I could join you!

+4
Day 6 - Madagascar to South Africa ‐ Oct 9, 2024

352.3 km

Location - S 25d 08 E 35d 29 Distance Traveled last 24 hours (COG)- 215nm Total Distance Traveled - 1049nm Distance Remaining Richards Bay - 260nm Average Speed last 24hours - 9 knots Moon - First quarter setting at 1am Fishing - Still banned :-( Good morning from what is hopefully our second-to-last morning at sea. Yesterday was absolutely incredible—we covered a whopping 215 nautical miles! This was partly due to favorable currents, but also because the wind and sailing angle were just pe [...]
rfect for Arabella. I know I’ve said that sailors are never happy with the conditions, but after four years of sailing, I’d have to say yesterday was probably one of the best days we've had. Ironically, I can’t even take credit for it because I slept through most of it! The crew were exceptional—keeping things simple and effective. They stuck closely to the course we agreed on, mostly trying to stay in the favorable current, away from the land, and hoping the wind would shift to the east throughout the day. Well, it did, and they kept everything smooth and steady—unlike me, as I’ll explain next. The night before, while sailing with a full main, I noticed that the number 1 reefing line was incorrectly threaded. It was going under the foot and clew of the mainsail before entering the sheave at the end of the boom. (For those not familiar with sailing terms, feel free to skip ahead to the food part!) This happened because, just before we left for this journey, we had a major breakage—the pad-eye connecting the clew to the boom snapped. Fortunately, there was a backup, but when I fixed it, I accidentally threaded the reefing line the wrong way. It’s hard to see the problem when the sail is down, but once we were underway, I realised it needed to be fixed. So, what did I do? I decided to fix it while sailing on a beam reach at 9 knots. My logic? The boat felt stable, and I needed to hang off the boom. I tied a new rope from the reefing point to the clew to keep the foot under tension, then undid the reef 1 line, re-threaded it, and reattached it. In hindsight, it was a reckless move—there were so many things that could have gone wrong. Thankfully, nothing did, but it was a silly risk to take. The whole afternoon, I kept reminding myself that now is not the time for foolish manoeuvres. Most accidents happen just before you arrive. It’s true for all forms of transport—riding a horse, driving a car, or sailing a boat. So, be vigilant, Grant. No more silly buggers. Now that I've had my morning rant at myself, let’s talk about something more fun—food! Specifically, “How many ways to eat Blue Marlin.” (List compiled by Delphine, who clearly knows more about this than I do.) Sashimi Sushi roll Fish stock for making miso soup Marlin congee Poke Bowls Marlin bolognese sauce Marlin carpaccio Marlin ceviche Marlin Steaks Marlin filets Marlin Fish n chips Marlin Fish cakes (spicy and not) Marlin Biltong (Spicy and not) Pickled Marlin Have a fabulous day from a fat captain. I bet you wish you had some of these dishes. I am one lucky bugger.

+4
Day 5 - Madagascar to Mozambique/South Africa ‐ Oct 8, 2024

308.9 km

Location - S 21d 54 E 36d 30 Distance Traveled last 24 hours (COG)- 168nm Total Distance Traveled - 834nm (passed halfway to Richards Bay) Distance Remaining Bazaruto - Passed Distance Remaining Inhambane - 121nm Distance Remaining Richards Bay - 642nm Average Speed last 24hours - 6.9 knots Moon - Waxing Crescent setting at 11pm Fishing - Still banned Good morning, everyone. Not as perky as usual this morning—it's been a full-on evening, and an intense last 36 hours. We've been sailing clos [...]
e-hauled (50° AWA), working to ensure we clear the cape off Inhambane, should we decide to press on. I had planned to make that decision this morning, but due to a bit of fatigue, I’m holding off until tonight's weather report. For those curious, the weather models we use (six in total) mostly update around 9 a.m. and 9 p.m. So, I’ll get more clarity later this morning, but in truth, I need a bit of rest before making any big calls. Last night was tough. The wind was strong, and we were pushing into a powerful current—sometimes up to 4 knots. Through the water, we’re moving at over 9 knots, but our COG (GPS speed) shows only 6 knots. It’s demoralising because it feels like we’re flying. The water rushes past, the boat is under pressure, everything is pulsating, and you’re being tossed around as if you’re speeding along. But in reality, progress toward our destination is much slower. To make it worse, where we’re stationed on the boat, exposed to the elements, the wind is howling and it’s cold. If you saw the video I posted yesterday morning, well, picture the exact opposite now. But hey, that’s sailing! We’re not looking for sympathy—we love it. We know every day is different, and we sail through the rough times in search of that perfect, champagne sailing day. It’s kind of like how a golfer comes back to the course after a terrible round, because they can’t forget that one beautiful shot. I suppose us sailors are a bit masochistic that way. For now, the morning looks like more of the same. We should reach Inhambane later this evening, and hopefully, the wind will shift behind us. If all goes well, the wind will stay at our back all the way to Richards Bay. Lots to look forward to, but not much else to report for now. But don’t worry—tomorrow's update will include all the ways you can enjoy Blue Marlin. Sleep tight, from the flybridg

+2
Day 4 - Madagascar to Mozambique ‐ Oct 7, 2024

311.6 km

Location - S 19d 45 E 38d 36 Distance Traveled last 24 hours (COG)- 182nm Total Distance Traveled - 666nm (passed halfway to Richards Bay) Distance Remaining Bazaruto - 200nm Distance Remaining Inhambane - 288nm Distance Remaining Richards Bay - 642nm Average Speed last 24hours - 7.6knots Moon - Waxing Crescent setting at 10pm (its a start at least) Fishing - Banned for fishing forever apparently Good News: A Short Post Most of the day, we were becalmed and had to rely on the “Swedish Twins [...]
” (our engines) for large parts of it. Luckily, a 1-2 knot helping current gave us a nice push, and we made excellent progress. As evening approached, so did the wind—first in spurts, then steadily filling in by midnight. We’ve been able to sail most of the night on a beam reach, assisted by the current, averaging well over 8 knots in just 12 knots of wind. With the full main and genoa up, the ride is smooth—like driving a Rolls-Royce (not that I know what that feels like, but I've heard). Yesterday was also Apple’s birthday, and the girls baked not one, but two delicious cakes to celebrate. Who would have thought we’d be celebrating mid-crossing in one of the world’s most treacherous channels? But when it comes to food and celebrations, nothing gets in the way of these girls! Happy Birthday to Apple, who has truly become family after 10 years with us. In the afternoon, we spotted a few whales. Unfortunately, they vanished almost as quickly as they appeared, so we couldn’t identify them. Now for the bad news: Alex and Azania have been battling persistent coughs, and it seems Delphine is following suit—she developed a fever last night. We’re hoping she feels better this morning, but this may impact our plans. We’ll reassess once we see how she’s feeling. We’re about 24 hours from Bazaruto Island, but we have a major decision to make. The upcoming weather looks favorable for pushing on to Richards Bay without stopping, though a stop for rest would be nice. However, the weather in this region is typically more bad than good—usually 6-7 rough days for every 2-4 good ones. We've been lucky to make it this far without issues, while a friend of ours has been stuck, uncomfortably anchored off Bazaruto, for over a week. So, here are our options: 1. Head straight to Bazaruto and arrive tomorrow morning. 2. Push on to Inhambane and arrive tomorrow evening (we wouldn’t be able to enter at night, so we’d have to slow down). 3. Go directly to Richards Bay and arrive Friday evening (11th). The good news is that our current route allows us to delay the final decision until later today. We’ll keep an eye on our three sick crewmates and hope I don’t catch it, as that would be a real disaster! For now, we’re enjoying the flat seas, strong currents, and swift sailing. I’ll update you tomorrow when our plan becomes clearer.

+8
Day 3 - Madagascar to Mozambique ‐ Oct 6, 2024

299.7 km

+24

Blue Marlin Day

The Old Man and the Sea

Day 3 - 6 October 2024 (04h45) Location - S 15d 54 E 42d 02 Distance Traveled last 24 hours (COG)- 156nm Total Distance Traveled 484nm Distance Remaining - 370nm Average Speed last 24hours - 6.8knots...
Day 2 - Madagascar to Mozambique ‐ Oct 5, 2024

304.5 km

Location - S 15d 54 E 42d 02 Distance Traveled - 158nm (164nm through the water which I will explain a little later) Average Speed last 24hours - 7.0knots Moon - Still no moon :-( Fishing - No fish from around 7 hours of fishing. :-( Good morning everyone. And it certainly is. I had a wonderful sleep and feel ready to conquer the world. One of the biggest lessons I have learnt over the last few years pushing myself during challenging passages is the power of sleep. When I was young I used to ha [...]
ve an expression, “Sleep when you are dead - you have all the time in the world”. I used to think it sounded tough and spoke to my ability to work longer, harder and without resting. How wrong I was? Nothing brings me more joy, power and overwhelming emotional happiness than a good sleep. Today mirrored the weather of day 1 without the ugly parts. From early in the morning the wind built from the east and we were able to launch Muaui our spinnaker and get dragged downwind for a solid 8 hours. Average speed over this period was probably around 7.8knots. Often surfing down waves doing over 10knots. It was a reminder of the wonderful days of tradewinds sailing. The sea state had settled down from day 1 and mostly following us. And more importantly we had found the river of current which defines the Mozambique Channel crossing. After this blissful wind from behind we experienced around 8 hours of no wind where the twins were brought into action again and now a lovely 12-14 knots close reach. Very similar to day one but without the ugly storm and uncomfortable seas. But most importantly the 8 hours of motoring allowed me time to go to my cabin and get a solid sleep. I never go to my cabin when we are on passage and under sail. I remain close to the action and sleep just a few meters from the kids when they are on watch in case of emergency but when the wind dies and the engines come on I get the freedom of real sleep. Early I mentioned the unique currents of the Mozambique Channel. Today I thought I would explain this a little. All the oceans in the world experience currents which can range from very little to 4-5knots. A great example was when we sailed from Galapagos to the Marquesas in French Polynesia. We recorded our best 24 passage of around 238nm in 24hours. The reason was we picked up a 3-4knot helping current which was like jumping on a water slide and flying down. When the wind and currents are going in the same direction, it is like you have arrived in Valhalla. But unfortunately this is rarely the case. The Mozambique channel is unique in that the channel is a series of narrow spinning currents formed by the two continental landmass and the very deep water between the two. Essentially Madagascar was a part of African many millions of years ago and is sometimes referred to as the 8th continent. It is not a small island and the way the west flowing current from the Indian Ocean wraps the islands causes unique and fast moving currents. These are nicely illustrated in a picture I have attached. Now why I am telling you this is because as nice as it is sailing with the wind and current going with you, it is the exact opposite when the wind and the currents are fighting each other and going in the opposite direction. This causes very rough and potentially dangerous waters. So the key to crossing this channel isn’t only to try and figure out when and where the wind will be and what speed and direction but also to marry that with the ocean currents. Finding the ocean currents is an even harder job than the wind and not an exact science. We use a variety of models online but they all vary and mostly you are watching your process and trying to guess. In many ways these currents effect a yacht more than the wind. Imagine for a minute you are sailing 7knots (which is the general average we are moving on Arabella), and you are enjoying 2 knots helping current you will be going around 9knots. But if its against you 5. Thats a 4 knot swing and will take you double the time to cross the same passage and in much worse conditions. So its easy to see how important this is. Now my young crew know this but even they are affected by the draw to aim where you want to go. If you look at our route (https://forecast.predictwind.com/tracking/display/SV_Arabella/) you will notice we are not aiming at South Africa or the island of Bazaruto but rather we are heading almost due west. This first reason is we are cognisant of potential weather changes and being closer to the African coast will allow us a few safe anchorage to hide from any unforeseen weather but the second reason is our attempt to stay in the helping currents. And when I woke up this morning I noticed we had been sneaking south of my route whilst the girls were clearly thinking they were helping Dad get more south but the truth is they just took a little offramp out of the river. No big issue but a nice little learning experience. We are now back swimming in the helping current. Quick update on matters of food. I enjoyed Malaysia’s most famous dish the Laksa for lunch with some chocolate fat bombs and a little of yesterdays quiche for dinner. Honestly its impossible to exaggerate the quality of food I get given on this boat. Under all conditions it seems. The serious benefit of having 5 ladies onboard. I am sure somebody is commenting on my sexist comment but I don’t care. From a happy and rested Captain I bid you a happy and fulfilled Sunday.

+4
Day 1 - Madagascar to Mozambique ‐ Oct 4, 2024

234.8 km

+11

Day 1 Mada to Moz

Day 1 - Passage notes Madagascar to Mozambique/South Africa

Day 1 - 4 October 2024 Departure - 04h15 Distance Traveled - 171nm Average Speed - 7.1knots Moon - &nbsp
Maromba Bay, Madagascar ‐ Oct 3, 2024

76.9 km

+5
Nosy Lava ‐ Oct 2, 2024

107.4 km

+4
Nosy Aranja ‐ Oct 1, 2024

54.4 km

+7
Ptedu Rocher ‐ Sep 29, 2024

113.2 km

+13
Ampasindava ‐ Sep 28, 2024

56.4 km

+4
Ampasindava ‐ Sep 27, 2024

3.5 km

+8
Nosy Ankarea ‐ Sep 26, 2024

7.1 km
Day 5 - Passage Seychelles to Madagascar ‐ Sep 24, 2024

137.9 km

+9

Passage notes Seychelles to Madagascar

Passage from Seychelles to Madagascar - Distance: ~600nm - Days: 4 days - Winds: 10-30 knots S-SE - Current: 2-3 knots NW - Average Speed: 8.1 knots - Conditions: Mostly unpleasant with occasiona...
Day 4 - Passage Seychelles to Madagascar ‐ Sep 23, 2024

331.9 km
Day 3 - Passage Seychelles to Madagascar ‐ Sep 22, 2024

339.4 km
Day 2 - Passage Seychelles to Madagascar ‐ Sep 21, 2024

336.1 km
Day 1 - Passage Seychelles to Madagascar, Seychelles ‐ Sep 20, 2024

89.2 km
L’Escale marina ‐ Sep 18, 2024

2 097.8 km

+13
Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, Kenya

233.7 km

Africa Bushveld Musings

Final Musings on the African Bushveld I often wonder why I feel the way I do when I'm in Africa. So, I thought I’d try to capture in words the emotions I experience. I expect the words to fall well sh...
Kilimanjaro International Airport, Tanzania

52.4 km
Gran Meliá Arusha ‐ Sep 17, 2024

282.2 km

+11
Simbavati Migration Camp ‐ Sep 13, 2024

101.2 km

Serengeti

+6

Week 4 - African Odyssey

Week 4 - African Odyssey As I mentioned in my last post that I was feeling agitated and felt an urgent need to shake things up a bit. The original plan was for our driver SP to drive 200km in one day...
- Hot air Balloon Ride and Game Drive ‐ Sep 14, 2024
  
  128.9 km
  
  Serengeti
  
  +55
  
  Hotair Baloon Ride and Game Drive
  - Migration Crossing Gamedrive ‐ Sep 15, 2024
    
    46.3 km
    
    Serengeti
    
    +33
    
    Leopard and Lion Gamedrive ‐ Sep 16, 2024
    
    89.1 km
    
    Serengeti
    
    +27
Lobo Hills Wildcamp, Serengeti ‐ Sep 12, 2024

144.3 km

Serengeti

+35
Sero 11 Special Wildcamp, Serengeti ‐ Sep 11, 2024

110.4 km

Serengeti

+42
Naabi Hills, Serengeti ‐ Sep 10, 2024

161.1 km

Serengeti

+12
Craters Edge Resort, Ngoragora ‐ Sep 9, 2024

99.4 km

+23
Wayo Africa Green Camp, Manyara Reserve ‐ Sep 6, 2024

141.6 km

+37

Week 3 - African Odyssey

Week 3 - African Odyssey Week 3 began with our fairly unaccomplished horse-riding family deciding to explore the wild by horseback. What could possibly go wrong? Well fortunately not too much bar a fe...
Lake Natron Camp ‐ Sep 4, 2024

199 km

+39
Maasai Lodge ‐ Sep 3, 2024

79.7 km

+36
Kaskazi Horse Safari Mobile Camp ‐ Sep 1, 2024

121.3 km

+49
Siringit Resort and Spa ‐ Aug 30, 2024

31 km

Sirigit Lodge is a charming retreat on the Kilimanjaro Golf Estate, nestled between Mount Meru and Kilimanjaro. It provided a much-needed rest, though with friends Marcus and Maxine joining us, relaxation was brief. Marcus, Alex, and I played golf on a surprisingly good course, followed by refreshments before the main event of the day: the Springboks vs. All Blacks match at Ellis Park. For many South Africans, this is an ideal day—golf, beers, and rugby. Meanwhile, Delphine and Maxine enjoyed [...]
a spa marathon, making it a perfect day for everyone. This week also saw Alex deliver her first African tale, "How the Gerenuk Learned to Stand." Each of my children amazes me daily, but moments like these truly astonish me. We came to Africa not just for the food, pictures, and nature but to learn. My kids have embraced this journey in their own unique ways: Alex through her stories, Arabella capturing exquisite details in her book (which I'll share in another post), and little Azania with her beautiful drawings. I’m thrilled to see the beauty of Africa reflected in my children.

+13

Week 2 - African Odyssey

Week 2 - African Odyssey After departing the stunning landscapes of Laikipia, we flew south to the renowned Mara region, more commonly known as the Maasai Mara. Delphine had the chance to sit beside t...

How the Gerenuk learnt to stand.

How the Gerenuk learnt how to stand. By Alex Once upon a time, a young antelope was migrating with the rest of his family, his name was Bob. One night, when his mother was putting him to sleep, little...
Mount Kilimanjaro Airport

230.6 km
Giraffe Manor, Nairobi, Kenya ‐ Aug 29, 2024

160.6 km

Our next destination was Giraffe Manor, a key part of our journey. Due to its popularity, reservations often require up to two years in advance. We managed to secure a single night’s stay, and the experience exceeded our high expectations. Located within the Giraffe Sanctuary we had visited upon our arrival in Nairobi, the property offers 18 rooms and a unique opportunity to learn about and interact with giraffes. While words may not fully capture the experience, the photos will provide a glim [...]
pse. Peter, our butler, waiter, and guide, was exceptional, making this stay unforgettable for my family and me. Following Giraffe Manor, we enjoyed a relaxing stay at Sirigit Lodge in Tanzania. Before leaving Kenya, we visited the Karen Blixen Museum. For those who have read "Out of Africa" or seen the movie with Robert Redford and Meryl Streep, I highly recommend a visit. Karen Blixen’s story is one of remarkable courage in a vastly different world.

+50
Cottar's 1920 Bush Villa, Massai Mara ‐ Aug 26, 2024

273.3 km

After departing the stunning landscapes of Laikipia, we flew south to the renowned Mara region, more commonly known as the Maasai Mara. Delphine had the chance to sit beside the pilot this time, practicing to be my co-pilot. I’m looking forward to learning to fly next year—what could possibly go wrong? The Maasai Mara was teeming with life. We arrived towards the end of the migration, but this year’s migration patterns have been disrupted due to unseasonal rains, attributed largely to cli [...]
mate change. With the late rains, the grass was still growing, and the wildebeest continued to graze, much to our delight. Africa is rich with collective nouns, and one of our favorites is a "Confusion of Wildebeest." This name captures how these animals often seem directionless, following one another in a haphazard manner, running in various directions with no clear purpose. It can be confusing yet amusing to witness. We stayed at Cottar’s Bush Villa, owned by the fourth-generation Cottar. Calven Cottar, the current owner, was present and shared his family's fascinating history, reflecting the evolution of human-wildlife interaction in Africa over the past century. His great-grandfather, Chas Cottar, came to the region as a big game hunter. His son introduced photography, and his grandson, Glenn, witnessed the 1977 hunting ban and advocated for conservation. Today, Calven is one of Kenya’s most respected conservation leaders. This evolution underscores Kenya’s progressive stance on wildlife preservation. The Mara also brought moments of sadness, which I hinted at in Week 1. During one early morning game drive, we followed circling vultures to find a recently deceased female giraffe. The vultures were struggling to access the meat due to the absence of wounds, suggesting no predator had killed her. We soon discovered a few days-old baby giraffe lying dead nearby. It appeared to be the calf of the mother, but since it was a few days old, complications during birth were unlikely. Our guide speculated that the giraffes might have been poisoned by arrows from local herders. This tragic discovery left a somber impression on us and our guide, Latoure. Giraffes are majestic creatures, and witnessing their death in such circumstances was deeply distressing. Upon arriving at Cottar’s, we noticed an impala carcass hanging in a tree—a leopard’s kill left for later consumption. The leopard, believed to have cubs nearby, eluded us despite our daily searches. Our guides explained that with the abundance of food, predators often leave kills unfinished, making sightings of apex predators less frequent. Similarly, we found the lions resting comfortably with full bellies, sleeping the day away like only a lion can. There were many other highlights from these days: wood-fired hot tubs in the bush, elephants breaking trees for fun, and a wildebeest graveyard scattered across the plains. However, detailing all would make this post too lengthy. Our guides, Latoure and Defender, were exceptional, and our stay at Cottar’s was a truly immersive wildlife experience.

+37
Segera Retreat, Laikipai County ‐ Aug 23, 2024

73.6 km

Our flight to Segera Retreat lasted only 25 minutes, but it felt like we had arrived in an entirely different world. After 8-9 months of continuous rain, the grass was lush and verdant, creating a landscape that was extraordinarily beautiful and rare. The scenery was breathtaking, as was the lodge itself. Opened just 11 years ago by Zeitz, the former CEO of Puma and founder of the Museum at the Silo Hotel in Cape Town, the property is uniquely designed. It keeps all guest accommodations and fac [...]
ilities together in one area, creating a serene oasis amidst the surrounding savannah. The property was beautifully crafted, and during our stay, we had the place mostly to ourselves, with only one other family present for a short time. Our host, Adarsh, was incredibly attentive and took great care of us. Isaac, who served our meals, was particularly remarkable. His bond with Azania was extraordinary—they were inseparable, and as I write this on our way to the next lodge, she is tearful about leaving him. Our ranger, AJ, was also exceptional, navigating challenging conditions with skill. The early mornings and evenings were very cold, and the tall grass made wildlife sightings difficult. Nevertheless, we were fortunate to see some rare and precious sights, including a female cheetah nursing her three 7-day-old cubs. Tragically, one cub went missing and is feared to have been taken by a martial eagle. We also had an incredible experience observing three lionesses and their eight playful cubs, who ranged in age from 5 to 9 months. The highlight of our stay, however, was the food. Each meal was a culinary masterpiece, crafted with artistic flair and love. The presentation was creative, and the dishes were simply delicious. We enjoyed collecting vegetables from the gardens and honey from the beehives, which added a delightful touch to our gastronomic experience. I left feeling 3 kg heavier but wouldn’t have changed a thing. The entire experience was awe-inspiring, and I vow to return one day.

+102

Week 1 - African Odyssey

Week 1 - African Odyssey Many many months ago we started thinking about this adventure. We have planned 4 weeks in Kenya and Tanzania where we will crisscross the countries exploring some of the best...
Sasaab Lodge, Samburu District ‐ Aug 21, 2024

233.5 km

Our true safari adventure began today as we departed Wilson Airport aboard a charter plane bound for Sasaab Lodge in the Samburu Conservancy. The lodge overlooks the expansive, seasonal Ewasu Nyiro River. Arabella was thrilled to join our pilot in the cockpit for the flight, adding an extra layer of excitement to our journey. Upon arrival, we were warmly greeted by our Maasai guide, Daniel, who immediately whisked us away on an evening game drive. Accompanied by our spotter, Washington (whom I [...]
nicknamed DC), we experienced exceptional service from the moment we arrived until our departure. Over the next two days, we were fortunate to spot all of the area's Special Five: the Reticulated Giraffe, Gerenuk, Somali Ostrich, Oryx, and Grevy’s Zebra. The region was teeming with elephants, offering us some truly memorable encounters. We also witnessed a young male lion’s unsuccessful attempt to stalk a Gerenuk. Arabella has set herself a goal to delve into the conservation efforts of each property we visit and plans to compile a report on her findings. This led to a delightful evening of wine and gin & tonics with Daniel, discussing the extent of their conservation work. I look forward to sharing her comprehensive report once it's completed. Alex is focusing on five key animals, having already identified three: Elephant, Wild Dogs, and the Gerenuk, which is the most fascinating antelope I’ve ever encountered. Gerenuks stand on their hind legs to reach higher foliage and are part of a rare trio of animals, along with giraffes and camels, that move their legs on the same side of the body in unison. This was a fun fact I had never known before. Other highlights included a visit to a local Samburu village, where we learned about the Nilotic people’s way of life and culture. We also enjoyed a camel ride and savored spectacular sunset cocktails in the bush. It was a wonderful start to our safari adventure.

+64
Hemingways Eden Residence, Nairobi ‐ Aug 19, 2024

17.6 km

We all woke early with not a great rest considering we were all a little chilly. It was a cloudy morning with some fog but luckily for us our own Massai helper made us a glorious fire in our beautifully appointed lodge. The lodge we were staying is was built and previously owned by xxx who was a famous fashion designer. There are incredible books everywhere which allowed each of us to be absorbed by their pages near the fire. A late breakfast and a restful morning planning our adventures ahead w [...]
as just what the doctor ordered as we sat mostly around the fireplace. In the afternoon we went for a walk to find the very famous Giraffe Centre to learn about the incredible sanctuary for the endangered Rothschild Giraffe. We were able to feed them and learnt all about the different varieties around the world and how they are different from each other. We also learnt lots of fun facts which I will leave for the girls to post about. Later that afternoon we walked to our restaurant much to the disgust of Alex and Arabella who both took turns at whining about having to walk a few kilometres. We all enjoyed a wonderful meal at Cultivar Farm which was a restaurant recommended by the hotel. It was very impressive and all the dished we pretty exceptional. Back at the hotel I sat by the fire and enjoyed a few whiskeys reading my book whilst my lovely wife enjoyed something she has missed for a very long time. A long hot bath. What a perfect way to start our adventure.

+23
Nairobi

2 105.2 km

Saying goodbye to SV Arabella is actually very very stressful. So much to consider, so much to prepare and so much can go wrong when I am not there. Anyway, after essentially putting her into a kind of winterised state we finally departed for the airport around 3pm Seychelles time. The journey begins in Kenya where we will spend around 2 weeks and then to Tanzania for another 2 weeks. First stop was a little supposed to be a little Hotel called Hemingways Nairobi but for some bazaar reason just [...]
before taking off we were informed that they had overbooked and we were being sent to another property called Hemingways Eden. Its safe to say that I was pretty disappointed by this last minute change considering the property were were supposed to stay is considered the groups flagship. Anyway, no point letting these things get in our way. When we arrived later that evening we were all kinda exhausted and hit the sack early. It was much cooler than we had expected and even with duvets we were pretty cold.
L'Escale Resort and Marina, Seychelles ‐ Aug 12, 2024

30.6 km

+14
Port Launay

12.5 km

+19

Port Launay chilling
Beau Vallon ‐ Aug 9, 2024

64.5 km

+18
Felicite' ‐ Aug 6, 2024

6.9 km

+6
Le Dique Island ‐ Aug 1, 2024

8.8 km

+35
Anse Matelot ‐ Jul 26, 2024

8.6 km

+38

Whale shark encounters in Praslin
Anse Lazio ‐ Jul 8, 2024

58.2 km

+23

Azania's birthday party

+27

Curieuse

+89
- Port Elizabeth, South Africa ‐ Jul 8, 2024
  
  4 531.7 km
  - Adelaide, South Africa ‐ Jul 8, 2024
    
    221.9 km
    
    +8
    
    Stuart’s Farm
    
    Woodridge College & Preparatory School, South Africa ‐ Jul 11, 2024
    
    256.5 km
    
    +20
    
    30 Year Reunion
    
    Woodridge 30-Year Reunion Visit A few days after returning from the UK to our yacht in the Seychelles, I left my family to attend my 30-year reunion at my old school, Woodridge, just outside Port Eliz...
    
    Port Elizabeth, South Africa ‐ Jul 14, 2024
    
    46.9 km
L'escale ‐ May 30, 2024

3 km

+23

Montpelier & Athens

+45

Taylor Swift concert weekend with Jenny

+80

Family reunion in London

+9

UK Road Trip - Hertfordshire & Essex

+33

UK Road Trip - Hampshire, Surrey & Sussex

+85

UK Road Trip - Dorset, Devon & Somerset

+24

London

Our new life in the UK

London, UK It seems that every time I write, I start with, “It has been so long.” Well, it has. Almost two months have passed since we arrived in the Seychelles, and our time here is quickly coming to...
- Dubai, United Arab Emirates ‐ Jun 1, 2024
  
  3 326 km
  - London, United Kingdom ‐ Jun 1, 2024
    
    5 470.7 km
    
    Montpellier, France ‐ Jun 23, 2024
    
    926.2 km
    
    Marseille, France ‐ Jun 25, 2024
    
    169.4 km
    
    Athens, Greece ‐ Jun 26, 2024
    
    1 653.5 km
    
    Victoria ‐ Jun 25, 2024
    
    5 758.1 km
TSNaval Yard ‐ May 27, 2024

4.3 km

+10

Haul out in Providence; Airbnb on Eden Island
Victoria ‐ May 26, 2024

28.6 km
Port Launay ‐ May 25, 2024

+18
Day 8 Maldives to Seychelles ‐ May 22, 2024

63.1 km

Molweni Africa! We made it. Date: Wednesday, 22 May 2024 Time: 02:00 GMT 07:00 Boat time Distance Completed: 1311nm Distance Remaining: 0nm 24hrs: 143nm over ground At precisely 6:00 am yesterday, we dropped anchor on the inside of Eden Island in Victoria, Seychelles, marking the end of our journey. It had been exactly 7 days, 23 hours, and 30 minutes, just 30 minutes shy of 8 days. The passage was eventful, with the last day proving to be no exception. Over the past 24 hours, we experienced [...]
moments of sublime tranquility, exhilaration, and painful. Let's begin at the outset. Yesterday morning greeted us with sublime conditions. We were cruising smoothly in light winds, the big gennaker spinnaker doing its job admirably until the wind faltered, necessitating the use of one of the twins for a few hours. We awaited the forecasted 10-15 knot southerly wind. Spirits were high, everyone basking in the perfection of the morning. When the wind finally arrived, it veered unexpectedly from the forecasted direction, blowing more from the west than the south. This forced us to alter our course more to the north than planned, necessitating close-hauled sailing, something preferably avoided on a catamaran. For seasoned sailors, this meant we were now beating into the wind—a less-than-ideal scenario. However, our vessel, Big Arabella, handled it admirably. Yet, the wind and sea continued to rise steadily. Before conditions deteriorated further, fortune smiled upon us in a remarkable way. Our chief spotter, Azania, initially mistook a Yellowfin Tuna for a dolphin swimming alongside us. Frankly something I have never seen before. The sight drew us all in, and I seized the opportunity to try my luck with a lure. Within moments, we were hooked. After a brief struggle, we had the magnificent fish on deck. However, with our fish storage already full, we opted to release this little fighter back into the ocean to fight another day. Yet, the story didn't end there. The same Yellowfin Tuna—or so we surmised—chose to swim alongside our boat for another 30 minutes or more. It was a most peculiar behaviour, prompting various theories from onboard our boat. Perhaps it sought refuge from a lurking predator or sought companionship after losing its shoal. Our research suggests this little Tuna was too young to be out alone. Any insights or ideas from all of you would be greatly appreciated. It is seriously weird behaviour? Returning to the topic of the wind, it intensified rapidly, pushing us to reef our sails fully as we clocked speeds of 8-9 knots in gusts exceeding 30 knots apparent. I was pushing Arabella to her limits, a decision I usually avoid to prevent damage. However, in this instance I figured that should I decide to down the sails and motor it would have been even more uncomfortable and damaging to the boat. Not to mention we would be going only 3-4 knots. Furthermore, this responsibility couldn't be delegated to the crew; any mishap could spell disaster within seconds. Thus, I remained at the helm alone for nearly 12 grueling hours, with only brief rests during the early morning lull. Fatigue set in, navigating through imposing waves and currents kept me on edge. While such conditions are best avoided, they were unavoidable in this case, underscoring the unpredictability of the Indian Ocean's weather—a reputation that precedes it as one of the most challenging and perilous to navigate. Fortunately, we reached Seychelles just before sunrise, anchoring at a spot already occupied by a few other boats. Damage and repairs needed were minimal, save for a concerning small leak in the rudder stock requiring further investigation. Covering over 1300 nautical miles, this passage was our longest leg until we reach Cape Town. With over 30,000 nautical miles or nearly 60,000 kilometers sailed together as a family, I couldn't be prouder of my wonderful crew. While I intended to dedicate this passage's account to the Admiral, its length demands a separate write-up completely so please expect the next report to be about the Admiral. Current Stats Position: S 04°38’ E 55°28’ (at 7am) Wind: 15-25kn True TWD 170-230°M Current 1.5-2.8 10° COG 268° AWA 70° AWS 7-9kn Boat Speed SOG 6-9kn Sky: Clear Sea State: Calm Sail Pattern. 2 Reef Main, Storm Job Fish: Yellowfin Tuna released back to the ocean

+13

On land and anchored in Victoria

+10
Day 7 Maldives to Seychelles ‐ May 21, 2024

305.8 km

Able Seawomen and my First Mate Date: Tuesday, 21 May 2024 Time: 02:00 GMT 07:00 Boat time Distance Completed: 1156nm Distance Remaining: 143nm 24hrs: 172nm over ground Good Morning from the home stretch! This time tomorrow, we should have arrived, assuming no catastrophes. There are some big squalls around, so vigilance is key. On Arabella, we are always mindful that most accidents happen when the finish line is in sight. When you're near the end, be the most vigilant. And we will be. But as [...]
a brief update without starting to sound nauseating, yesterday was another beautiful days sailing on a beam reach with the big black sail flying most the day. 172nm over the ground for 24 hours is pretty nice. Now, it's time to properly introduce Able Seawoman Alex the Great (11). Over the years, even those who don’t know Alex will get a sense of her personality just by seeing her smile. She is undoubtedly one of the most talented people I've ever met (yes, I sound like a typical parent thinking their kid is the best). However, being incredibly talented isn’t always an advantage. Alongside this incredible natural talent at everything she tries, there's a nonchalance, a carelessness, and often a serious lack of concentration when her beautiful mind drifts into whatever world she has conjured up. This is not the kind of person you want on night shift alone, but over the years, she has improved greatly. Alex handles many jobs onboard Arabella, on which she is now an expert. When we're working together for sail changes and the like, she is almost always responsible for the halyard. She looks after the mainsail and the lazy-bag, and she is at the helm when launching all coloured sails. She is also completely competent at the helm for basic manoeuvres and would be next in line should Arabella and I go overboard. Her night shift is predominantly between 6-9 pm. It's not easy being 11 years old and responsible for the yacht and all onboard. It's not easy to ask a normal, less quirky kid to stay focused for 3 hours, but I can safely say that Alex has performed admirably. I mean, let's not beat around the bush; she makes mistakes, loads of them, and she is always honest about it and accepts she could do better. What more could you want from an Able Seawoman? Next up is First Mate Ara the Bell (13). Over the past 3 years, Arabella has become an extremely competent sailor. Being a good open ocean yachtsman requires awareness more than anything else. Picking up on subtle changes in wind, temperature, sounds, and even smells. At sea, you don’t get much warning before something catastrophic can happen, and that awareness is the difference between life and death. Many years ago, I had a crew member onboard this same vessel who was a fully qualified skipper and very nearly caused a major incident because of a simple lack of awareness. Arabella has this awareness (most of the time, but I guess she is still only 13, so some mistakes can be expected). Not only is she completely aware, but she is the only person onboard this vessel who is perfectly competent at doing every job. Should I fall overboard, she would be completely able to drop the sails and turn this boat around to save me. I 100% believe this. She is the most invaluable crew member I have. And yes, I am incredibly proud of her, in case you didn't notice. Hehe. Okay, enough waffling. Yesterday was pizza and doughnuts day. I mean, seriously, it's like I live in a 5-star resort, and guess what? I really should know what that's like. See the pictures for proof. Updates from Boobyworld? We had no hitchhikers for the first night since we left. The girls will be thrilled when they wake up that no bird poop needs to be cleaned up. Love to you all, 18-20 hours left. Current Stats Position: S 05°04’ E 57°50’ (at 7am) Wind: 8-11kn True TWD 170-180°M Current 1.5-1.8 300° COG 287° AWA 70° AWS 7-9kn Boat Speed SOG 6-8kn Sky: Clear Sea State: Calm Sail Pattern. 1 Reef Main, Full Genoa Fish: No fishing - I have been banned. No more fridge and freezer space. But I might try sneak a line in today because technically I think I am in Africa already. Music: No music day. Everyone reading or listening to Audiobooks or playing

+9
Day 6 Maldives to Seychelles ‐ May 20, 2024

363.1 km

Light wind exhibition Date: Monday, 20 May 2024 Time: 02:00 GMT 07:00 Boat time Distance Completed: 984nm Distance Remaining: 314nm 24hrs: 158nm over ground (Same as yesterday) Good morning from the stunning Indian Ocean! Yesterday, we experienced exceptionally light winds, averaging between 6 to 9 knots all day. Surprisingly, we didn't need to rely on the motor until around 8 PM when the wind dwindled to a mere 4 knots. It was a remarkable display of our vessel's capabilities in such gentle b [...]
reezes. Early in the morning, we hoisted our full mainsail and set the Asymmetrical Spinnaker at a very close haul angle of 70° apparent wind angle (AWA). Typically, this angle is too close for a gennaker-type asymmetrical spinnaker, but it proved highly effective in these light conditions. For nearly 9 hours, we maintained this setting, sailing at speeds ranging between 5 to 8 knots in 6 to 8 knots of wind. While other boats might outperform us, SV Arabella, being a heavy boned lady, thrives in a bit of wind to stir her from her slumber. Today, she revealed her true colors in these light conditions. Sailing in such serene conditions is immensely rewarding. The calm sea allows us to observe any activity for miles around, whether it's fish, dolphins, or whales. It's the tranquility of our journey through the ocean that makes it so magical. Despite the light conditions, yesterday was a beautiful day of sailing, and we still managed to cover 158 nautical miles over the past 24 hours. Due to the extremely light conditions, I had postponed water production. While an additional 1000 kg of water wouldn't burden Arabella significantly, I sometimes worry about its impact on performance. However, around 2 PM, with our water tank at 30% capacity (305L), I decided to start the water-maker. To my dismay, there was no power. After checking all the breakers and finding everything in order, I realised the transformer, responsible for converting the 220V input power to 12V for the Watermaker's electronics, was faulty and likely burnt out. I recalled a similar issue that our former captain, Morgan, had encountered. He improvised a power supply from the starboard engine starter battery. Remarkably, I found the old wires with a fuse still intact. After rewiring the connections, success! I may not be the most technically adept person, but sailing over the past few years has certainly taught me a thing or two about our vessel. I felt a sense of pride in getting it working and treated myself to a refreshing shower and a change of clothes. We also dealt with a few other water-related dramas, including leaks in the same engine bay, which we're keeping an eye on. For now, we have enough water to reach the Seychelles, and that's a relief. Regarding our avian companions, we had three hitchhikers last night—two atop the mast (a first) and one on the bow. I've resigned myself to simply cleaning up after them; chasing them away seems futile. Much of the afternoon was spent enjoying music, playing backgammon, listening to a new audiobook, and gazing out at the mesmerizing sea. Sometimes, it truly takes your breath away, and yesterday was one of those days. We also got to enjoy some of Mommy’s special flatbread which came with a delicious pumpkin soup. So so yum. Last night also marked the conclusion of two major sporting events: the PGA golf championship and the English Premier League Football. Even here in the middle of the ocean, I managed to catch the endings of these games. Unfortunately, both my favourites fell short. While Arsenal won their final game, Manchester City clinched the championship. Meanwhile, in golf, De Chambeau finished one shot behind Schauffele, narrowly missing out on winning the PGA Championship. Well, there's always next year. More on Alex and Arabella next time. That's all from us for now. We may have only one more night at sea, but it's more likely that we'll arrive late on Tuesday. Current Stats Position: S 05°00’ E 60°43’ (at 7am) Wind: 8-10kn True TWD 150°M Current 1.5-1.8 330° COG 260° AWA 50° AWS 10-12kn Speed 6-8kn Sky: Clear Sea State: Calm Sail Pattern. Full Main, Full Genoa Fish: No fishing - I have been banned. No more fridge and freezer space Music: Wake Wake, Cat Stevens, Bob Marley

+8
Day 5 Maldives to Seychelles ‐ May 19, 2024

224.2 km

Tuna Time Date: Sunday, 19 May 2024 Time: 02:00 GMT 07:00 Boat time Distance Completed: 826nm Distance Remaining: 460nm 24hrs: 158nm What an incredible day it has been! I'm almost bursting with excitement to share the highlights. It's 5 AM, and the sun is teasing its ascent above the horizon. The sea is breathtaking, and a gentle breeze is propelling us forward, aided by our trusty Swedish twin. Last night, when the wind dropped to 4 knots, we had to lower the main, which also afforded me a [...]
solid 6-hour sleep. Whenever we're motor sailing due to calm winds, that's my cue to catch up on rest, and now I feel refreshed and ready to go. In about 30 minutes, once I have a fully awake crew member, we'll raise the main and unfurl the gennaker. Yesterday was nothing short of spectacular. With a consistent breeze ranging from 8 to 12 knots throughout the day, we didn't encounter a single squall. The sea was tranquil, allowing us to sail close-hauled using our gennaker, our trusty Asymmetrical spinnaker, in conjunction with the full main, achieving speeds of 8 to 10 knots. It's not often that Arabella outpaces the apparent wind, but she did so frequently yesterday. It's safe to say that yesterday was "amazeballs" from a sailing standpoint until the wind subsided last night. But that's not the whole story. Around 9 AM, as I was working in the Starboard engine bay, checking oil levels and fixing a water leak in the Watermaker flush pipe, a piercing screech startled me. As any seasoned sailor knows, you become intimately familiar with your boat's sounds. I was alarmed, scanning the engine for the source of the noise when Apple came running, exclaiming "FISH, FISH!" It then dawned on me that the screech was coming from my own fishing rod, though it sounded entirely different from within the engine bay. Today was Arabella's day. Usually, she doesn't get the opportunity to reel in a catch because she's often the only one capable of steering the boat while a fish is hooked. For those unfamiliar, it's crucial to stop the boat before attempting to land a fish; otherwise, you risk losing it, unless it's quite small. Each member of our team has a designated role, and on this boat, we function like a well-oiled machine, ready to reel in a big one. Alex and Delphine swiftly handled the headsail, while I instructed Arabella to leave the helm and prepare to reel in the catch. It was evident from the speed at which the line was being taken that this was a sizable fish. The exhilarating screech of the fishing reel is music to a fisherman's ears but might be alarming to others. The pitch and energy bursts can often indicate the size and species of the catch. I knew immediately that it was a big Yellowfin Tuna, a prized catch in the Indian Ocean. (There are no Bluefin in the Indian Ocean and other Tuna don’t get his big) With the headsail stowed, Delphine initially took the helm but soon delegated the task to Alex. Though Delphine isn't fond of solely controlling the boat using the engine, it comes naturally to kids, akin to playing a video game. So, the setup was Alex at the helm, supervised by Delphine, who relayed messages from the stern fight crew. The helm's role is to maintain the boat's position while preventing the fishing line from going under the boat, no easy feat when the wind catches the sail, causing the boat to lurch forward. It requires agile maneuvering of the engines in forward and reverse. Alex handled this task admirably, despite it being her first time. Arabella initially struggled, despite being outfitted with the proper big fish fighting gear, including a leg bucket and harness. She kept insisting she couldn't do it and that the fish was too strong. However, I don't tolerate phrases like "I can't." I encouraged her to use her leg strength, and despite her grimaces and groans, she rose to the challenge admirably. After about 30 minutes, I took over briefly to give her a break. The strength of the fish was remarkable; I had no harness and had to rely on my own strength, now paying the price with a sore back. But not Arabella. She needed no such remedies; she demanded the rod back and finished the job herself. Forty-five minutes later, we hauled aboard a magnificent 40kg Yellowfin Tuna. I couldn't be prouder of the entire team; it was a phenomenal effort and perhaps the largest Yellowfin we've caught on Arabella. Delphine took charge from there, and the rest, as they say, was truly delicious. In other news, we had another encounter with a Booby last night, which perched atop our mast, briefly obstructing the wind instruments. Thankfully, no harm was done, and she's still perched there as I write. Life at sea is good, and the team is in high spirits. Right now, happiness is everything I feel. Sending love to you all from the Indian Ocean. Current Stats Position: S 05°02’ E 63°10’ (at 7am) Wind: 8-10kn True TWD 150°M Current 0.5-0.8 30° COG 275° AWA 75° AWS 8-11kn Speed 6-8kn Sky: Clear Sea State: Calm Sail Pattern. Full Main, Full Gennaker Fish: 40kg Yellowfin Tuna Music: Africa Radio Mix and Queen Radio Mix Best regards Grant, Delphine, Arabella, Alexandra, Azania and Apple

+9
Day 4 Maldives to Seychelles ‐ May 18, 2024

290.8 km

Passed Halfway Distance Completed: 668nm Distance Remaining: 619nm 24hrs: 174nm (Best day yet) Hello All. The past 24 hours (actually 25 because we just gained an hour by going west) epitomize the ideal sailing experience. We haven’t altered our sail plan in 24 hours except for adjusting the one reef we had in the Genoa. It's been smooth sailing, easy peasy lemon squeezy as my girls would say. Everyone had a chance to rest, and we've made excellent progress without any stress. A pod of Bot [...]
tlenose Dolphins even graced us with their presence. Since we were making good speed and the crew was feeling a bit weary, we decided to forgo fishing and simply enjoy the day. Some chose to read, watch a movie, play Minecraft, or sleep, while we all relished in feasting like royalty. A truly great day at sea often goes by without leaving a lasting memory—no mishaps, no drama, just peace, tranquility, and miles under the belt. One noticeable aspect of passages like this is the need for quiet times, especially after a period of stress. Reflecting on yesterday, it feels like the day just blurred into another. So, with this blank canvas, I'll introduce each member of the crew. Today, I'll focus on Apple and Azania, followed by Arabella and Alex tomorrow, and finally, on Monday, I'll share about the Admiral in charge, Delphine. For those unfamiliar, Apple has been our Stewardess/Nanny/Chef/Family member for nine years now. While she initially joined us as a Stewardess and chief cocktail maker, her role has evolved significantly with the addition of more kids and the ambitious plan of circumnavigation. Following her on social media has provided me with deeper insights into her world, confirming her excitement about this journey. Currently, Apple's primary responsibility is preparing meals under the guidance of the Admiral. It's a luxurious arrangement that I wouldn't trade for anything. Additionally, Apple spends a lot of quality time with Azania, engaging her in various activities every day, for which I am immensely grateful. Keeping young minds active is crucial, and she excels at it. Azania is pure joy. Every boat should have an exuberant five-year-old like her on board. She flits from person to person, brightening everyone's day. As an early riser, I cherish my special moments with Azania in the early mornings, like right now while she's beside me, eager to help as we type. She even just spotted a squall and excitedly shared it with Daddy. But most importantly, she infuses energy and fun into everyone's lives. It's breathtaking out here now—overcast, cool (I’m wearing a fleece), with a refreshing 12-knot breeze. If anyone wonders why we do this, this is the reason. We've passed the halfway mark, and the forecast indicates light winds for the next three days, with some motor sailing expected. However, the good news is that the tropical depression off the Seychelles seems less concerning, which is a relief (though, in these matters, predictions can be fickle). Sending love to you all from somewhere in the Indian Ocean. Current Stats Position: S 04°44’ E 65°43’ (at 7am) Wind: 8-12kn True Current 1.2-1.8 330° (This is not correct at all to forecast. I should have helping current COG 250° AWA 50° AWS 12-15kn Speed 5-8kn Sky: Partly Cloudy Sea State: Moderate Sail Pattern. Main 1 reef, Full Genoa Fish: One line out now but no fishing yesterday Music: Cold Play all day Best regards Grant, Delphine, Arabella, Alexandra, Azania and Apple

+18
Day 3 Maldives to Seychelles ‐ May 17, 2024

273.7 km

Boobies don’t mind the weather Distance Completed: 494nm Distance Remaining: 766nm 24hrs: 184nm Hello from a very wet and tired crew on Arabella. How can three days be so vastly different? Yesterday started off amazingly, and as you can see, we covered 184 nautical miles, which is impressive given the conditions, even if not all in the desired direction. The easterly wind had set in, firmer than expected, allowing us to enjoy our favorite point of sail, the close reach, for most of the day. [...]
At times, it was quite strong, prompting us to reef the main from one reef to two, and eventually, as evening approached, we were sailing with two reefs in the main and the staysail. We made significant progress WSW, and I foolishly thought we had conquered the toughest part of the passage. More on that later. I mentioned in yesterday's report that at sunrise, we hooked into a Marlin. It was quite a spectacle to see it leaping out of the sea, as billfish often do. What I didn’t mention is that not long after that encounter, we hooked into two very large fish, which we fought for a good 30 minutes before losing them. I also nearly caused a major calamity. With both lines out and both fish hooked almost simultaneously, we struggled to round up into the wind. With 18-20 knots of wind behind us, and unable to walk the rods around the back of the boat, I attempted a risky maneuver of dropping the main downwind, almost resulting in disaster. Thankfully, our catamaran's shrouds prevented any damage, but even after getting the sail down, we couldn’t land those two beasts. I suspect they were large yellowfin tuna, judging by their fight and lack of jumping. Three lost fish in a matter of hours—quite amateurish, though fishing on sailboats in rough seas with strong winds isn’t easy. Fortunately, little Alex saved the day and secured us a lovely Mahi Mahi for lunch. Well done, Alex, on your first catch. (She has refrained from fishing throughout this journey due to her aversion to harming anything.) Now, back to the Boobies. As night fell, we noticed numerous Boobies flying around the boat, reminiscent of scenes from "Lord of the Flies." Surprisingly, they were all attempting to land on top of our mast. Keep in mind, we're sailing at 8-10 knots in fairly rough seas, with the mast swaying. Perched atop the mast are our wind instruments, precariously awaiting a Booby-induced mishap. Luckily, one Booby succeeded in landing, but this sparked a fight among them for the spot. For the next hour, we watched anxiously as they vied for a perch. See pics and videos. Around 8 pm, they finally decided to rest on the bow, and this morning, I discovered one on top of our Bimini, covering the solar panels in droppings. "Nine little Boobies sitting in a row" could almost be a song. Delphine captured some excellent pictures. Last night, I refrained from shooing them off, fearing they would attempt to land on the mast again. I can confidently say I don’t much care for these hitchhiking Boobies, even though they may appear cute in photos. Yesterday's winds were definitely stronger than forecasted. By the evening weather update, they had revised the forecast, predicting similar conditions for the rest of the evening. We took precautions, reefing down to the bare minimum sail area and prepared for the night. However, as the evening progressed, so did the wind. Slowly increasing from 15 to 20 to 25 knots, eventually blowing a sustained 30 knots, with even more during squalls. The sea turned fierce, and we were left with only half of the staysail up, which alone looked daunting. Last night was the toughest I've experienced at sea. With Delphine by my side for much of the evening, I managed perhaps an hour of sleep early on, and by 7 am, when I usually finish writing this report, I was utterly exhausted. I woke Arabella and asked her to take over. I desperately needed rest. I managed a brief 20 minutes, which felt like an entire night, until the next squall hit. I'll save more about this morning's 40-knot squalls for tomorrow's update. At present, the crew of Arabella is holding up well. Azania is on her iPad playing something. Apple is capturing footage for her ever growing social media (Facebook ple.srisuda) presence of which BTW if you follow you will know much more about what is gong on onboard. Arabella is still keeping an eye on proceedings and Alex is somewhere with her Kindle I suspect. Delphine is the only smart one and getting some well deserved shuteye. It's pouring rain outside, with huge waves and strong winds. The only glimmer of hope is that given the inaccuracies in the forecasts, I'm praying that the Tropical Depression around Seychelles will behave contrary to some of the current models. That's all for today. I'll provide the next update tomorrow at 7 am (weather dependent). Position: S 04°07’ E 68°14’ (at 7am) Wind: 20-35kn True Current 0.6-1.0n 50° COG 280° AWA 50-70° AWS 25-35kn Speed 5-10kn Sky: Coudy with squalls Sea State: Rough Sail Pattern. Main 2 reef, Storm Jib (stay sail) or motor and stay sail Fish: Mahi Mahi Music: Spotify radio using the Police “Every breath you take” as the reference Best regards Grant, Delphine, Arabella, Alexandra, Azania and Apple

+9
Day 3 Maldives to Seychelles ‐ May 16, 2024

311.6 km

Hitchhikers Distance Completed: 316nm Distance Remaining: 930nm 24hrs: 160nm Good morning, everyone. As exhilarating as Day 1 was, Day 2 was the complete opposite. With clear skies, no squalls, and minimal wind, the day proved to be hot and sweaty, making it too uncomfortable for even a nap. Consequently, I find myself penning this message feeling quite fatigued. Hopefully, I'll manage to catch some rest this morning. Yesterday unfolded as anticipated, with us motoring southward as swiftly as [...]
possible. Our trusty Volvo engines, fondly dubbed the Swedish Twins, took turns powering us through the day. Despite some cooling issues in the engine bays, everything progressed smoothly. I even managed to reconfigure the thermostat in the Starboard engine bay, which also houses our house battery bank requiring temperature regulation below 50°C. However, the heat persisted, prompting us to pause for a refreshing swim in water over 4000 meters deep. It's impossible to truly convey the mesmerizing blue hue of such deep waters. (See pics) As I mentioned on Day 1, the perpetual challenge of maintaining one's waistline during these voyages is the irresistible allure of delectable cuisine. Yesterday was no exception, with my lovely wife treating us to gourmet handcrafted burgers grilled to perfection. Despite sailing across the Indian Ocean, there are days of calm when culinary extravagance is not out of reach, as exemplified by my wife's culinary prowess. We indulged in the most divine burgers for lunch, complete with extra cheese, gherkins, and tomato, just the way I like them. (See pics) Absolutely fantastic. The evening brought relief with cooler temperatures and, almost predictably, the wind picked up from the East as the sun dipped below the horizon. This allowed us to switch off the motors and adjust our course more westward. While not all of our journey was propelled by wind, we made significant progress, transitioning from a southward to westward trajectory. With over 900 nautical miles left to cover, we anticipate another 5-6 days of sailing, contingent upon the consistency of the wind, though such predictions are notoriously unreliable in these waters. However, we remain optimistic about our progress and hope for continued favorable winds. Now, about our unexpected passengers—hitchhikers of the avian variety. Boobies, to be precise, have a tendency to seek refuge on our vessel in the evenings. Initially charming, their presence quickly loses its appeal once we're left cleaning up after them the following day. Their fearlessness and tendency to nip at us to maintain their perch on our "taxi" make for challenging encounters. Despite our efforts to shoo them away, they persist, leaving us with quite the mess to manage. (Just ask Alex and Arabella.) It seems they find SV Arabella as inviting as we do. Unfortunately, our luck with fishing hasn't been as favorable. Despite changing up our lures, the scorching temperatures seemed to deter even the fish. I did manage to hook a Marlin just before sending this update, but alas, the hook didn't hold, and she slipped away. A disappointing turn of events, though we wouldn't have kept her regardless, given our abundance of seafood already onboard. We'll keep our sights set on smaller catches. That's all for today. I'll provide the next update tomorrow at 7 am. Position: S 04°08’ E 70°53’ Wind: 8-14kn True Current 0.6-1.2kn 70° COG 265° AWA 70-90° AWS 8-14kn Speed 5-8kn Sky: Partly cloudy with squalls Sea State: A little lumpy but not bad Sail Pattern. Main 1 reef, Full Genoa Fish: None yet, disappointing day Music: Mostly live from Alex on the Ukulele with some Great Big Sea, Jimmy Sax and some girl pop

+13
Day 2 Maldives to Seychelles ‐ May 15, 2024

331.3 km

Distance Completed: 156nm Distance Remaining: 1036nm 24hrs: 156nm Good morning, everyone. Yesterday was quite exhilarating, to say the least. After spending a few hours leaving Gan Atoll, the sea state dramatically improved, finding a rhythm and shape of its own. Along with this improvement, so did the crew. And thank goodness for that, because yesterday was a full-on day. I can safely say not everyone would have enjoyed it, but we did (or maybe I did?). Why? Because it had everything. Sometime [...]
s, it's nice to set your sails and course and enjoy minimal changes over a 24-hour period. However, that was not the case yesterday. We set the sails, changed them, reefed them, dropped them, turned on the engines, turned off the engines, changed the course, and repeated it all more times than Alex strums her ukulele. It was a challenging day, with winds fluctuating from 4 knots to 26 knots in a heartbeat, and the direction was all over the place. No squall seemed to bring the same wind shift, and that's what made it fun and exhilarating. Our top speed was a little over 11 knots, and for a good stretch of almost 2 hours, we never dropped below 9, averaging probably around 9.5 knots. Everyone needed to remain on their toes and stay focused. The good news was we weren't expecting this at all. We hoped for a little wind and a leisurely crawl into a 2-3 knots current, maybe covering 100nm. The forecast predicted very light winds, but we ended up getting some great winds. In total, we encountered x number of direct-hit squalls, and we pretty much sailed through squalls all day. It's not an easy task because you don’t know what the wind pressure will be inside each of these monster equatorial squalls, and therefore, you're not sure how much sail to have ready. Mostly, we erred on the side of caution, but at times, even that was too much. But it was fun. In 24 hours, we sailed in every configuration of our white sails: full main, 1 reef, and 2 reefs (we don’t have a 3rd reef anymore). We sailed the Genoa with full sail, 1, 2, and 3 reefs, and we even deployed the staysail (storm jib). And we motored with sails and without sails. It can be frustrating, but I like it. I don't think the girls loved it, but they certainly worked for their dinners. Speaking of the girls, Arabella, Alex, and Azania spent some of the morning doing their Chinese lessons online (thank you, Starlink), and then they moved on to making some kind of sticker craft that I can't really describe, but it did keep them very occupied. Mommy, on the other hand, continued to think about food, which I really should try to avoid as I start ballooning from the sedentary life of a sailor at sea. But the highlight was the surprise donuts left to us by the lovely folks on Rotomacs. They were simply delicious. Don't ask about the fish. Nothing to report there, but I do want to share about the day before our departure. We actually arrived in Gan on Sunday evening, planning to enjoy a few days preparing the boat for the passage and waiting for a nice weather window. However, when we went to chat with the other boats also waiting, we found out they were all getting ready to leave. Some had been waiting for 11 days for this window, which frankly I couldn’t see. With this knowledge, I informed our crew that we only had one day to prep the boat, and if the window of opportunity to leave arrived, then we would take it. But I wasn't very optimistic. It also didn’t help that with every inspection I did on the boat, I found something wrong. When inspecting the mainsail, I noticed a tear that needed fixing, and Apple spent 2 hours in the sun sewing it back together. And when I inspected the engines, the starboard one had very little oil, which was surprising and worrying. Nothing too dramatic, but there was plenty to be done across the boat, and we (Arabella, Apple, and I) managed to get almost everything done while Delphine and Alex went provisioning. It was only well into the evening that everything was done, and I had a chance to really look closely at the weather and talk to Craig. It was then that I realized we must leave early the next day, which is what we did, and fortunately, we seized the opportunity to enjoy the winds we encountered. Thank goodness because looking at the weather now, it seems like we're facing either no wind or wind on the nose, neither of which is ideal for sailing. So far, there are only two issues to report. The blower (exhaust cooling fan for the engine room) has blown on the starboard side. This is a challenging task because it requires getting into a small space. Typically, I prefer to assign this job to someone small. The last person to do it was my brother in Australia, and he hated it. I've done it once before, but it was at anchor. This time will be very hot and unpleasant, but it must be done. The other issue is that the Watermaker flush line is leaking. I've made some running repairs, but I fear they may not hold. I'll keep monitoring it. Today seems like it will mostly be a day of motoring. The wind has just picked up from a glassy 2 knots to now 4 knots, directly behind us. Sadly, the big Girl needs a little more than this, so today looks like we'll be motoring south to escape this nasty 2 knots of current against us. Hopefully, by this time tomorrow, we will have started to turn more west. This is hopeful, I must say, because the ICTZ (Inter-Tropical Convergence Zone) is very far south, forcing us to go more south to catch the easterlies. Anyway, not much to complain about. I have the best people in the world around me, which makes for wonderful company. And if they fail to entertain me, there's always the book I'm struggling to get into or the Netflix movies we downloaded before leaving. Or maybe I'll challenge the girls to some chess. I'll report more tomorrow on what actually happens. Position: S 02°46’ E 72°41’ Wind: 4kn True Current 1.8kn 10° COG 217° AWA 180° AWS 2kn Speed 5.6kn Sky: Clear with scattered clouds Sea State: Glass Sail Pattern. No sails Fish: None yet, fished for only a few hours yesterday and no bites Music: Classic Eighties Rock Mix. But will be trying a new recommended Newfoundland band called Great Big Sky Best regards Grant, Delphine, Arabella, Alexandra, Azania and Apple

+23
Day 1 Maldives - Seychelles ‐ May 14, 2024

123.1 km

Distance Completed: 16nm Distance Remaining: 1082nm 24hrs: NA So we are off again! We just left Maldives a couple of hours ago. Next stop Africa. Or more specifically the Seychelles. Whoopy. This is a big and complicated passage. Probably the most complicated we have ever done on the last over 30,000nm we have sailed. We have so many variables to consider. Firstly we have a massive 2-3knot current which flows pretty much east and we are heading pretty much west. So first plan is to get out [...]
of the current by heading as far south as is needed to get out and then start making our way west. The second issue is we are relying on finding the easterly trade winds further south but they haven’t really been blowing because of various factors but we are hoping they will start to fill-in by the time we get to around 4° south in about 36-48 hours time. And finally we have a pretty scary tropical depression/potential tropical cyclone building up around the Seychelles which we hope decides to leave and go south before we get there. Other than all that we are just fine and dandy. We actually have got off to a great start with this wind we are experiencing. This was definitely not forecasted so we are making hay whilst we can can. The only trouble is the sea state and the 3 younger girls are not feeling great. The sea is very bumpy with no pattern and as anyone knows a sea with no patterns ain't much fun on a catamaran. But generally we are all pretty excited to be sailing to Africa and moving west again. This will be our longest passage until we reach Cape Town so it will be a huge test for us all. If all goes well we should be able to reach the Seychelles in 7-10days. If the storm decides to stay around Seychelles we will need to find a way to slow down and wait it out until arriving. Honestly, the forecasts haven’t been very consistent so we have no idea. I have my brother Craig who will be helping route us from his armchair in Seattle and we are also talking with Des Cason from South Africa who offering us some local knowledge. Furthermore their are 2 other boats (Pazzo and Cruising Kiwis) departing a couple of hours behind us. We hopefully will stay in radio contact and will be there for each other if needed. I will be updating you all every morning on our progress and hopefully report good progress. Position: S 00°50’ E 73°06’ Wind: 16kn True Current 2.5kn 90° COG 205° AWA 80° AWS 15kn Speed 7.5kn Sky: Grey and cloudy Sea State: Awful. No pattern. Whompy Sail Pattern. Full Main, Full Genoa Fish: None yet, no lines out Music: Taylor Swift is dominating but Big and Bright has had a few runs Best regards Grant, Delphine, Arabella, Alexandra, Azania and Apple

+7

Day 1 Maldives to Seychelles
Gan, Addu Atoll, Maldives ‐ May 13, 2024

234.8 km

+15

Passage preparation day

By Delphine Busy day. Captain said we might be sailing to the Seychelles tomorrow so lots to do to prepare for the passage. While Grant was doing inspection of the rig and sail, he discovered a small...
Seenu ‐ May 11, 2024

+14
Dugon ‐ May 10, 2024

120 km

+18
Kunahandhoo ‐ May 8, 2024

60.4 km

+22

Halfway through the Maldives

Halfway through Maldives Quick facts you probably didn’t know: The Maldives stretch 540 nautical miles (900 kilometres) from north to south, comprising 26 atolls and 1,192 islands within these atolls....

Letter to the Minister of Tourism

Dear Minister Ibrahim Faizel I wanted to share some thoughts on Yacht tourism for you. I have taken the liberty to talk with a few other cruisers (term used to describe yachting people) and compile...
Thaa Atoll ‐ May 7, 2024

67.4 km

+6
Kedhigandu, Dhaalu Atoll ‐ May 6, 2024

109.6 km

Sailed 60nm south from Dhigurah. Good wind conditions and we were sailing all day. Captain took us to this stunning secret anchorage which is expansive yet protected from the westerlies by the fringing reefs. Just us and our buddy boat, Rotormacs. As soon as we dropped anchor, Arabella went kiting in 12kts wind. At dawn, Geza and Ava from Rotormacs joined us to go onto the sand bank for sundown and found ourselves intruding a huge cast of crabs scattered across the entire sand spit.

+19
Dhigurah, Ari atoll ‐ May 2, 2024

3.9 km

Crazy day! Last morning before the Henrys had to leave. The girls did kneeboarding and Nathalie tried wakeboarding for the first time in her life. She was determined and kept trying over and over again, and finally she was up!!! YAY! They also managed to have a quick snorkel with a turtle before they took the speedboat back to Male airport to catch their flight. After dropping off the Henrys, we came back to our boat. Grant saw a tour boat stopping not far, and people were jumping in. He [...]
jumped in and we followed with the dinghy and our cameras. Wow, it’s a manta! The sun was shining and the water was so clear and vibrant. Next we heard there's another manta. We got on our dinghy quickly and then realized it’s a whale shark ahead! We got in the water. We were in the perfect position. The whale shark slowly came up and I was literally on top of it and could touch it if I wanted to. I was totally mesmerised by its graceful movement and stunning beauty against turquoise blue water. It was like I was inside a three dimensional moving painting. It was magical! Arabella and Alex kept diving down alongside with it and I got some amazing photos and videos of them. Quickly there were a dozen boats in the area and everybody was jumping in. The mosh pit got too much and we went back to dinghy feeling so fortunate to have such intimate encounter with the whale shark. Beautiful evening with flat sea. I went wakeboarding for the first time since surgery. I got up but I was heading towards a bumpy wave. Bang! Massive face plant. Yucks! I forgot that I needed to lean back and go to the side quickly. Next one was successful and I was up and wake boarding! Next was Azania! Grant got in the water to help her, just like with Arabella and Alex when they were young learning how to wakeboard. She almost got it and could get up for few seconds. What an exhausting and amazing day!

+13

Meeting new cruising family (SV Rotormacs) from Hungary

+14

Day trip with Tourism Chief

+5

Manta and whale shark

Manta & Whale Shark

Mama Gets Up Again

Thank you Henry Family

French Flair and Swedish Skills Sailing Aboard SV Arabella We don't often have guests, and when we do, they're not usually the drop-by-for-dinner types unless they're on a neighbouring boat. However,...

Post by Sofia Henry

Alex your cakes will always be welcome at our home, your adventurous side impressed us. Yes yes all that BUT GIVE ME THE RECIPES, but a very good friend. You are filled with joy every time you talk to...

Post by Luc Henry

What a week... Reflecting on the way back, now that we have put our shoes back on, this trip was "out of time". It was as if we had moved outside our selves, and detached completely from our daily li...

Post by Nathalie Henry

The past week, we the Henry family, have been sailing with the Horsfields on the Indian Ocean between the Maldivian islands on the Arabella boat. We’ve experienced and seen almost everything there is...
- Sea Plane Terminal, Male' ‐ May 4, 2024
  
  98.1 km
  - Lammu Atoll ‐ May 4, 2024
    
    343.2 km
    
    Atheri beach Maldives ‐ May 4, 2024
    
    201.6 km
Dhigurah Sand Spit ‐ May 1, 2024

42.3 km

Hectic day. Luc and Grant went scouting for whale shark on dinghy. Decided to bring big boat to the pass outside the atoll. Saw many snorkeling and dive boats nearby. At the pass it was very choppy with big waves. Another boat spotted a whale shark and everybody jumped in. Visibility was quite poor and the whale shark was in deep water. Before we knew, we were surrounded by a dozen tourist boats. Current was super strong and waves were huge, and there were over a hundred people in the wat [...]
er. It was like a mosh pit. Didn't enjoy it at all and went back to the boat as soon as possible. Decided to sail back to the outer reef where the corals looked good. Very calm and peaceful. Luc, Nathalie, Grant and I went for a long snorkel. Back to anchorage. We went to the beach and sand spit for nice walk and sundown. We played bowl and Luc won by a wide margin. Cooked our prized sailfish steaks on the grill. Delicious. Luc made a toast thanking us for the experience and that it’s absolutely beyond his expectations. For us it’s a great pleasure to be able to share our experiences with dear friends and they enjoy and appreciate it so much. In addition, it's amazing to see the five girls having so much fun together. Luc gave another beautiful saxophone performance with Azania and Sofia as dancers. Magical and priceless.

+23
Dhigurah, Ari Atoll ‐ Apr 30, 2024

64.6 km

Dhigurah is the last stop before the Henry family departs. Only two more days. No time to waste. Grant took Arabella, Luc and Nathalie for short dive trip. This island is famous for manta rays and whale sharks, and there are many dive cruising boats as well as day boats in the area. One evening we showed the Henrys our old videos that we made - cloud eggs, filleting tuna, swimming with manta and sharks, Panama Canal crossing, etc). So nice to see these old videos.
Kudhibili ‐ Apr 29, 2024

8.2 km

Wet, grey and lazy day. Catch up on some rest.

+6
Fulidhoo ‐ Apr 28, 2024

24 km

Snorkeled near the village pier and saw stingrays and a gigantic eagle ray. At the pier, we saw a huge group of Chinese tourists wearing wetsuits heading for a diving trip. So far we've seen many Chinese tourists in the various islands. Went onshore with the Henry family. There were lots of stingrays in ankle depth water. Back on boat, Alex and Sofia offered to cook for everyone. They made cookies and pizzas for dinner as Chef Luigi and Mario. They also made a huge mess! Everybody enjoy [...]
ed the food and their wonderful humour.

+7
Sand Spit, Vaavu ‐ Apr 27, 2024

12.4 km

Arrived at a stunning sandbank... Quite a few other tour boats with lots of tourists were there for the day. We waited until sunset before we went onshore for sundown. Returned to a beautiful roasted lamb leg and potatoes on our Weber braai (BBQ). Sumptuous dinner! With decent wind in the morning, Grant went kiting along the sandbank. He hasn't kited for a very long time. The weather turned bad and we were surrounded by squalls as we headed to the next anchorage at Fulidhoo.

+10
Dhiggiri, Tawny Nurse Sharks

33.9 km

Nice strong wind and we were flying. Heading to Dhiggiri Shark Point. Lots of tour boats. We anchored and dinghy to the reef. Tourist boats were feeding the tawny nurse sharks. So many of them! We were swimming amongst them and they just come straight and bump into you. Funny flat face with huge wide mouth and two scary looking barbels/whiskers. Really fun to swim with the sharks. Luc’s family was absolutely stunned and loving it. Unimaginable experience. Even Apple came along and Grant was b [...]
y her side. Azania was very scared and climbed on top Arabella.

+32
Guraidhoo ‐ Apr 25, 2024

15.2 km

Non stop action on board Arabella from morning to evening. Grant wanted the Henry family to see and experience as much as possible. There was snorkelling, surfing, electric foiling and 'donuting'. In the evening, we were treated with Luc's saxophone playing on the flybridge. Luc played the sax at our wedding and the 1050 anniversary party. So special. Little Alex has been practising her ukulele and she also performed 'Stand by me'.

+17
Kuda Gulhi

17.5 km

Stopped here for quick swim. Terrible anchorage. Moved on.
Crossroads Marina ‐ Apr 13, 2024

30.4 km

+47

10 days at Crossroads Marina

We arrived at the marina. It's a fancy resort marina with a few resorts, beach club, shops and restaurants. Quite a huge contrast to all the places we've visited so far in the Maldives. We came here b...
Girifushi ‐ Apr 10, 2024

116.3 km

Put up our big black sail. We could tell we're arriving civilisation by the number of seaplanes flying overhead. Could even see Male in a distance. This anchorage was recommended by a fellow cruising family who are surfers. Girls went surfing twice a day and thoroughly enjoyed it.

+4
Hanifaru, Baa atoll ‐ Apr 9, 2024

53.2 km

In search of mantas at Hanifaru, a massive lagoon where manta rays aggregate during feeding season. Its long and narrow shape acts as a scoop for the planktons that are swept up to the surface of the ocean by the southwest monsoon current from May to November. With the lunar tide which pushes against this ocean current, the plankton becomes trapped, forming a thick, nutritious soup for the mantas. No luck for us though. Apparently best time is from late June to October.

+4
Sandbank off Kuredu Island Resort ‐ Apr 7, 2024

65.3 km

Arrived to the northern part of Lhaviyani atoll where there're many resorts. We sailed past an underwater restaurant and the girls were so excited about it. Alex and Azania each designed one of their own. Went onshore Kuredu resort for lunch and walk around.

+9
Dholhiyadhoo Abandoned Resort ‐ Apr 5, 2024

90.1 km

A very unique anchorage with a massive abandoned resort. From google satellite map, one would think it's a beautiful luxury resort with dozens of over water villas. But when you arrive, you see buildings skeletons with collapsed roofs and walls. It was quite a surreal and eerie sight. We went onshore and found the buildings in complete disrepair. It was a really sad sight especially we could tell that construction was already very far along with structures and enclosures already complete. [...]
It was such a pity and a waste, and now the buildings are just rotting away. Nice reefs and corals in the anchorage. Grant taught Alex how to scuba dive for the first time. Alex is a natural and loved it.

+26
Rasfushi ‐ Apr 3, 2024

42.9 km

Another spectacular and unique anchorage and we were the only boat. A bit nerve wrecking coming in as it was almost dusk and there were reefs left and right. Narrow and super deep anchorage at almost 23m and we had to let out all our 90m anchor chains. Next we were hit by a big squall in the dark. Fortunately our anchor held and we were safe. This has got to be one of the most dramatic and unique anchorages. The environment changes completely from high tide to low tide. At high tide, it a [...]
ppears that we are just in the middle of the sea with tiny islands miles away in the distance. At low tide, the reefs emerged with crashing waves. A beautiful sand bank appeared and we swam out to the beach. Grant also swam with a pod of dolphins under water.

+25
Dhapparu ‐ Apr 1, 2024

44.5 km

Grant succeeded to fast for five days without any food. He still managed to doing heaps of exercise and work every day. He lost over 5 kilos. Bravo. Left Vangaaru to head to Dhapparu. To our surprise, there's another boat anchored in the bay. It's a family boat Lochmarin and the captain and daughter came to visit. They invited us to their boat in the evening. We had a lovely evening. Next morning, we got a visit from a local boat with an entourage of people. The chief is actually the M [...]
inister of Tourism of Maldives Faisal Ibrahim who's interested to talk to cruisers to learn more about how they can encourage more yachts and adventure travellers to visit Maldives.

+23
Vangaaru ‐ Mar 28, 2024

4.5 km

We were recommended to come to this anchorage and it surely did not disappoint. Turquoise water, beautiful beach with soft sand and lots of reef to explore. Did a lot of snorkelling and saw mantas, stingrays, turtles. Dolphins were the superstars as they came to visit us every day. One morning we saw a huge pod of dolphins not far from boat. Arabella went out on electric foil board and she was foiling with hundreds of dolphins. The dolphins were jumping and doing somersaults. Lucky girl. [...]
The rest of us went out on the dinghy to follow the pod.

+21
Uligan ‐ Mar 26, 2024

137.7 km

Another epic passage. Just dropped the anchor ⚓️ in Uligan, Maldives after crossing from Sri Lanka. Quick swim to check the anchor and some breakfast for the crew!

+25
Day 3 - Galle to Maldives ‐ Mar 25, 2024

246.5 km

+3
Day 2 - Galle to Maldives ‐ Mar 24, 2024

341.9 km

+5

Moonset

By Delphine We've seen many beautiful sunsets these past few years; however, last night was the first time I witnessed a full moon set over the horizon, and it was quite a memorable experience. Since...

The mystery of the grey blob

By Alex On 24/03/24, we saw a blob. I called out, ‘it’s a whale!’ But i was wrong. It was a blob. It wasn’t any normal blob. It was an inspirational, beautiful special blob. It was big, round and grey...
Day 1 - Galle to Maldives ‐ Mar 23, 2024

101.8 km

Checked out of Galle this morning. Rushed to leave due to favourable wind condition but in reality there was no wind. Motoring the whole day. Very hot and calm sea. We stopped and went for a dip. Such clear blue water. The BIG BLUE.
Galle, Sri Lanka ‐ Mar 18, 2024

291.4 km

A very quick visit to Sri Lanka. Sadly have to leave due to forecasted favourable wind conditions to the Maldives. Also the anchorage wasn't ideal as all boats are only allowed to stay in the port against concrete pier with terrible surge. We managed to pack in quite a lot of actions in just a few days - 1) Swimming and body surfing at Unawatuna Beach. 2) Girls went surfing twice 3) Stayed at our architect friends Vincent and Wendy's beautiful house (K House) along the coast. Spent much tim [...]
e in the pool to cool off and eating delicious hoppas for breakfast. 4) Visited Lunuganga, Geoffrey Bawa's country estate. Geoffrey Bawa, Sri Lanka's most renowned architect, seamlessly blending indoor and outdoor spaces, evoking a strong sense of place and culture in his designs. 4) Walked around the very charming fort city of Galle and had yummy Neapolitan pizzas for dinner.

+14

Geoffrey Bawa's Lunuganga

+13

K House

+52
Day 7 - Passage to Sri Lanka ‐ Mar 17, 2024

356.7 km

+6

From Phuket to Galle

By Grant What’s the opposite of “life throws you curve balls?”. How do you describe something that completely surprises you in a good way? Seriously, please share me your favourite idioms for this exp...
Day 6 - Passage to Sri Lanka ‐ Mar 16, 2024

335.2 km

Great wind! Grant decided to change from parasail to our black gennekar. Wow, we were flying at 10kts. Pretty cool cos the sea was flat. Very comfortable and nice feeling. 275nm to go. If we move fast (7.5-8kt), we could arrive at daytime on Monday 18th. Really good time.

+6
Day 5 - Passage to Sri Lanka ‐ Mar 15, 2024

249.3 km

More wind!
Day 4 - Passage to Sri Lanka ‐ Mar 14, 2024

250.5 km

Wind stayed with us and we had the parasail up all day and night. Yay!

+4
Day 3 - Passage to Sri Lanka, India ‐ Mar 13, 2024

226.1 km

Still no wind during the day. Grant is stressing out about the lack of wind and not having enough fuel to get to Sri Lanka. Finally some wind in the evening. Parasail time. Moving slowly though. 4kt average.

+5
Day 2 - Passage to Sri Lanka ‐ Mar 12, 2024

299.3 km

Sunny and hot, and sadly still no wind. In the afternoon, our fishing line got hooked and it was a black marlin! Wow, another one. Pretty special for Xiaohui to witness this. Only took half an hour to bring it in. Everything went smoothly and we proceeded to gut and fillet the fish. Good having Xiaohui onboard as he helped with cutting the fillet into thin slices for biltong which took hours. We ended up running extra lines to hang the biltong.

+11
Day 1 - Passage to Sri Lanka ‐ Mar 11, 2024

132.1 km

+3
Ko Kata, Thailand ‐ Mar 10, 2024

Back to China

By Grant Life is never linear and that is frankly what makes it so much fun. You might not know this about me but I like to be very organised. I like to have a plan. But I am also very comfortable cha...
Ao Po Phuket ‐ Feb 1, 2024

125.9 km

+53

D+G back in China after 5 years

+71

Kids back in China after 5 years!

+33

Back in Hong Kong for CNY

+14

Ao Po Marina

My return to Shanghai

By Arabella Horsfield Upon my arrival in Shanghai, nostalgia hit me like a train. Everything around me, from the taxis bustling along the streets to the towering skyscrapers piercing the sky, seemed l...

Lombok - Phuket

A quick catchup on what’s been happening By Grant December 13, 2023 we arrived from Australia on the Island of Lombok, Indonesia. We enjoyed 1 month of unadulterated surfing fun around Lombok and Bali...
- Marinella, Hong Kong ‐ Feb 4, 2024
  
  2 304.8 km
  - Shanghai, China ‐ Feb 5, 2024
    
    1 234 km
    
    naked Stables, China ‐ Feb 7, 2024
    
    200.2 km
    
    naked Castle, China ‐ Feb 8, 2024
    
    6.6 km
    
    naked Water, China ‐ Feb 10, 2024
    
    186.1 km
    
    naked Hill, China ‐ Feb 12, 2024
    
    191.8 km
    
    Marinella, China ‐ Feb 25, 2024
    
    1 146 km
    
    Ao Po Grand Marina ‐ Mar 3, 2024
    
    2 304.8 km
Ko Rok Nai ‐ Jan 31, 2024

130.6 km

+10
Day 3 - Passage to Langkawi, Malaysia ‐ Jan 30, 2024

280.3 km

+5
Day 2 - Passage to Langkawi ‐ Jan 29, 2024

328.6 km
Day 1 - Passage to Langkawi ‐ Jan 28, 2024

172.2 km
Singapore, Singapore ‐ Jan 22, 2024

164.1 km

+95

The Thrill of Going to a Coldplay Concert

By: Arabella Excitement boiled over as my parents told me we were going to watch a Coldplay concert. The last time I had gone to a concert was when I was just 8 years old, watching Bruno Mars perform,...

Go Karting in Sentosa

By Alex Mama's friend, Josephine, who lived in Singapore, came down to the marina to visit Mama. She has a 13-year-old son, Aidan, who joined us. We decided to go go-karting, so we hopped on the train...
Day 2 - Passage to Singapore, Indonesia ‐ Jan 21, 2024

323.8 km

+16
Day 1 - Passage to Singapore ‐ Jan 20, 2024

128.8 km

+3
Day 5 - Passage to Belitung ‐ Jan 17, 2024

294.9 km

This passage is probably the most unpleasant since we started our journey.Strong wind on the nose at all times, meaning the boat keeps getting slammed into the waves and banging up and down non stop. Worse the current is against us by 1-2kts. One time during night watch the boat came crashing down on a really steep wave, resulting in a huge violent bang and the fridge door opened and everything fell onto the floor. Awful.

+34
Day 4 - Passage to Belitung ‐ Jan 16, 2024

280.1 km
Day 3 - Passage to Belitung ‐ Jan 15, 2024

234.3 km
Day 2 - Passage to Belitung ‐ Jan 14, 2024

260.1 km
Day 1 - Passage to Belitung ‐ Jan 13, 2024

156.1 km
Benoa Marina, Bali ‐ Jan 4, 2024

+86

Bali fun

10 days in Bali

By Delphine Arrived in Bali. We decided to berth the boat at the Benoa marina because we plan to go onshore for a week while Apple stays on the boat. We got a car and Apple got a scooter. All set to...
Blongas, Lombok ‐ Jan 3, 2024

53.9 km
Ekas Inner, Lombok ‐ Jan 1, 2024

18.2 km

Eksas is the next bay east of Gerupuk. Incredible surf spot in a quiet and peaceful anchorage. Girls and Grant were surfing two to three times a day. We even found baby waves for Azania to surf on. She loved it.

+16
Gerupuk, Lombok ‐ Dec 21, 2023

43.3 km

Gerupuk is the spot that we've been looking for! Amazing sheltered anchorage with a tiny village, and there're 5 great surf spots for all levels. People start surfing at the crack of dawn and until dark. There're half a dozen sailing yachts in the bay. Grant and the girls surf everyday. It's perfect. Invited two other boat families over for Christmas lunch. On NYE, we all went pick trash in the village and the beach with the local kids. Plastic pollution is a serious problem in Indonesi [...]
a. Everywhere we go, there's plastic trash everywhere. Pretty sad sight.

+11

NYE

+36

Christmas Fun

+30

Christmas Eve Turkey Feast

+30
Pangang Beach, Blongas, Lombok ‐ Dec 20, 2023

48.4 km

We left Gili Asahan in search for an anchorage where the girls and Grant could surf. First stop in Blongas. Stunning anchorage, but the waves were not very consistent and we read there're sharks lurking in the bay. We stayed for one night and headed east.

+10
Gili Asahan, Lombok ‐ Dec 18, 2023

6.5 km

After we said goodbye to Magic Dragon, we moved to the tiny island of Gili Asahan. Did a long walk all the way around the island. Beautiful walk but scorching hot and we had no sandals. Felt like we were walking on fire in certain areas. At the end of the walk, we were rewarded with a delicious Italian lunch at the Ecolodge.

+30
Gili Gede - Marina Del Ray, Lombok ‐ Dec 14, 2023

59.1 km

One of the main reasons we changed our plans of sailing straight to Lombok was to see our dear old friends from SV Magic Dragon before they fly back home to the UK for Christmas. We met them back in 2021 before we crossed the Atlantic Ocean and we've always kept in touch. Last time we saw them was in Fiji in August. They are actually the only boat we know who's continuing on to cross the Indian Ocean to Africa, and we are making plans to meet up in Chagos next year. Anyways it was wonderful [...]
seeing the Halling family. It was the sweetest reunion for Azania and Vera.

+20

Amazing fruit and veggies market in Mataram

+33
Medana Marina - Passage Darwin to Lombok -Day 7 ‐ Dec 13, 2023

286.2 km

Finally we had a good day of sailing on our final day to Medana Marina. We went up the strait east of Lombok, and the current was going with us at 2kt. The drift kept going up until 5.3kt and we were flying at 12kt! What an amazing feeling after days of going up against currents with boat speed of 4-5kt. Just before we arrived the marina, we were surrounded by dark lightning clouds and rain. Never a dull moment on our boat. Coming into the marina in the dark in a storm was a bit stressful, [...]
but everybody is super happy when we were secured to a mooring.

+6

+13
Passage Darwin to Lombok -Day 6 ‐ Dec 12, 2023

259.5 km

+6
Passage Darwin to Lombok -Day 5 ‐ Dec 11, 2023

271.9 km

Tough tough day. Wind against current all day. Wind on the nose. Couldn't even manage to get 30degress to try motorsail. It was ugly, bumpy and generally a pretty forgettable day.

+4
Passage Darwin to Lombok -Day 4 ‐ Dec 10, 2023

295.5 km

The original plan was to arrive and check in to Indonesia here in Kupang but we arrived on a Sunday and so we couldn't. Couple this with being surrounded by dozens of intense lightning type squalls and Cyclone Jasper being predicted to move far further west we decided to skip check in here and continue another 500nm to Lombok. Here we would also get to see Magic Dragon befoer they leave for Europe and truth be told Azania desperately wants to see her BBF Vera... so onwards we go!

+10
Passage Darwin to Lombok - Day 3 ‐ Dec 9, 2023

304.4 km

Lightning, lightning, lightning and thunder. Squalls everywhere.

+5
Passage Darwin to Lombok -Day 2 ‐ Dec 8, 2023

278.7 km

Poor little turtle (by Alex)

The Circle of a Turtle's Life

By: Arabella While cruising around in the big blue sea heading towards Indonesia, we bumped across a turtle floating there. The turtle was unfazed by us coming so near that it seemed as though it was...

It is about a sick sea turtle.

By Azania A turtle ate a jellyfish and now the turtle is sick. Awww the poor turtle is sick. how do I feel? I feel sad about the sick turtle.
Passage Darwin to Lombok -Day 1, Australia ‐ Dec 7, 2023

170.9 km

Bye Bye Australia. Hello SE Asia

We have just crossed into Indonesian waters and less than 24hours from checking into Kupang on the South East corner of the massive country Indonesia. Already we have passed a dozen typical South East...
Fanny Bay, Darwin ‐ Dec 6, 2023

10 km
City Anchorage Darwin ‐ Dec 4, 2023

10.8 km
Passage to Darwin - Day 5 ‐ Dec 3, 2023

264.9 km

Beware the sneaky early morning Squall

After a fairly uneventful passage from Thursday Island to Darwin we neared the end. We had just passed the Crocodile Islands and were entering the Dundas straits which many cruisers including the famo...
Passage to Darwin - Day 4 ‐ Dec 2, 2023

319.7 km
Passage to Darwin - Day 3 ‐ Dec 1, 2023

281.6 km

Day 3 finally brought us some wind. Not a lot but enough to turn off the engines and glide peacefully across the ocean. The past 3 days is the longest single stretch we have needed to motor in 3 years. And if i didnt have the deadline to pickup my wife in Darwin and exit this Cyclone area of Northern Australia i certainly wouldnt be motoring. But with an average wind speed of around 3-4 knots the past 2 days we were not moving the big girl anywhere without motors. We also got an unexpected visi [...]
tor come aboard. Beatrice the Brown Booby decided to make SV Arabella her new home. At the time of writing she has now shat and vomited massive amount of stuff on the starboard side. She is not afraid of us and will likely bite us if we come to close. So there you have it.
Passage to Darwin - Day 2 ‐ Nov 30, 2023

313.1 km

Holy macaroni was it hot. The water temperature was 32deg and the air was probably 40. There was no wind whatsoever and we roasted. I found out my engine room cooling fan for the batteries was incorrectly wired and needed to fix that. I would say today was a day of attrition. Surviving the heat was a win. And to do this we stopped the boat mid ocean for a swim and a little body drag. We all needed to cool down. Otherwise fairly non eventful other than everyone being very quiet.
Passage to Darwin - Day 1 ‐ Nov 29, 2023

184.1 km

720nm passage from Thursday Island to Darwin. Just the 4 (Apple, Arabella, Alex and I) of us onboard for this long 4-5day passage. Very little wind so likely a lot of motoring. Quick stop at Booby Island for a swim and a look for crayfish but found none.
Horn Island Island ‐ Nov 28, 2023

2.5 km

+41

Thank you Craig

Thank you Craig

Thank you Craig I’ve not been a very active writer lately. I think I got a bit mentally tired. But you will find loads of posts and pictures on our website (www.horsfield.family). Lots of photos, vide...
Thursday Island ‐ Nov 27, 2023

116.7 km

What an interesting place. Kinda like the end of the world. Reminded me of Cooktown. We got we needed done. Refilled the fuel tanks by hand, fixed a leaking watermaker hose and did our last provisioning.
Passage to Thursday Island ‐ Nov 26, 2023

169.9 km
Passage to Restoration Island ‐ Nov 25, 2023

224.5 km

Overnight passage of around 150nm in total. Mostly really really good except for the unexpected wind we got around midnight resulting in us needing to douse Mauai (parasail spinnikar). It didnt go all to plan but fortunately no damage.
Cod Hole - Great Barrier Reef ‐ Nov 24, 2023

157.1 km

You cant leacve the Great Barrier Reef without visiting the Ribbon Reef and diving the Cod Hole. We made the 14nm detour to head out to the reef to go diving and were not disappointed. Huge Cod as well as so many other fish and sharks. Need to try identify one in particular. Will post pics soon.
Eagle Island ‐ Nov 23, 2023

9.8 km

Best kite-surfing spot we've been to since the Tuamotus. Everyone went kiting, even Alex with her in particular showing us how it is done. So very very proud of her. GH
Lizard Island ‐ Nov 19, 2023

94.5 km

Absolutely wonderful place. Awesome snorkling, hiking, kiting, research centre and bar. So much to do here you could stay for weeks. We had an action packed time with everyone enjoying the ocean again including Apple.
Cooktown ‐ Nov 17, 2023

113.3 km

How to describe Cooktown? I have an old friend who once described a place in South Africa called Napier. I cannot repeat the actual description because i would hate to offend the great folks of Napier but its fair to say Cooktown suffers some of the same issues. The culture of drinking seems to determine life. With the Pubs peak hours are in the morning and you cannot but shots or even a double shot gin due to controls to slow down the drinking. The problem however is that they just choose to dr [...]
ink longer. We loved our little jaunt into Cooktown with a lovely river cruise looking for Crocodiles and some fun in the local water park (sort of). We focused on preparing Arabella for the next 1000nm with no more fuel stops of real civilization. Darwin is a long long way away. But on route we will stop at Lizard Island for some fun in the water.

Alex’s Weekly Newspaper

Todays news!

by ALEX!

Waking Up

By Arabella Waking up is like a gentle awakening from the realm of dreams and into the embrace of reality. The soft touch of sunlight illuminates the hotel room, casting a gentle glow upon my slumber...
Douglas Shire Island ‐ Nov 14, 2023

67.1 km

AUSTRALIA!

by Grant It’s not like I don’t know Australia. I have visited a few times and I have many Australian friends. But this trip was different. We were coming to see whether we could make this our new home...
Cairns Marlin Marina ‐ Nov 13, 2023

0.6 km

Cairns is actually wonderful. An extremely cute and picturesque town where i could definitely spent much longer. Certainly the kind of place you could retire. We used this last stop of civilization to do all last minute christmas shopping. Also fuelled up Arabella for the last stop before Darwin which is over 1000nm away.
Cairns ‐ Nov 12, 2023

147.4 km
Dunk Island ‐ Nov 11, 2023

104.3 km
Orpheus Island ‐ Nov 10, 2023

86.1 km
Townsville ‐ Nov 9, 2023

265.1 km
Bait Reef ‐ Nov 7, 2023

34.5 km

Diving on Bait Reef which is the first proper proper Great Barrier Reef dive. And it really didnt disappoint. Not the best visibility but just wonderful to be underwater again.
Hayman Island ‐ Nov 6, 2023

38.8 km

After cleaning all the Poop and loading my old friend Michael Chin who will sail with us for a week or so. After loading up with Beer., Biltong and Boerewors we were off to Hayman Island to see what all the fuss was about.
Airlie Beach ‐ Nov 3, 2023

1 516.9 km

Finally we are back on the boat sadly minus Azania and Mommy. Azania is still in Hong Kong to keep Mommy company whilst she recovers from her surgery. Welcome to BIRD POOP problem. We will need a special post to describe the full extent

+20

Shags (Cormorants) POOP Everywhere
Sydney ‐ Nov 2, 2023

7 349.1 km
Hong Kong, Hong Kong ‐ Oct 11, 2023

6 948.4 km

+20

Seeing families in HK

+25

Seeing friends in HK

+41

My new bionic hips

+22

Horsfield sisters in HK

My New Bionic Hips

By Delphine Story of my wonky hips I started having hip problems ten years ago. I vividly remember that it just hit me one day when we were in Paris. Grant and Arabella went to the Eiffel Tower, whil...

Azania's unforgettable time in Hong Kong

By Delphine Little Azania has led an interesting life. She has spent more time on the boat at sea than on land in our Hong Kong house. She attended pre-school for about one month before all face to...

Our Remarkable Trip to Hong Kong

By: Arabella As we boarded our flight, I pictured how Hong Kong would look after all these years. How our house would look, how my friends would appear, and how it would feel to live on land and in a...

With my friend Alix in Hong Kong

By Alex Ever since I was 6 years old i had a friend named Alix. When I came back to Hong Kong I had lots of fun with her. One day we were hanging out when she had to go to her Acting class, they told...
- Back in Hong Kong ‐ Oct 11, 2023
  
  26.4 km
  
  This is the first time we came back to HK since our sailing odyssey. Two and a half years just flew by. Excited to come back to visit family and friends, renew passports and IDs, see doctors and dentists and eat some yummy food. During this time, Grant went to France for the Rugby World Cup. Supposed to be a three week break for all and then we would return to Australia to continue sailing. The plan certainly changed. BIG BIG change. Delphine and Azania ended up staying in Hong Kong for an [...]
  other month after Grant, Arabella and Alex left. (See My Hip Story post for full load down)
  - Heathrow Airport, United Kingdom ‐ Oct 12, 2023
    
    9 630.6 km
    
    GH - Sad to say bye to the family but also super excited to see my friends in Europe for the Rugby. Cathay Flight was exceptional and still manage to have Diamond status after essentially not flying for 3 years. Thanks Covid.
    
    Battersea Power Station, United Kingdom ‐ Oct 12, 2023
    
    21.9 km
    
    Arriving at our little pad in London but not able to actually stay in it because Dave rents it. Stayed in the neighborhood hotel whichs looks onto the Power Station. Lovely area and enjoyed a lovely early morning run.
    
    +5
    
    Batersea London
    
    RUGBY WORLD CUP - Paris, France ‐ Oct 12, 2023
    
    340.3 km
    
    +17
    
    Final SA vs NZ
    
    +23
    
    Semifinals NZ/Argentina - SA/England
    
    +11
    
    Quarterfinals - NZ/Ireland - SA/France
    
    Rugby World Cup 2023
    
    In Tokyo, Japan in Autumn 2019, Delphine and I attended the opening game of the Rugby World Cup tournament between South Africa and New Zealand. We lost, but I remember telling Delphine that I thought...
    
    London, United Kingdom ‐ Oct 16, 2023
    
    341 km
    
    Paris, France ‐ Oct 20, 2023
    
    341 km
    
    Sélestat, France ‐ Oct 24, 2023
    
    384.4 km
    
    +11
    
    Marseille, France ‐ Oct 26, 2023
    
    574.3 km
    
    +7
    
    Yacht Shopping
    
    Montpellier, France ‐ Oct 27, 2023
    
    125.5 km
    
    Paris, France ‐ Oct 28, 2023
    
    594.6 km
    
    Hong Kong Island ‐ Oct 30, 2023
    
    9 630 km
  - Singapore, Singapore ‐ Dec 4, 2023
    
    2 578.1 km
    
    Darwin ‐ Dec 5, 2023
    
    3 355.3 km
Brisbane Airport, Australia ‐ Oct 10, 2023

909.6 km
Coral Sea Marina, Airlie Beach ‐ Oct 8, 2023

27.9 km

First time we leave SV Arabella by herself in a marina. We will be gone for three weeks. A bit scary. Hope she is fine in our absence.

+9

Packing up Arabella

+6

Auntie Michelle and Azania

Michelle's post

By Michelle Cheng Finally, the Horsfields crew made their way to Australia! I vivdly remember the day they left Hong Kong during the height of Covid to start their round the world odyssey. Fast forwar...
Nara Inlet

16.2 km

+11

+2

Second power outage nightmare!
Cid Harbour ‐ Oct 7, 2023

17.2 km

+7

Kids entertaining themselves

+29

Spectacular Whitsunday Peak Hike

+3

Apple's birthday
Hamilton Island

222.6 km

+11
Duke Islands ‐ Oct 6, 2023

32.2 km

+13
Middle Percy Island Conservation Park ‐ Oct 4, 2023

348.7 km

Power outage nightmare!

+36
Lady Musgrave Island ‐ Oct 2, 2023

181.7 km

+14

Stunning Lady Musgrave Island

+18

It's a sailfish!!!! (Grant's dream fish to catch)
Kingfisher Resort Bay, Fraser Island ‐ Oct 1, 2023

314 km

+19
Bums Bay, Gold Coast ‐ Sep 29, 2023

21.5 km

Michelle flew up from Sydney to join us on this stretch of sailing from Gold Coast to the Great Barrier Reefs. Michelle has been on Arabella twice previously for holidays, but this trip is quite a different experience.... See Michelle's post.

+11
The Boatworks, Coomera ‐ Sep 19, 2023

113.2 km

+44

Never ending boat jobs

+32

What we did besides boat jobs

SigTech Horror Show!

We came to Australia for two reasons. One to haul Arabella out and do some maintenance and two to explore Australia as a potential new home. The plan was to use a professional company to managed the w...
- Day trip with Tudor and Shae
  
  202.3 km
Byron Bay

359.4 km

+10
Bellingen ‐ Sep 17, 2023

519.6 km

+27
Robertson, Berry and Southern Highlands ‐ Sep 12, 2023

324.2 km

+33

Day trip visiting farms
Sydney ‐ Sep 4, 2023

529 km

+40

Beautiful city & vibrant lifestyle

+15

Bismarck House, Sydney

+17

Seeing friends

+21

Seeing family

+31

Fun things to do

+2

Not so fun things to do
Sawtell ‐ Sep 3, 2023

242.9 km

Drove from Byron Bay to Sawtell, a tiny charming town with buildings from the 40-50s along the main street. Very long beach with few people compared to Byron Bay. The beach at the point and look out was magnificent. Alex found many commemorative plaques for people who've died and she looked at all of them and told us their stories.

+29
Byron Bay ‐ Sep 1, 2023

93.9 km

Beginning of our road trip to Sydney. Drove to Byron Bay which is the hip trendy town along the coast. There are so many nice restaurants and shops. Stunning beach packed with people swimming, surfing, kayaking, jogging and walking from sunrise to sunset. Arabella rented a surf board and went surfing by herself. Such a brave girl. Since we arrived in Australia, we were struck by the active and healthy lifestyle and the beautiful environment. There is never ending sandy beaches. I wonder i [...]
f I could live in Australia? On our last day in Byron Bay, we went to the huge monthly community market. Wonderful vibes.

+43
Gold Coast ‐ Aug 29, 2023

26.4 km

Said goodbye to Liam and Apple. Apple is going back to Phuket to visit her family, while Liam will start new job working on a boat in New Zealand. It's been great having Liam on board. He's great with the kids and taught them surfing, took them to Dream World, caught and cooked numerous fish, and most of all helped with sailing and doing night watches. Good luck with your new job. While Grant was busy at Boatworks liaising with the PM, riggers, sail maker, engineers, the girls and I explor [...]
ed Gold Coast. Stayed at Sheraton Grand Mirage Resort on the Main Beach. Enjoyed yummy dim sum, bubble tea, Japanese ice cream and various asian treats.

+30

Sheraton Grand Mirage Resort

Bubble Bath

By Arabella After years of sailing in big oceans and going to so many deserted islands, there have been a couple of things we have wanted again and again whenever the weather gets cold and rainy or wh...
Boatworks, Coomera ‐ Aug 28, 2023

23.6 km

Went to Boatworks where Arabella would be hauled out for our annual servicing and various boat works. Seriously nerve wrecking as it was super tight. Our beam is 9.5m wide and the haul out clearance is 10m. The yard said our boat is the widest boat they've ever hauled out. Stunning boat yard - huge, clean, organised and very professional. Grant was super excited about getting the boat works done here. He's hired a project management company to oversee all the works.

+25
Southport Marina, Gold Coast ‐ Aug 25, 2023

170.9 km

Finally saw land in the morning!! Wow, so many high rise buildings. Didn't know anything about Gold Coast prior to arriving. Thought it's a quaint and small town. Arrived at Gold Coast Yacht CLub around 1130. So relieved. It's been a challenging everything went smoothly. After all the formalities, took a taxi to go to a hospital with Grant to check his ears. Told to go to another hospital ER and then to a general clinic to see a GP who was useless. This is the beginning of Grant's odyss [...]
ey to see an ENT doctor in Australia. Pretty cool to be in real civilisation after spending almost a year in the Pacific. The last major city we visited was Panama City last July!

+17

New Caledonia - Gold Coast Australia

We were always running late. We delayed leaving Fiji because we didn’t want to leave our friends. We delayed leaving New Caledonia because the weather wasn’t great and a few of us were not particulari...
Day 5 - New Caledonia to Gold Coast, Austalia ‐ Aug 24, 2023

314.4 km

+13

Day 5 - New Caledonia to Austalia

Day 5

Day 5 - New Caledonia to Australia You may be wondering why this post is so late? Or not because yes we arrived here already 3 days ago. Here are the passage stats Time: 5 days 1 hour Average...
Day 4 - New Caledonia to Gold Coast, Australia ‐ Aug 23, 2023

271.2 km

+19

Day 4 - New Caledonia to Australia

Day 4

Day 4 - New Caledonia to Australia Today was nicknamed Storm Runner because for most of the day we tried to avoid a huge squall which we spotted over 15nm away. To make it even more strange is that th...
Day 3 - New Caledonia to Gold Coast, Australia ‐ Aug 22, 2023

305.4 km

+26

Day 3 - New Caledonia to Australia

Day 3

Day 3 - New Caledonia to Australia Today has been epic. If any non sailor was onboard they would fall in love completely. This is not your typical day on the ocean. The crew have now all settled into...
Day 2 - New Caledonia to Gold Coast, Australia ‐ Aug 21, 2023

168 km

Day 2 - New Caledonia to Australia

Day 2

Today was a day of two halves. The first half starting with last night was tough. The wind was incredibly shifty and also stop start in nature. One minute it was blowing 20knots and the next 4knots. O...
Day 1 - New Caledonia to Gold Coast, Australia ‐ Aug 20, 2023

267.9 km

+2

Day 1 - New Caledonia to Australia

Day 1

It was a tough decision to go or not. We had already been waiting for a weather window for just over a week and delayed our arrival to Australia because of it. But the weather hasn’t been favourable a...
Ilot Kouare, New Caledonia ‐ Aug 19, 2023

61.9 km

Final stop before sailing off to Australia. Stunning remote island with soft sandy beach all around. Grant and I walked the whole island. Grant started feeling sick with high fever and shivering cold. Yucks!!! Not good right before our passage to Australia. Arabella and I also felt a bit sick with sore throat. Liam went spear fishing and got a gigantic cuttlefish which made the whole sea black. Made fried squid and stir fried squid, beans and light seafood broth with leeks and onion. Sa [...]
dly Grant missed dinner again. I also made tiramisu with Arabella and baked lasagna in preparation for the passage.

+20
Amedee Lighthouse ‐ Aug 17, 2023

40.4 km

Checked out of Noumea. Pain in the butt having to go to three different government offices (immigration, customs and harbour master) far away with a sore hip. Fortunately I have an electric scooter. As usual when we leave a country, I would go to market or supermarket to spend all the cash. Sailed south. Saw three beautiful humpback whale and stayed with them for long time. Beautiful creatures. Freezing cold. Arrived at Amedee Lighthouse island before dark. Magnificent steel lighthouse [...]
structure built in 1862. Next morning we climbed to the top at sunrise to soak it all in before the tour boats arrived.

+9

Waves

By Arabella In a rhythmic dance, waves rise and fall, Caressing shores with natures calls. Their salty whispers fill the air, A symphony of movements, wild and rare. Eternal surges, an unspoken art,...
Noumea ‐ Aug 11, 2023

+36

A week in Noumea

+26

Tjibaou cultural center

The magnificent and sad Tjibaou Cultural Center

by Delphine We did a half day trip to Tjibaou Cultural Center which is located in Tinu Peninsula northeast of historic Noumea. Designed by renowned architect Renzo Piano, the center is named after Jea...

A week in Noumea

Stayed at Port Moselle Marina for the week. Weather was spectacular with clear blue sky daily. A bit chilly for our lot though. We are not used to cold weather anymore. Unfortunately everybody on our...
Arrival to Noumea, New Caledonia - Day 5 ‐ Aug 10, 2023

0.2 km

Distance run today: 73nm (Avg speed 6.6kt) Total passage distance: 694nm (Avg speed 7.08kt) Arrived at the pass at 4am during slack tide when the current was weakest. Grant woke up to drive the boat. Apparently a number of boats had been pushed onto the reef at this pass, so we were a bit nervous especially it was pitch dark and the wind was blowing quite hard. All went smoothly. Liam stayed up and did Grant's watch so he could rest. Finally arrived at Port Moselle at 11am. Glad that the [...]
passage is over!!!
Passage to New Caledonia - Day 4 ‐ Aug 9, 2023

292.9 km

Distance run today: 184nm (Avg speed 7.67kt) Good sailing condition with sun shining and wind blowing. Unfortunately Captain Grant got sick and had a fever and sore throat. He rested in the evening as we will be arriving at a scary pass to New Caledonia in the middle of the night. Very strong wind tonight.
Passage to New Caledonia - Day 3 ‐ Aug 8, 2023

334 km

Distance run today: 170nm (Avg speed 7.1kt) Much better condition in the morning. Wind dropped a bit and the sea wasn't as rough. Sun came out. The sun always makes everything better. We decided to make dumplings, and shaped them into funky designs like dolphin, hammerhead, stingray, manta, turtle and marlin. Delicious dumpling dinner!

+7
Passage to New Caledonia - Day 2 ‐ Aug 7, 2023

564.7 km

Distance run today: 165nm (Avg speed 6.9kt) Un-forecasted strong wind all day (25-30kt), cloudy skies and very rough bumpy sea. Girls kept complaining of feeling seasick with sore tummies and headaches. Grant did Arabella's and Alex's night watches as the girls didn't feel well. Exhausted.
Passage to New Caledonia - Day 1 ‐ Aug 6, 2023

102.9 km

Distance run today: 102nm (Avg speed 6.8kt) Left Port Denarau at 9am in rainy and cold weather. Arabella felt better. Azania complained of terrible sore throat. Sea state was pretty rough. Big swells. Pretty uncomfortable for all.

+2
Bye bye Fiji

34.5 km

Here I am

By Grant Lately I have been reflecting on life, work and our little journey. I am writing this after just leaving Musket Cove off the main Island Viti Levu in Fiji which certainly feels like the clos...
Denarau Marina, Fiji ‐ Aug 1, 2023

35.2 km

+11

Barbie girls outing!!

+23

Life on the marina

Last stop in Fiji - Port Denarau

Our last stop in Fiji - Port Denarau. Despite numerous requests for berth at Port Denarau, we were told none was available. Never taking no for an answer, Grant went to the marina office and somehow t...
Musket Cove ‐ Jul 30, 2023

22.4 km

Back to Musket Cove one last time to say goodbye to SV Swift. Goodbyes often bring new friendships and that's the transient nature of cruising. We meet people, spend time with them in a rather intense manner and then we split up and go separate ways. Then we meet new people and the cycle repeats. Had farewell BBQ with Swift at the Island Bar and met Irenka, captain of SV Mothership. Wonderful British family who's been sailing for six years. Amazingly they have similar sailing plans as ou [...]
rs heading towards SE Asia and onto Indian Ocean.

+11

Last day of surfing

Our Last Day of Surfing

By Arabella Waking up to go surfing, getting ready in the morning, and eating breakfast—it all feels different this time. Today is our last day surfing in Fiji with our friends Pippa and Isla. We star...
Mana Island ‐ Jul 26, 2023

17 km

Went to Mana Island, just north of Musket Cove for few days. They have just finished shooting the latest season of 'Survivors' and allowed cruisers boats back in the lagoon. Lots of kiting for Grant, Liam and Arabella. A bit of rain and wind. Went for a walk on the hill and picnic lunch when the sun came out. Had farewell breakfast with Paula and Jim (SV Freydis) as we would be heading to Port Denarau to check out of Fiji and won't be seeing them again. Really enjoyed their company ever si [...]
nce we met them in Maupihaa back in May. After we left Mana, we stopped by the beautiful sandbank for a snorkel.

+19

Stunning sandbank

+21
Musket Cove ‐ Jul 22, 2023

38.5 km

Happy Birthday, Azania! She turned 5 and we had a fun birthday party at the beach restaurant in Plantation Resort with other boat friends. Auntie Judy also landed just in time to join the party.

+19

Azania turned 5!
Lautoka

38 km

Rugby Flying Fiji vs Kingdom of Tonga at Churchill Park A fun day cruise for adults out on SV Arabella to Lautoka to watch the rugby match between Tonga and Fiji. Stadium right in the middle of town. Awesome atmosphere with both Fijian and Tongan fans singing and dancing. Fiji won!

+15
Musket Cove, Fiji ‐ Jul 18, 2023

9.1 km

Grant booked a two night stay (no kids) at Likuliku resort for my birthday. We postponed once already last week due to bad weather. Sadly same thing happened again this time. After we arrived at the resort, the weather changed for the worst and strong gust of up to 50kt was projected in the middle of the night. After dinner, Grant went back to look after the boat and family on board. Fortunately it wasn't too bad and Grant returned to the resort in the morning. We absolutely did nothing. [...]
What a luxury!

+7

Short hike on Malolo

+13

Likuliku resort
Namotu Island ‐ Jul 17, 2023

27.7 km

Surfing, surfing, surfing.... In just few short days, the girls were surfing the waves. Andrew would decide which surf break (Swimming pool, Namotu left and the Wilkes Pass) to go to depending on the wind, swell and tides of the day. Great group of sporty girls who were all excited to learn and have caught the surfing bug! Quite scary for the spectator (i.e. mothers) to watch the girls being smashed by giant waves but they loved it. Very impressive to see these girls riding the waves.

The Last Day of Surfing

By Arabella Waking up to go surfing, getting ready in the morning, eating breakfast—it all feels different this time. Today is our last day surfing in Fiji with our friends Pippa and Isla. We started...
Vuda Marina ‐ Jul 12, 2023

28 km

A storm was projected to hit the area, so we took our boat to hide in Vuda Marina in the mainland. SV Magic Dragon from the UK, whom we met a year and a half ago when we crossed the Atlantic, was coming to meet us at Vuda Marina. We parted ways in Antigua last year and they had sailed to New Zealand during the cyclone season. Thrilled to catch up with our dear friends and see their lovely children, Dorothy, Vera and Peter. Also farewell to our new friends from Marco who're flying back home [...]
in Canada... so they thought. Flight was cancelled and so they had another week to play!

+25
Namotu Island ‐ Jul 10, 2023

11.3 km

Namotu Island is a beautiful tiny island few miles north of Musket Cove in the Mamanuca Islands. The island is a popular destination for surfers, thanks to its proximity to some of the best surf breaks in the world like Wilkes Pass, Namotu Left and the Swimming Pool. Andrew (surfing coach), Liam (our new crew) and the 6 Roxy girls Arabella, Alex, Farren, Izzy, Isla and Pippa were ready to hit the waves!

+21

Beautiful Namotu

+21

Surf girls
Musket Cove ‐ Jul 8, 2023

106.5 km

Before we arrived at Musket Cove, Grant arranged a surfing coach for the girls. The whole mission of coming to Fiji is for the girls to learn surfing. Through SV Freydis, we were introduced to Andrew, and Australian PE teacher who's also a surfing instructor. The girls and Andrew were out on the waves the next day we arrived. Girls will write about their surfing experience. Stay tuned.

+23
Somasoma Bay, Viti Levu, Fiji ‐ Jul 7, 2023

31.2 km

Quiet stopover before going to Musket Cove.
Pearl Resort, Viti Levu ‐ Jul 6, 2023

86.1 km

Anchored our boat off the Pearl Resort where the dive centre (Aqua-Trek) is located, we went to the resort for much needed Fijian cash and dinner at a restaurant. Feel like we are back in civilisation.

+18

Shark dive @ Bistro

Ultimate shark dive @ the Bistro

The Ultimate Shark Dive at the Bistro

A world famous shark dive, the friendly Aqua-Trek team pioneered shark diving in Fiji over 25 years ago. Aptly named the Bistro, we were thrilled to witness the shark feast. Grant, Arabella and I did...
Kadavu Island, Fiji ‐ Jul 3, 2023

328.3 km

Stopped at Kadavu island on our way to mainland Viti Levu. Famous for its Great Astrolabe Reef which is one of the largest barrier reefs in the world at 65km, the scale is truly breathtaking. We found a beautiful anchorage near Oneta resort where we arranged diving at the reef and snorkelling in the manta ray cleaning station. The dive was interesting with many soft corals and swim-throughs through arches and short tunnels. Met an American couple who just went diving with sharks along coast [...]
of Viti Levu. Next on our agenda, shark dive! Love this kind of serendipity and random encounters.

+18

+17

Underwater
Fulaga 2, Lau Group, Fiji ‐ Jul 1, 2023

3.6 km

+3

Morgan, Cindy & families

Morgan, Cindy & our girls

by Delphine In the past few weeks, we have been cruising in Fiji with SV Swift and SV Marco and got to know Morgan and Cindy, who are siblings from Victoria, Canada. Morgan is the captain of SV Swift...
Fulaga 1, Lau Group, Fiji ‐ Jun 27, 2023

37.5 km

Fulaga is a small remote island located in the southernmost part of the Lau group in Fiji. It is known for its pristine beaches, crystal-clear waters, and stunning coral reefs. The island is encircled by a fringing reef, which forms a natural barrier between the shallow lagoon and the deep ocean. The lagoon is dotted with numerous small islets and sandbars which we explored on dinghy and paddle board. Despite being relatively isolated, the island is inhabited by a small community of friendly [...]
and welcoming locals. After doing sevusevu in the village, each boat was assigned a local host family. Somehow we were assigned to the priest and his wife. Perhaps it's a sign that we need to repent! Highlights of our stay: 1. Epic kite surfing day on the sand spit. 2. Snorkeling and diving at the pass. Absolutely stunning corals and marine life. 3. Canada Day celebration with lots of wakeboarding and water skiing.

+22

Friendly Village

+22

Beautiful landscape

+29

Magnificent underwater

+24

Non-stop action

+11

Non-stop eating

My kitesurfing experience in Vulaga

by Alexandra It was a beautiful Tuesday morning, when the children have finished their school. All boats came to a sand bank to play and kite until the end of noon. Arabella got herself ready on the b...
Yagasa Island, Fiji ‐ Jun 23, 2023

96 km

Following our friends' boat SV Swift to this uninhabited island, we arrived at this most stunning anchorage full of bommies, rocks and beaches. Amazing few days of action and fun with SV Swift, Marco, Tribalance and Aventure at our private anchorage - bonfire and beach barbecue, water olympics competition, snorkelling, spear fishing, lobster hunting, pedal boarding, bird watching, squid fishing, sleepover, etc. Our girls bonded with the 4 girls from Swift and Marco. Pure happiness.

+34
Lakebo Island ‐ Jun 22, 2023

120.2 km

Quick overnight at Lakeba en route to Southern Lau. Very rolly and uncomfortable anchorage.
Bay of Islands 2, Lau Group, Fiji ‐ Jun 20, 2023

1 km

Arabella is officially a teenager!! It's her 13th birthday. We had a lovely celebration with five friends' boats in the most magical setting in the Bay of the Islands. Braai on the Weber, lots of cakes and movie night on the trampoline. Happy Birthday Arabella!

+13

Arabella turns 13!

My Birthday

by Arabella The light shone through my window, saying it was the start of a new day. Not just any day, it was my birthday. I woke up at 6 o’clock excited for what plans lay ahead. Hopped out of bed an...
Bay of Islands 1, Lau Group, Fiji ‐ Jun 19, 2023

8.4 km

Bay of the Islands is a picturesque and secluded spot located on the island of Vanua Balavu in Fiji. The numerous islands in the bay are remnants of ancient volcanic activity, forming dramatic rock protrusions and cliffs. The surrounding fringe reef provided a natural barrier that protects the islands from the full force of the ocean's waves, creating a multitude of magnificent sheltered bays for anchorages. Beautiful photos don't tell the full story of paradise though... we were eaten alive [...]
by sandflies! Sandflies are tiny, biting insects that are commonly found in tropical and subtropical regions. Sandflies are smaller than mosquitoes, and their bites are extremely itchy and lasts longer. We had our first experience with sandflies in San Blas coincidentally at the same time last year for Arabella's birthday!

+14
Daliconi, Fiji

43.9 km

Visited the village of Daliconi to present kava to the village chief. Another charming village which is basic but tidy and well kept. Got the feeling that people are proud of their homes and village. Warm welcome by the village chief and the elders.

+6
Susui, Lau Group, Fiji ‐ Jun 16, 2023

8.2 km

We had a wonderful experience at the village Susui. Had our first sevusevu ceremony with the Village Chief and we were welcomed into their community like family. Barbecued rock oysters on the beach. Attended church service on Sunday. Visited the school and gave them lots of books and supplies. See Alex's post for full story.

+3

Happy Father’s Day

+53

Alex's experience in Susui

My experience in Susui By Alex We anchored in front of the village Susui, and went into the village to do Sevusevu on Saturday. Sevusevu is a traditional ceremony of giving a gift to the village chief...
Lomaloma (Day 2 sail), Lau Group, Fiji ‐ Jun 14, 2023

262.6 km

Good strong wind for the entire passage which meant our sail was up during day and night, which also meant Captain didn't get much sleep especially the last night before arriving Vanua Balavu. We had the parasail up and was flying at 8-9kts. Multiple squalls to deal with. Had to try to slow the boat down so that we would arrive at the pass after sunrise.

+2
Day 1 sail to Lau Group ‐ Jun 13, 2023

288.1 km

Night watch
Port Maurelle (#7), Tonga, Tonga ‐ Jun 12, 2023

10.9 km

Final stop at Port Maurelle in Tonga before sailing to Fiji. When we first arrived Vavau, we stopped by this anchorage but left as there were too many boats. Beautiful spot indeed and definitely the best sandy beach we've visited so far in Vavau. Also easy hop to Marina's Cave and Swallow Cave which was great fun. Bye bye Tonga. We really loved the people we met and the places we visited. The weather has just been a bit grey and chilly. Off we go to Fiji!

+9

Mariner’s Cave and Swallow Cave

+18

Mariner’s & Swallow Caves

Little dinghy driver
Neiafu, Tonga ‐ Jun 11, 2023

19.2 km

+3
Hunga Lagoon (#13), Tonga ‐ Jun 10, 2023

20.4 km

With calm weather, we sailed into the Hunga Lagoon via a very narrow passageway with a rock sticking out in the middle. Rafted up with our new friends from Seaweed. Snorkelling in turquoise blue water. Grant spear fish a nice big grouper. Braai on the beach. Wakeboarding and wake skating on flat water.

+12
Neiafu (#1), Tonga ‐ Jun 8, 2023

28.1 km

Went into town as the weather was looking miserable. Lots of boats finding refuge in the bay, one of which is Seaweed. They're friends of SV Waterdogs and have just arrived from Cook Islands. Fun Texan couple with two kids (Jona and Journey). Journey (aged 6) immediately became best friend of Azania.

+7
'Ovalau (#40), Tonga ‐ Jun 7, 2023

18 km
Lolo (#30), Tonga ‐ Jun 4, 2023

19.4 km

David invited us on the beach to have kava. Kava is a beverage or extract made from the Piper methysticum plant. In the South Pacific, it's a popular drink that is used in ceremonies for relaxation. After kava we went to the east coast as wind picked up for kiting. Quite tricky getting there as there were a lot of shallow reefs. On our way, we saw big black fins gliding next to our boat. There were three huge manta rays. Arabella and Alexandra jumped in the water but struggled as current w [...]
as strong. Probably not the smartest thing to jump in the water. We snorkelled, walked on the beach, did a bit of hiking on the island. Grant and Arabella kite surfed. Had an epic afternoon on a stunning sandy island beach that is only exposed in low tide.

+13

Kava with David
Vaka'eitu (#16), Tonga ‐ Jun 1, 2023

17.8 km

Anchored in Vaka'eitu where we reconnected with SV Swift whom Grant met in Raiatea. Canadian family with two teenager girls who're also kiters. Also met an American boat with two brothers John and Ben from the Mid West. They plan to work during the summer in Alaska as fisherman and cruise for the rest of the year. Hosted a nice dinner with both families. Went onshore for an incredible Tongan Feast on the beach hosted by David and his family. We went with very low expectation and was blown [...]
away by the spread (piglet on spit, chicken, beef, ceviche, octopus and seafood salads, potato salads, etc) and how delicious everything was. Most of all David and his family was super welcoming and fun.

Amazing Tongan Feast
Neiafu (#1), Tonga ‐ May 31, 2023

3.4 km

Neiafu is the main town of the Vavau Islands. Pretty smooth check in process (you never know how it might go). Quaint friendly little town with a few restaurants, cafe, shops and an open air market. Met a bunch of new people at Cafe Tropicana, the meeting spot for cruisers. The World Arc Rally cruising boats are in town, so it's rather busy in town and anchorages.
Lotuma (#5), Tonga ‐ May 30, 2023

54.8 km

Arrived Vavau in late afternoon. Very different landscape from French Polynesia with many low lying islands and reefs. Very lush and seem undeveloped.
Vavau Islands, Tonga

306 km

Went to bed on the 28th and woke up on the 30th! Lost a day as we passed through the international date line.
Passage Niue to Tonga ‐ May 28, 2023

91.1 km
Niue, Niue ‐ May 26, 2023

178.8 km

Niue, also known as Savage Island or the Rock, is a small island nation located in the South Pacific Ocean. It is one of the smallest countries in the world, with a population of just over 1,600 people and land size of 260 sq km. Niue is a large coral island rising to a height of 60m above sea level , surrounded by crystal-clear waters and home to a diverse array of marine life like sea snakes, dolphins and whales (from July to October). The island is also known for its sea tracks, limestone cav [...]
es, pristine forests, and picturesque beaches. We rented a car to drive around the island which is incredibly lush. A big surprise to find a 9 hole golf course on the island! It’s been ages since Grant and the girls picked up golf clubs. It was lovely to walk the grounds and hit some balls. We were also struck by the friendliness of the people. From the staff at immigration and customs, to the visitor centre, car rental, grocery store, everybody we encountered was super friendly and helpful.

+21

Niue on land

Family golf @ Niue
Passage to Niue ‐ May 25, 2023

83.3 km

As we were sailing towards Tonga (2 overnight sail), the condition was miserable - no wind, cold and rainy with big swell. We were motoring the whole way on the first day and appeared to have to motor on Day 2 as well. Captain Grant decided to change course and sail to Niue instead. Sailing to Niue was a gamble because the World ARC boats had booked all the moorings from May 23-30. We arrived Niue at 330am and had to find if there's a mooring buoy available in pitch dark. Didn't look good. [...]
We searched from one end to the other end, and finally on the far north, we saw one and only free buoy! What a relief.
Beveridge Reef, Cook Islands ‐ May 22, 2023

0.1 km

Beveridge Reef is probably one of the most remote anchorages in the world and what a magnificent place! There is no land or inhabitant as it is a submerged coral atoll located in the South Pacific Ocean. The shallow lagoon is home to a diverse range of marine life, including colorful corals, fish, and plenty of grey sharks. Due to its remote location and difficult access, Beveridge Reef remains largely untouched, making it a pristine and unique ecosystem. Despite its beauty, the reef poses a si [...]
gnificant hazard to shipping, with numerous vessels having run aground on its submerged coral over the years. There’s also been a number of shark attacks in recent years.

+17

Beveridge Ridge

Alex’s jumping rope
Day 6 FP to Beveridge Reef ‐ May 21, 2023

296.9 km

+3
Day 5 FP to Cook Islands ‐ May 20, 2023

288.5 km

+7
Day 4 FP to Cook Islands ‐ May 19, 2023

331.4 km

Another great team effort landing this 50kg Yellowfin Tuna. Hooked on whilst flying the parasail doing 8knots. Incredible effort from all to manage to not loose this fish. Even more, the efficiency of the clean, fillet and processing process. Well done team especially Arabella on helming the big boat and Delphine for everything. You are officially a fishergirl! PS. Notice the tuna biltong production in the pics

+5

Day 4 FP to Niue

Catching a 50kg yellowfin tuna
Day 3 FP to Cook Islands ‐ May 18, 2023

310.1 km

Alex made a quick little video. Now doing 10knots in 15knots of wind. I love a reach with our Black Sail.

+10

Unfurling the black sail
Day 2 - FP to Cook Islands ‐ May 17, 2023

279.7 km

Well that was not the most pleasant evening. Awful sea state. For those unfamiliar with this term it means the sea is like a washing machine. No pattern. Boats being tipped in all directions. If you are prone to seasick you would be very sick. I think my crew are holding up but they are mostly asleep. The wind is right up our bum and not enough to get speed and hold a good course so until sunrise we will hang in motor sailing and pray for a change in conditions.

+5
Day 1 - FP to Cook Islands ‐ May 16, 2023

39.2 km
Maupiha'a, French Polynesia ‐ May 14, 2023

221.7 km

+12

Maupihaa pass

Mauruuru Roa, Nana Polynésie française (Thank you very much and goodbye French Polynesia)

Mauruuru Roa, Nana Polynésie française (Thank you very much and goodbye French Polynesia) I am not sure why reflecting on periods of your life can feel so emotional. Is it perhaps the thought that tho...

Maupihaa

By Grant So the last stop in French Polynesia was Maupihaa. After 8 months, this is the longest we have spent in any country. French Polynesia covers more surface area than Europe, so we needed the t...
Departing for Maupihaa ‐ May 13, 2023

35.8 km

+7
Taurere, Bora Bora ‐ May 10, 2023

18.7 km

+23

Polynesian dance
Conrad Anchorage, Bora Bora ‐ May 8, 2023

53.4 km

+16

Snorkeling in Bora Bora

Quest for eggs

The Quest for Eggs

By Grant In mid April, while Delphine and the girls were in Japan, we finished all the eggs on board. I wasn’t too fazed as I knew I could just pick some up in supermarkets in Raiatea. So far we haven...
Lonely Kite Anchorage, Raiatea ‐ Apr 29, 2023

9 km

+10
Motu Taoru, Raiatea ‐ Apr 26, 2023

24 km
Trip to Hokkaido, Japan ‐ Apr 21, 2023

23.1 km

+48

Beautiful Hokkaido

+47

Family pics

+24

Amazing food

+38

Tokyo adventure

TeamLab Experience, Tokyo

Surprise trip to Japan

By Delphine Before COVID hit, my parents, sisters, Arabella, Alex and I used to go to Japan every year to see the cherry blossom, go to onsen and eat delicious food. It’s like the Yip family traditio...

I was lost (Sapporo, Hokkaido)

By Alex So, we were shopping for warm clothes at a place called Uniqlo in Sapporo. I was on the seventh floor of a shopping center. Then Popo and I went to the bathroom. I heard Popo leave the bathroo...
- Raiatea Airport ‐ Apr 22, 2023
  
  10 km
  - Tokyo, Japan ‐ Apr 22, 2023
    
    9 281.1 km
    
    Sapporo, Japan ‐ Apr 23, 2023
    
    831.8 km
    
    Hakodate, Japan
    
    275.7 km
    
    Tokyo, Japan ‐ May 2, 2023
    
    1 075.8 km
    
    Raiatea ‐ May 3, 2023
Tahaa, Motu Ceran ‐ Apr 18, 2023

7.8 km

Matteo and Marina’s birthday party

+8
Tahaa Town ‐ Apr 17, 2023

16.4 km

+4
West Tahaa ‐ Apr 15, 2023

87.3 km

+7
Maupiti ‐ Apr 12, 2023

58.5 km

+36
Bloody Mary, Bora Bora ‐ Apr 10, 2023

20.3 km

+10
Taurere, Bora Bora ‐ Apr 3, 2023

18.7 km

+3

Azania’s artwork

Close encounter with Manta

The Wind and our conscious self

By Grant The wind is a funny thing. When you want it, it’s nowhere to be found. When you don’t it comes as a ferocious force. That’s the life at sea. The wind is both our friend and our foe. But late...

Close encounter with the manta

by Delphine At the stern of our catamaran, we have these underwater blue lights which we turn on in the evening. Not only the blue light looks cool, the light makes plankton and other small organism...

True Spirit, Jessica Watson

by Alex Last night on the flybridge we watched this heartwarming movie called “True Spirit”. It was about a young 12-year-old dyslexic Australian girl who had a dream to be the youngest girl to sail...
Vaitape, Bora Bora ‐ Apr 1, 2023

14.4 km

Southwest anchorage off Conrad Hotel. Another stunning anchorage - expansive wide anchorage in the lagoon looking west towards Maupiti with very few boats. Anchorages in the Society Islands are so different from the Marquesas and Tuamotus. Here the boats are spread far apart in huge open lagoons between mainland and the motus (reef), whereas in the Marquesas and Tuamotus, boats need to tuck tight and close to shore to protect from wind and current.

+13
Pahua, Bora Bora ‐ Mar 30, 2023

79.7 km

Arrived Bora Bora and caught up with Kissanga. Invited Dragonfly and Kissanga over for movie night on flybridge. We watched a fantastic documentary 'Untold. The race of the century' about the America Cup in 1983, and how it was won by the underdog Australian team against the American team, ending the long winning streak in the history of the event.
Nao Nao, Raiatea ‐ Mar 27, 2023

35.8 km

Amandine and I took the little ones and drove to town to do some grocery shopping before sailing down to Nao Nao. Magnificent anchorage. One of the nicest we've been to in all of French Polynesia. Very tricky to navigate as the water is super shallow with lots of reef, and only one narrow channel to drive towards the anchorage area. It is also the best snorkelling spot after Tahanea. Dragonfly, Follia and Anyway were with us during this time.

+27
Raiatea ‐ Mar 20, 2023

62 km

Dragonfly took their boat out at the boatyard to fix their leaking rudder. While their boat's on the hard, we offered the Pollards to stay with us as it's way too hot and uncomfortable for the family to stay on their boat otherwise. Had a lovely adults only dinner with Dragonfly and Kissanga at a beautiful restaurant on the water, called Fish and Blue. Breathtaking sunset. We found out the owner is the auntie of Maeva (lady of another French cruising family whom we met in the Caribbean).

+10
Avea Bay, Huahine ‐ Mar 18, 2023

14 km

Beautiful anchorage in the south. Water so flat and clear. Saw many porcupine fish and eagle ray. Lots of water sports. Celebrated Amandine's birthday with a braai on our boat. We had a leg of lamb, potatoes, cerviche and salads. For dessert, we had Arabella's banoffee pie and my bread pudding. Met two new boats - Nanuk and Follia. Very big and late party on Follia.

+8

Starlink

While we were in Huahine, Pierre from Nanuk pedalled to our boat and started chatting to Grant. Cool fella. He rowed across the Atlantic when he was young. A avid sportsman with lots of water sports t...
Fare, HUAHINE ‐ Mar 17, 2023

159.9 km

Full day sail from Moorea to Huahine. Finally end of our fishing draught on Arabella!!! We were flying the gennekar when the fishing line rang!! We immediately furled away the sail. Grant was anxious and wanted to make sure we didn't lose it. It's been bothering him a lot that he hasn't caught a fish for months. It’s a big mahi mahi - 13kg and 1.4m long. So thrilled. We had delicious sashimi and poke bowl for dinner.

+10
Moorea-Maiao ‐ Mar 13, 2023

39.7 km

Before we arrived at anchorage in Moorea, Grant arranged Arabella and Alex to go wakeboarding on the spinnaker halyard. So cool. Tiny girls wakeboarding behind the big boat. Crazy dad and daughters. We had a very fun day on land. Amandine arranged a van to take the two families to go zip lining in the forest at Tiki Parc. Beautiful landscape and the zip lining set up was professional. The staff taught you how to use the harness and then you’re on your own. Much better than the one in Anti [...]
gua where there’s staff managing every run. Here you are free to roam about and very safe. There were runs of different difficulties and everybody had a blast. There were runs for little kids and Azania and Lee just did it over and over again. Big kids did all the runs and even did bungie jumping. At night, we played poker. Azania was on my team and we won everything!

Flying Fox Moorea
Tahiti ‐ Mar 7, 2023

40.6 km

Dragonfly left the Tuamotus two days ago to sail to Papeete. They arrived today. It's been over a month since we last saw them and we were all excited to see them again. Short sail from Moorea to Papeete mooring field near the airport. We anchored in the shallow water with sandy bottom. Water is so clear. Invited the Pollards over for dinner and made an Indian feast inspired by Manoj - buttered chicken, dal, zucchini fritters, flatbread and rice. At night, there were stingrays hanging o [...]
ut behind our boat and the kids were swimming with the rays against the backdrop of Papeete town. Beautiful sight. Being in Tahiti means lots of boat jobs, running errands and provisioning. Azania has become my provisioning buddy and we always go to supermarkets together. She has her own shopping list and kids' trolley and she always fills up the trolley with goodies and sweets.

+26

Back to Tahiti
Opunohu, Moorea ‐ Mar 4, 2023

160.8 km

Woke up at 5 to sail from Huahine to Moorea. A full day sail covering +70nm. Cloudy and rainy in the afternoon. Long time since we saw so much rain. Fortunately we arrived at the pass with daylight and it wasn't too bad. We sailed all the way into the deep bay for anchoring when suddenly we were hit with big squall and gusts up to 35kt. Grant dropped the anchor chains but there was no way to put on the bridle to the anchor chain in this wind. We were all soaked and waiting for the squall to [...]
pass. Finally it stopped after 20 minutes and we put on bridle.

+18
Huahine

69 km

No wind. Super hot. Painful. Something wrong with the dinghy pulley. Grant spent all morning fixing it and Arabella was squashed literally inside the bench to help Grant with nuts and bolts. Only a tiny person with skinny arm could reach the nuts.
Tahaa ‐ Mar 3, 2023

41.3 km

Awesome cycle around the island. 43km. Rented two electric bikes and one mountain bike (French Polynesia prohibits children under 14 to ride electric bikes on their own). Grant was riding with little Azania on an electric bike, Arabella or Alex took turns on the mountain bike and Delphine was with either Alex/ Arabella on a tandem electric bike. It was a very hot day but the ride was beautiful. Most of the journey was on flat land along the coast, and we made stops for ice cream and lunch. There [...]
were two hills to climb though. Kudos to Arabella and Alex for riding on the mountain bike. Pretty hard sweaty work. Along the way, we stopped and found a bench next to the water so the girls could do their Chinese zoom class with Flora Laoshi. Literally the world is their classroom!

+6
Motu Avi, Coral Gardens, Tahaa ‐ Mar 2, 2023

25.5 km

Grant received Facebook message from an old Woodbridge (Grant's old school in South Africa) friend last week. The lady read Alex’s book and was so impressed that she suggested to Woodbridge to have a copy of her book in the library! They did and her book was read out to Grade 4,5 and 6 kids. Apparently the kids loved it. Incredible.
Baie Vaoaara - Anapa Pearl Farm ‐ Feb 28, 2023

22.9 km

Adam and Mara arranged a lovely visit to Anapa pearl farm. Wow, what a gem in the most spectacular setting! The building is a stunning little wooden structure on stilts sitting on a shallow reef in turquoise water . Our guide Summer gave us a lovely tour and presentation on how pearls are farmed and harvested. Fascinating! Black pearls are beautiful. We all jumped into the water to snorkel and to see the extensive netting structure where the oysters were attached.

+11

Baie Vaoaara - Pearl Farm
Hurepiti, Tahaa ‐ Feb 27, 2023

42.6 km

Did a vanilla farm and island tour of Tahaa. Quite enjoyable as the guide Noel is very sweet and friendly. His parents land is full of different variety of trees, plants and fruit. He showed us vanilla plant and explained how labor is needed to inseminate so that a flower will grow. The vanilla pod is the stem of the flower. Takes 9 months. After that it’s all manually sun dried and turned. Crazy hard work. No wonder it’s so expensive.

+14
Vaitape, Bora Bora ‐ Feb 26, 2023

18.3 km

Incredible encounter with half a dozen massive manta rays not far from the Four Seasons. Such beautiful and elegant creatures that just glide in the water.

+2
Taurere, Bora Bora ‐ Feb 25, 2023

8 km

+7

Manta rays, Bora Bora
Four Seasons Bora Bora ‐ Feb 24, 2023

9.7 km

Arriving in Bora Bora we couldn’t miss not going to look at our very good friends, Kenny, Patty, Goodwin and Yama’s resort the Four Seasons Bora Bora. What we anticipated being a short tour and dinner ended up to being hosted in one of their amazing family villas with private pool and beach. The pictures tell the story for after a big refit in 2019/20 the place looks amazing. The Four Seasons is a magnificent property. The facilities, the setting and natural environment is just stunning!! W [...]
ell done you clever devils. Thank you so much to you and your management team for looking after us so splendidly. Our children are now huge fans of the Four Seasons which is very dangerous. Another memorable experience in our sailing adventure.

+49
Faatahi, Bora Bora ‐ Feb 23, 2023

54.4 km

+8
Maupiti ‐ Feb 21, 2023

87.9 km

Woke up at 5 in the morning to lift anchor to sail to Maupiti. Good wind. Big swell too. Not so good for entering pass which is quite narrow. Not recommended to pass if wind over 20kts and swell bigger than 1.5m. If we could 't cross the pass, we had to sail back to Bora Bora. Fortunately we went in the long and narrow pass without incident. Beautiful inside. Small island with mountain and beautiful big lagoon. We anchored near the pass which is where manga ray cleaning station is. For the n [...]
ext few days, we did lots of water sports - wakeboarding, electric foil, knee boaridng, stand up pedal boarding, snorkelling and kiting. Beautiful island.

+24

+3

Water sports
Taha’a Coral Gardens ‐ Feb 20, 2023

19.8 km

+6
Tahaa Lagoon ‐ Feb 19, 2023

226.1 km

Sailed overnight from Papeete to Tahaa to meet up with our friends (Adam and Mara, and their daughters Kenning and Ryan) from California whom we met last Christmas in Bequia. Their boat was called Luna Bay II and they also joined the ARC (Atlantic Rally Crossing). They sailed for one year and then returned home last summer. Grant and Adam stayed in touch and Adam decided to bring his family to French Polynesia for cruising holiday during spring break. They chartered a boat and our meeting pl [...]
ace was in the lagoon in Tahaa. Stunning anchorage! The geography and landscape is magnificent - a blend between Marquesas (mountains) and the Tuamotus (lagoon and reefs).

+10
Papeete ‐ Feb 15, 2023

237.6 km

Last day on the boat with my parents and Elkie as they're heading home after a month stay on the boat. Their flight's at 2am. Last minute drama. We had to go to the airport in two trips as the rented car was tiny. At midnight Grant first took Elkie to the airport with all the luggages, and then he came back to fetch my parents and me. It’s 12:30 when he called me that he’s been stopped by police for driving on the wrong side of the road coming out from the airport. Damn! When my parent [...]
s and I came out of the marina gate to meet him, there were two police cars with 5-6 heavily armed policemen with big rifles! Quite intimidating!! O dear, please let us go. The officers suspected he was drunk, but Grant actually didn't drink at all in February. He explained that he was confused as there were no cars on the road and he's used to driving on the other side of the road in HK and South Africa. The policemen were very friendly and they let us go. Phew!

+14
Makatea ‐ Feb 13, 2023

93.4 km

Quick stop in Makatea, a very unique atoll that's different from the rest in the Tuamotus. Unlike most atolls that are completely flat and almost at sea level, Makatea is a raised atoll pushed up from ocean floor. Land is fertile and so green and lush. Fascinating geological formation. We went onshore for a tour given by Julien the mayor. He gave us a great history lesson of the atoll. The phosphate mining operation was a major one from 1906 to 1966. Huge infrastructure was built with rail [...]
way, funicular, bridges and a big port. Million of holes were drilled in the land for mining phosphate. Makatea was once a prosperous and bustling place before the operator and workers all left to join the nuclear testing operations. The mining facilities were abandoned. Julien took us to see the drilled holes, the abandoned equipment and buildings. Quite a surreal sight. We also went to a lookout point on the east coast, walked along the beach next to shear cliffs, and dipped in fresh water cave. He brought his ukulele and sang songs. The tour ended at his house for a delicious lunch before we left to sail to Tahiti.

+38

The ocean, the sky and the land of the Tuamotus

The ocean, the sky and the land of the Tuamotus Our lives are spent predominantly on land where occasionally we might look up at the sky or jump in the sea. But how often do we think about these diffe...
Tikehao ‐ Feb 11, 2023

75.8 km

Quick stop at Tikehao. Arranged morning diving with a local dive operator. , As soon as we went in, we entered a magical world. Stunning corals and bustling sea life. Strong current and Grant helped me along. The first half was just spectacular. Saw few sharks resting under rocks. Saw plenty of moray eels. Unfortunately didn’t see tiger shark or hammerhead, but still a spectacular dive.

+9

Diving @ Rangiroa & Tikehao
Rangiroa ‐ Feb 9, 2023

200.5 km

After a hectic week of non-stop gatherings, we set sail for Rangiroa. Beautiful day. Light wind so quite easy. Good for my parents. Such a different feeling immediately after leaving the anchorage - a sense of space, peace and expansiveness. Love the feeling of passages. It's an overnight passage. We watched 'Ratatouille' on the flybridge in the evening. Rangiroa is famous for diving with the dolphins. So we organised two dives as soon as we arrived. We were not disappointed. We saw thr [...]
ee bottle nose dolphins. Very big ones with quite a few injuries on their bodies. They swam back and forth, sometimes went to surface for air. We encountered them a few times. Such gentle and beautiful mammals.

+10
False Pass, Toau ‐ Feb 1, 2023

47.6 km

Today's our last day with all boats as we would sail to Rangiroa tomorrow. Grant had arranged with Gaston and Valentine (the couple who lives there) to host a farewell party at their place. In the early morning, the boys went onshore to slaughter the piglet and cooked it on a spit over fire. All the ladies went snorkelling. Very shallow waters with lots of beautiful bommies. In the afternoon, we had a huge feast. The piglet was amazing. Very tender and fatty. We needed to have two sitting [...]
s as we had too many people. Kids ate first followed by the adults. Fun afternoon. Big kids were roaming about on their own. At some point they all left to go to our boat. They were swimming and jumping off the bow and climbing back to boat. Having good fun. While adults were just chatting onshore, we saw Gabe (15 yos) coming full speed on a dinghy and told us that Arnold (12yos) jumped from boat and knocked his chin on the hull and his mouth was bleeding. Our hearts sank. Oh dear, another accident. Val and Gavin are both doctors and so immediately they went to check on Arnold. Fortunately it’s not too serious and he was ok. He broke a tooth and cut his lips. Having medical emergencies onboard while in remote areas are definitely one of the most stressful things about cruising.

+25

Reunion with Waterdogs, Milonga & Kithara

During our ARC (Atlantic Rally Crossing) in 2021, we met a few dozen family boats and we were pretty much cruising together in the Caribbean for the season. However most of the boats subsequently eith...
Wallace Anchorage, Toau

12.1 km

Birthday celebration for Alex and Grant on this beautiful beach with my family and seven other boats - Dragonfly, Waterdogs, Six and half, Kithara, Milonga, Black Mambas and Ahimsa. With so many people, hosting a birthday party on the boat is quite difficult and stressful. On the beach, kids can run around, play and swim. Adults make the fire, cook and chat. Plenty of space for everybody. Every boat always contributes some food for sharing and there're always plenty of cakes and desserts, f [...]
ollowed by marshmallows on the fire. Beautiful sunset and then we'll be back on our boats before dark.

+28

Wallace’s anchorage
Morton’s Bay, Toau, French Polynesia ‐ Jan 21, 2023

47.2 km

+11

Celebrating Chinese New Year of the Rabbit

+19

Working on Morton’s farm

Morton’s Farm

Another first… ciguatera poisoning! :-(

Ever since we arrived in French Polynesia, we have been extremely cautious about eating fish and potential exposure to ciguatera. We have been told a number of horror stories about cruisers getting ci...

More farming and monster squall

Morgan had left for Fakarava yesterday afternoon to pick up farm supplies (animal feed mostly) as the supply ship was finally arriving and he was also picking up his brother Louis. So we're helping to...

Chinese New Year in Toau

Quite surreal to be celebrating Chinese New Year in an atoll with my parents, Elkie and Morton our guest! On New Year's Day, the girls all dressed up in qipaos that Elkie brought for them. Took some...

Farming with Morton

We met Morton a month ago when we came to Toau. We really enjoyed meeting him and his wife Chinalta (who has since returned to the US where she lives). We wanted to find a calm and peaceful anchorage...
Rotoava, Fakarava ‐ Jan 20, 2023

65.6 km

Crazy hectic day. Check out and check in on board Arabella! My family was flying from Papeete to Fakarava at noon, while the Mehtas were flying out from Fakarava on the same plane. In the morning, we had to dispose trash, did grocery shopping at gas station and boulangerie, filled up petrol and diesel, tidy up boat, put away the smartkat and load up our dinghies with Manoj's luggage. Elkie went to Carrefour for some last minute grocery shopping for us in Tahiti and then had to dash to the [...]
airport to catch their flight. 277kg luggage total! They broke Manoj's record just 2 weeks ago! Fortunately everything got through and they arrived safely. The Mehtas and my family even got to catch up briefly in the airport! It has been almost two years since we last saw my parents in Hong Kong. With the strict COVID travel restrictions and quarantine, they haven't been able to travel at all. We were both excited and anxious for them to come on the boat.

+6

The Mehta’s Visit

The Mehtas Like all our guests we expect them to bring a fair amount of provisioning. We have become very experienced managers of mules and if we ever found ourselves really struggling for cash we cou...

Parents and Elkie arrived!

After two weeks on Arabella, the Mehta family left for Tahiti and my parents and sister (Elkie) arrived in Fakarava on the same day. The Mehtas and my family even managed to give each other Chinese Ne...
90nm Passage back to Fakarava ‐ Jan 19, 2023

102.1 km

Set sail for Fakarava at 5am. The waves at the pass were massive. It was the worst that we've experienced so far crossing the pass. Lots of things fell to the ground. Manoj and Sharon got woken up and it was pretty scary. Girls also got out of bed. Gave them seasick patches. Fortunately it only lasted few minutes. Phew. Full day sail back to Fakarava. Last night with the Mehtas. We had a nice dinner talking about their trip and how they enjoyed this cruising experience. Made a video [...]
for them as a memento.

Mehta family in the Tuamotu
South East Tahanea ‐ Jan 18, 2023

8.3 km

+16

Stunning anchorage
Tahanea Regatta, 2nd in Pacific Series

14.1 km

+43

Smartkat Regatta & after party BBQ on beach

Pacific Smartkat Regatta

The regatta had to be postponed by a day due to strong winds (over 25kt) and huge waves on the previous day. It would be too dangerous to sail in such condition. The next morning we woke up to beauti...
Tahanea Central Pass Anchorage ‐ Jan 16, 2023

12 km

Epic snorkeling in Central Pass with all the boats parents and kids. Beautiful corals, lots of parrot fish, trumpet fish, black tip sharks and a mean looking moray eel. Next Grant got the kids sailing to the next anchorage on the smartkats - Arabella and the girls on one smartkat, the boys on another and Black Mamba big boy on optimist. They packed drinks and snacks. They got hit by a squall but they managed and had fun. Finally we arrived at the anchorage. Beautiful spot. Long pristine bea [...]
ches, turquoise water. Had dinner at Dargonfly. Saw a bunch of baby sea turtles on the back of their boat. Incredible sight! Sadly there were plenty of sharks lurking around. We wondered how many would survive.

+4

Magnificent Tahanea

+10

Snorkeling & diving @ Tahanea passes

Snorkeling at pass (Tahanea)
Tahanea Central Pass Anchorage ‐ Jan 13, 2023

184.9 km

Action packed day with all the toys out: 1. Arabella and Alex took the girls sailing on smartkat. 2. Wakeboarding 3. Seabob - Aryana was transporting Lee and Azania on seabob all afternoon 4. Azania and Lee were swimming, snorkeling, jumping off magic carpet non stop. 5. Snorkeling 6. Foiling 7. Manoj and Sharon took smartkat with motor and explored the atoll 8. SUP 9. Drone 10. Diving at the pass

+28
North West Faaite ‐ Jan 12, 2023

21.8 km

Set sail to from Fakarava South to Tananae. Started nice and easy but then the wind got stronger and stronger. Gave seasick pills to all the girls. They all slept on the flybridge. It was getting bumpier and bumpier. Then the rain hit and everybody went downstairs to sleep more. The squalls were relentless and the wind kept shifting directions. Grant was quite stressed out especially Manoj’s family’s on the boat. Big swells and waves crashing in. Very uncomfortable. We had full main sail up [...]
and we can’t bear down towards the atoll as the wind wouldn’t abate. Finally Grant decided to drop the mainsail and we motored to the anchorage. Relieved to enter the lagoon which is much flatter. Found nice anchorage in shallow water near central pass. Loads of sharks and fish surrounded us. Loved this anchorage. Again we were the only boat in the atoll. Very raw. This atoll is uninhabited and is part of national park. Dragonfly caught a 1.5m wahoo!! It’s huge. They gave us the head for soup and filets. We made sashimi immediately and it was delicious. Made miso soup and sushi for dinner. It’s been so long since we caught a fish. This is perfect. Super tasty.
North East Faaite ‐ Jan 11, 2023

43.8 km

+18

Alex’s first novel - Giants rising

Alexandra wrote her first novel

During the Pacific crossing, Alexandra announced that she will write her first book to kill time during passage. She has been reading lots of novels by Rick Riordan and Shannon Messenger, and decided...
South Pass Fakarava ‐ Jan 6, 2023

51.7 km

The Mehta family arrived today!!! It has been three years since we last saw them in Niseko when we went on skiing holiday together. How we miss Manoj and Sharon, and the girls miss their best friends (they've known each other pretty much since birth). Manoj and Sharon are our rocks, looking after naked and our team throughout the pandemic. So much to catch up on!

+17

Night dive with sharks

Fakarava South Pass Night Dive

After we had just finished a wonderful afternoon dive of the South Pass I off-handishly suggested to Simon (SV Dragonfly) and Blaz (SV Six&Half) that we should dive the pass later that evening and wat...
Rotoava, Fakarava ‐ Jan 3, 2023

56.7 km

+6

Leslie Ann on Arabella

After two weeks stay on Arabella, Mum just left for the next leg of her adventure to Antarctica. Yip you heard me right. She’s off to Antarctica with a National Geographic boat leaving from Ushuaia, C...
Hirifa, Fakarava ‐ Dec 31, 2022

123.5 km

+15
Anse Amyot, Toau ‐ Dec 29, 2022

43.3 km

+12
Swimming Pool & Morton's Bay, Toau ‐ Dec 27, 2022

10.2 km

Moving anchorage. Grant came up with the idea of Arabella and Alex sailing the smartkat there. It’s 4miles away. O dear. Hope everything goes well. They packed a wet bag with VHF, water and Oreo and mentos. 12-14kt wind. Fortunately we were right behind them and could keep an eye and communicate with them on VHF. Very proud of the girls. Arrived safely. Took less than an hour to get to the swimming pool. Very shallow channel to enter between two long reefs, and then sandy bottom with bommi [...]
es everywhere. Beautiful spot. 4-5m deep everywhere. Stunning anchorage with turquoise blue water.

+26

Swimming Pool, Toau

Sailing sisters

Meeting Morton and Chinalta

In search of eggs and internet, we took our dinghy to Morton's Bay and met Morton, the egg man and his wife Chinalta. Super friendly and lovely couple. Morton showed us around his farm. He has over 20...
South East Toau ‐ Dec 22, 2022

43.3 km

Two days before Christmas, we hosted the Pacific smartkat regatta. 7 teams from 4 boats (Arabella, Dragonfly, 6 and half and Kissanga). Alex and Grant won the race! Quite exciting and everybody was into it. After the race we went onshore for braai. Beautiful setting. We brought the black marlin steak. Delicious food all round. Kids were swimming and playing on the beach. Loads of huge flies swarming around us though. Flies love fish. It's one nuisance in the Tuamotus - loads of flies.

+12

Christmas celebration in Toau

+54

2022 Christmas tree

Spending Christmas in remote Toau

Last year we spent Christmas iwith a dozen plus ARC family boats in Bequia, a popular Caribbean island. It was very festive and busy. This year is quite different. We were in the middle of nowhere in...
Rotoava, Fakarava ‐ Dec 10, 2022

50.4 km

Latest news on the atoll is that the supply boat will not bring any fresh produce to Fakarava this week. Devastating news. After next week, the boat will take a five weeks break for Christmas and New Year. Fortunately French speaking Amandine found local contacts to buy mangoes and frozen pumpkin. Also locals set up impromptu stands occasionally selling water melon, lychee and bok choy. Boats got together to watch some World Cup games. Portugal got beaten by Morocco, and France beat England [...]
in the World Cup. Lots of upset and surprises. The final between France and Argentina was such a nail biter!! Thrilled for Argentina and Messi to win!!! Brings back memories of 1986 when I was cheering for Argentina and Maradona.

+8

Nana Leslie Ann joined us for Christmas

+15

Grocery shopping in Fakarava

Biofield tuning with Amandine

What is biofield tuning? Explanation from Amandine - 'In the West, we have been taught to think of our biological selves in terms of chemical and mechanical processes. However, our physical bodies are...

Supply boat arrived today!

Today is December 21, 4 days before Christmas and the supply boat arrived in the morning. The anchorage is jam packed with cruisers’ boats from all over the Tuamotus with the sole purpose of stocking...
South Pass, Fakarava ‐ Dec 9, 2022

11.3 km
Hirifa, Fakarava ‐ Dec 1, 2022

11.4 km

Moved to new anchorage. Beautiful beach, shallow waters and sands. Very flat water. Nice walks on the beach, lots of kite surfing session for Grant and Arabella. Collected corals on the beach with the girls for making our Christmas tree. One morning Grant saw huge swarm of fish just next to 6&half. Immediately flew the drone,e and we could see there were sharks, mantas and other big fish feeding on the thousands smaller fish. Despite warning from Simon that it's not a good idea to be clo [...]
se to sharks when they're feeding, Grant jumped in the water to snorkel and took some very cool footage. Arabella, Alex and I jumped in as well and it was ticklish and felt like we were getting a massage swimming amongst thousands of little fish.

+7

Grant & Arabella kite surfing

+23

Stunning anchorage & sea life

Feeding frenzy

Fakarava

One of the reasons to sail around the world is to see the world and all its amazing places. Our journey so far has taken us from Turkey, through Greece, Italy, France and Spain before exploring the Ca...
Tetamanu Sauvage (South pass) ‐ Nov 25, 2022

21 km

Sharks, sharks, sharks... hundreds of sharks and fish just hanging out around our boat. Turquoise blue clear water. We have been diving every single day (1-2 dives per day) in the south pass and we feel so fortunate.

+22

Diving galore

A wall of sharks - Fakarava South Pass, Tuamotus, French Polynesia
Takaega ‐ Nov 21, 2022

36.4 km

+6

Overnight stop to southern pass
Fakarava North Pass

450.1 km

To illustrate the point of how scarce vegetables and fruits are in the atolls, there's one supply boat that comes to Fakarava town every Wednesday. Many residents and cruisers would go to the supermarket on Wednesday morning and wait for the very limited selection of vegetables and fruit to be put on shelves. Our girls are craving for bananas but they cannot be found in the atolls. I think it is the first time in our lives that we miss bananas!

+11

North pass
Papeete, Tahiti ‐ Nov 12, 2022

450.1 km

Whole family flew to Tahiti to meet up with Craig (Grant's brother) and his family. Craig was completing one leg of the Globe 40 around the world sailing race from Auckland to Papeete (https://www.globe40.com). His boat AMHAS was leading the whole way by miles, but sadly lost his lead after they sailed past Bora Bora and finally came second. Always lovely to see the family and cousins had lots of fun, even took surfing lessons together.

+60
Rotoava, Fakarava ‐ Nov 9, 2022

7.4 km

Before arriving at the Tuaomotu, we heard that it is hard to get fresh fruit and vegetables in the atolls. So we stocked up in the Marquesas (lots of pamplemouse and mangoes). With the marlin, we just had too much. So we went to the village to give away fruit and marlin. The locals couldn't believe it and really appreciated the kind gesture. We went into a local primary school and gave away lots of pamplemousse, bananas and mangoes. The teacher Chantal invited us to her classroom and asked [...]
our girls and the students to introduce themselves. The students sang us songs and gave us paintings to show their appreciation.

+7

Mangoes and marlin

Mangoes and marlin

When we left the Marquesas our boat has never had quite that much fruit onboard! The reason is we had learnt that the Tuamotus didn’t have any growing fruit and vegetables. The Tuamotus are the larges...
Day 4 - Marquesas to Tuamotu ‐ Nov 7, 2022

349.6 km

Final day of this exhausting journey... More drama! See post.

+15

Last day of passage

by Delphine Went to bed at 3 and got woken up at 5 to put up parasail. Good wind and if we moved quickly we could make it to the pass in Fakarava in good time. Otherwise we had to stop at another isla...
Day 3 - Marquesas to Tuamotu ‐ Nov 6, 2022

313 km

Biltong production day with our marlin fillet.

+4
Day 2 - Marquesas to Tuamotu ‐ Nov 5, 2022

228.4 km

Drama began! Another huge marlin! See post.

+27

Day 2 - Marlin Day

Catching a huge black marlin in the Pacific

by Delphine After my night watch, I went to bed at 3:30. In my sleep, I heard huge commotion and Grant shouting ‘it’s huge marlin. I saw it jumping. Hurry!! Hurry!!! Sail down!!!' We brought the para...
Day 1 - Marquesas to Tuamotu, French Polynesia ‐ Nov 4, 2022

90.6 km

Grant woke up at 3am and found out the fresh water pump stopped working. Not a great thing when we're about to go on passage. He got the back up pump working... Fingers crossed. Exhausted already before the passage began! Raised parasail Maui up after we left the anchorage. Steady wind and we were sailing comfortably. First passage with just the five of us, without Apple and Big Alex. Definitely a bit short handed but we managed. Our night watch is 6-9pm Grant 9-1130pm Arabella 1130- [...]
3am Delphine 3-6:30am Grant Fortunately it's full moon and the sky was bright at night. The weather was rather pleasant and warm, compared to being freezing cold during the Galapagos-Marquesas passage.

+7
Ua-Pou ‐ Nov 2, 2022

59.8 km

Final stopover in the Marquesas before our crossing to the Tuamotu islands. Grant was busy getting the boat ready for passage, while I was getting all the vegetables and fruit cleaned and packed away. Unlike being on land where you can go to supermarket any day, food storage and preservation is critical being on a boat. Here are a few tricks I learnt on food preservation. 1) Wrap avocado, papaya, pomelos in aluminium foil and then in plastic bag in fridge. 2) Wash and dry salad leaves or sp [...]
ring onions, then put inside glass jar in fridge. 3) Wrap carrots in damp paper towels inside plastic bags and store in fridge. 4) Vacuum seal corn, ginger, spring onions, etc. 5) Canning mangoes, papaya and cucumbers.

+25

Mangoes and veggies preparation & production

+7

Ua pou

Making hammock

Marquesas

The Marquesas So its been a while and as you all know when you are having too much fun you have no time to write and that is certainly true here. The last I wrote was about crossing the Pacific and fi...
Anaho Bay ‐ Oct 29, 2022

0.2 km

Considered to be one of the best anchorages in the Marquesas, Anaho Bay didn't disappoint at all. Highlights of our stay - hiking to the top of hill with panoramic view of the bay and picked more bags of mangoes; Grant caught (and released) a shark using a lure of half a head of a giant yellowfin tuna; woke up at sunrise, hiked to a beautiful farm on the other side of the mountain to buy vegetables and fruit, and the produce were delivered by horses later in the day (how cool is that!!!), and l [...]
ast but not least, epic cave diving for lobsters. Grant and Simon caught 22 lobsters total! Made delicious lobster bisque and lobster tail with butter and garlic. Divine!!!

+9

Lobster galore

+6

From farm to boat

+16
Nuku Hiva ‐ Nov 1, 2022

37.3 km

+19

+29

Miss you Big Alex

Bye Bye Big Alex

Bye Bye Big Alex It already seems like ages ago but before we left the Marquesas we also very sadly said farewell to Big Alex. Its been more than a month already. What a fixture of this boat you have...
Mataohotu ‐ Oct 29, 2022

38.9 km
Taiohae, Nuku Hiva ‐ Oct 19, 2022

60.1 km

What a beautiful anchorage! A nice surprise, as we didn't have very high expectation of Nuku Hiva, the biggest town in the Marquesas. It is a big wide bay with lots of space between boats. The view of the mountains is breathtaking.
Haavei, Ua Huka ‐ Oct 18, 2022

115.8 km

A rather uncomfortable anchorage. Very rolly and windy. Dramatic landscape.

+8
Mango Bay (Hanamenu Bay), Hiva Oa ‐ Oct 16, 2022

22.4 km

Upon recommendation by fellow cruiser boat Siesta, we went to Mango Bay. Contrary to the lush southern coast, the northern coast is dry and barren which doesn't seem like a hospitable place to settle. At the end of the bay, we discovered a little village oasis full of palm trees. We met a friendly young couple and they invited us into their land. The village extends from the bay into the valley, and we all have never seen so many mangoes before in our lives! There were century years old ma [...]
ngo trees and thousands of fallen mangoes on the ground. In fact it is impossible not to step on a mango as you walk. We were invited to their house for lunch and to pick mangoes the next day.

+23

Making hammock

+38
Hanamoenoa Bay, Tahuata ‐ Oct 15, 2022

9 km

+10
Hapatoni Bay, Tahuata ‐ Oct 13, 2022

3.7 km

Fantastic anchorage sheltered from strong wind which has been blowing hard. There's a charming little village. We kept being surprised by how clean, beautiful and well maintained these small villages are. There's absolutely no trash and all the paths, roads and landscape are meticulously maintained. There seems to be a strong sense of pride and care for their environment.

+11
Vaitahu Bay, Tahuata ‐ Oct 10, 2022

5.7 km

Main town of the island. Loved the beautiful open air church. So unique and welcoming. Huge mountains surrounded the bay which means good chance of katabatic wind, and sure enough we experienced a big one!

+12

Vaitahu bay
Hanamoenoa Bay, Tahuata ‐ Oct 8, 2022

18.4 km

Magnificent anchorage... just big enough for two boats, i.e. Arabella and Dragonfly. Had a lovely Sunday braai on the beautiful white sandy beach. A bit of drama as Grant cut his hand while trying to open a wine bottle without a corkscrew. Ended with lots of broken glass and blood. :-(

+26

Hanamoenoa bay
Atuona Bay, Hiva Oa ‐ Oct 3, 2022

98.7 km

+9

+5

Diego the adventurous turtle

Diego, the lord of turtles

By Alexandra This story begins in a marina in Linton Bay, Panama. Arabella, Naomi, Luca, Tama and I had been working on our bird project when my mom got a message from Naomi, Luca and Tama’s mom. S...
Fatu Hiva ‐ Sep 27, 2022

6.3 km

+25

Spectacular hike from Omoa to Hanavave

+63

Beautiful Fatu Hiva

+9

Windlass problem

Beautiful and mystical Fatu Hiva

Fatu Hiva, the southernmost island in the Marquesas Archipelago, is most unspoiled due to its remote location. When we arrived at Hanavave Bay, it was as if we entered another world - dramatic landsca...
Day 17 - THE END! Pacific crossing ‐ Sep 26, 2022

265.9 km

Arrived in Hanavave, Fatu Hiva, Marquesas, French Polynesia!! 15 days 20 hours total, covering 3294nm!! More drama as windlass stopped working as we dropped anchor. See Grant's post 'The second great Ocean - Pacific Ocean'.

+76

Sailing and sails on passage

+75

Family fun time on passage

+33

Meals on passage

The second great ocean - The Pacific

Before we set out on this exciting around the world escapade, I always knew that the Pacific was the biggest and longest of the oceans we would need to cross. I was also the least knowledgable about t...

Numbers of our Pacific Passage

1 ocean (Pacific Ocean) 2 boats (Arabella & Dragonfly) 3 times we crossed equator during passage 4 changes of time zone 4.2 knot strongest current 5 sails ( Main Sail, Genoa, Gib, Genicker, Parasail)...

Pacific crossing menu

Day 1 Tuna sandwich Roast pork, mash potato pancake, veggies. Day 2 Fried chicken wings, salad, corn on cob and rice Scallion pancake Soup noodles with veggies and pork Day 3 Spaghetti bolognese Fr...
Day 16 - Pacific crossing ‐ Sep 25, 2022

370.9 km

197nm Estimated landfall tomorrow morning. Strong wind all day and worsening in the evening. Up to 35kt TWS and 30kt AWS. Huge wind and waves. In the dark, we dropped main sail from 1 reef to 2 reefs. Reefing line got caught around the boom and snap lazy bag line. Bottom of the sail being blown off the boom. Pretty hairy. Dropped main sail and motor sail towards Fatu Hiva. :-(

Alexandra's experience on crossing the Pacific

Hello my fellow beings, this is Alex! And I’m going to tell you the amazing adventure I had as my crew and I sailed throughout the Pacific. Sit back, relax and imagine the ocean breeze blowing across...

Arabella’s Perspective of Crossing the Pacific Ocean

It is Day 16 of our passage across the Pacific Ocean. With the help of the crazy strong current and great wind conditions, we’re arriving tomorrow morning which is half the time I thought it would tak...

Update 10 - Final Day

It is 7:30am. We have 197nm to go. The wind is fresh to strong. 20knots gusting 25. We are sailing close to the wind at around 75degrees apparent which mean the wind is into us from our port side at a...
Day 15 - Pacific crossing ‐ Sep 24, 2022

363.6 km

201nm Caught a 16 pound wahoo! 8pm hit 3000nm milestone. Arriving soon!

Update 9 - Sleep management during passage - Delphine

Managing sleep during passage is an important matter because there always needs to be someone on watch 24-7, and the crew needs to be rested in order to stay alert during watch. This is our shift sche...
Day 14 - Pacific crossing ‐ Sep 23, 2022

398.6 km

209nm Changed sails multiple times. Afternoon put up black gennekar. Big Alex trimmed sail manually for 2 hours and passed Dragonfly after being behind for 2.2nm. Lots of banter and competitiveness between the two captains which kept everyone entertained on board.

Update 8 - Delphine's perspective of crossing the Pacific

Pacific Passage from Delphine’s perspective Day 12 into our Pacific passage. It is a beautiful, humbling and sometimes frightening experience. Just our crazy family on this boat fully immersed in th...
Day 13 - Pacific crossing ‐ Sep 22, 2022

419.1 km

218nm Crossed equator again to Southern Hemisphere

Update 7 - Squid Conspiracy

Another gorgeous morning in the Pacific with a fresh breeze on the beam. We sailed through the night with our parasail to a waypoint we marked as the final westing point which means we no longer need...

Update 8 - Things change fast on the ocean

So I left you in a state of euphoria. Everything was perfect. Life couldn’t be better. I was philosophical and emotional. I thought my karma had come and I deserved all this. And then… you guessed it....
Day 12 - Pacific Crossing ‐ Sep 21, 2022

382.3 km

228nm (Changed sail direction from 260deg to 230deg towards the Marquesas. Dramatic day with broken reef line, lost fish (x2), huge waves, current and sustained strong wind. Crew all practiced hand steering in case autopilot fails. True wind speed hits 30kt!
Day 11 - Pacific Crossing ‐ Sep 20, 2022

348.1 km

195nm 530am Grant and Arabella picked up 43 squids on deck, checked weather and put up gennekar on their own.

Update 6 - by Big Alex

Big Alex perspective of a night shift on the massive passive Pacific. To be honest anything but passive. We have been cruising along at a blistering pace, at 2:30 am we achieved our 2/3 mark of 2000nm...
Day 10 - Pacific Crossing ‐ Sep 19, 2022

456.6 km

234nm Booster pump leaking very bad. Change seals and now perfect. Took parasail down. Raised main sail and genoa. 4kt current/ drift! Late afternoon, saw a large shark cruising around the boat. Sunset, saw a huge pod of dolphins. First and only movie night during passage - Jurassic World.

Update 5 - Shooting Stars

Good morning again from the most stupendously beautiful setting. Today is about sun risers, sunsets and shooting stars. Growing up in South Africa gave me a great appreciation for the evening sky. In...
Day 9 - Pacific Crossing ‐ Sep 18, 2022

416 km

223nm More water in port aft bilge. Booster pump leak. Grant, big Alex, little Alex and Arabella had a swim in the Pacific Ocean, holding onto a rope. 3000m deep only!

Update 4 - Flying Squid

Half way!! My previous post said Day 6. My wife correctly reminded me today is Day 9 and the last post was Day 8. Semantics! Almost another record but it’s a little sneaky. 243nm but over 25hrs. The c...
Day 8 - Pacific Crossing ‐ Sep 17, 2022

435.9 km

243nm Autopilot failed a few times. Gennekar up and flying fast. Gained one hour of daylight.

Update 3

Life is a box of chocolates and they are all tasty just different. Certainly some would disagree but adversity, sadness, cold, frustration are all emotions we probably wouldn’t consider tasty chocolat...
Day 7 - Pacific Crossing ‐ Sep 16, 2022

440.7 km

247nm Huge sailing day. Max TWS 26kt AWS 24kt Max boat speed broken again and again.... 13.2kt, 13.7kt Caught a 15 pound very fat skipjack tuna. Made sashimi and tuna fishcakes! First clear night sky with half moon and stars.
Day 6 - Pacific Crossing ‐ Sep 15, 2022

406.1 km

224nm Another big sailing day! Max boat speed record 12.7kt! Raised main sail (1 reef) + black gennekar. Caught and lost a fish. Furler of gennekar broke. Water temperature: 25 deg C

Update 2

Excuse me for sounding a little excited but sailing isn’t always like today. Right now we are flying along at 11-12knots in beautifully calm seas and the sun is shining. Shit I hope I haven’t jinxed u...
Day 5 - Pacific Crossing ‐ Sep 14, 2022

366.6 km

200nm Starboard stern bigle alarm. Water maker pump leaking. Saw 4 whales in the morning. Saw a strange ship with big tower with fire and smoke. Not on AIS. Looks like some covert military boat?!
Day 4 - Pacific Crossing ‐ Sep 13, 2022

294.1 km

184nm Caught a mahi mahi. Huge current/ drift of 3.7kt, thankfully to our favor.

Update 1

Hi Everyone Sorry the delay in giving our first update. But it’s been an eventful start to the crossing. Definitely hoping for less eventful days ahead. So here goes. An hour before our departure, the...
Day 3 - Pacific Crossing ‐ Sep 12, 2022

299 km

142nm Maui tore again in the night. Took him down at 530am. No wind today. Arabella brought Amandine from Dragonfly over with her sewing machine and she properly fixed our sail!! Maui is flying again. Crossed equator to Northern Hemisphere.
Day 2 - Pacific Crossing ‐ Sep 11, 2022

359 km

197nm Raised Maui our parasail and discovered a huge tear. Brought it down and fixed with sail tapes. Relaunched Maui and all was well.
Day 1 - Pacific Crossing ‐ Sep 10, 2022

83 km

Water taxi hit our stern and bent our swim ladder and made 3 small holes 85 nm Broke Boom Preventer Block Noted a tear in the top of the Mainsail Water temperature: 20 deg C Cloudy and very cold... especially during night watches
Santa Cruz Island, Galapagos, Ecuador ‐ Sep 3, 2022

82.4 km

+31

Giant tortoises, lava tunnel and fruit farm

+63

Vibrant and fun Santa Cruz

+31

All about Charles Darwin

A day in the life aboard SV Arabella

A day in our lives on SV Arabella (SV = Sailing Vessel) PART 1 A few friends have asked before what it is like everyday living on a yacht? Well just like life everyday is very different but I guess on...
Puerto Villamil, Isabella Island, Galapagos ‐ Aug 26, 2022

154.7 km

+11

Arabella horse riding lesson on crater

+12

Our wonderful guide Claudia and her Pink Iguana Bar

+54

Horse riding on the volcano crater

+27

Bike ride to The Wall of Tears

The magical experience of horse riding on the volcano crater in the Galapagos

By Arabella We left the Galapagos where we spent a wonderful three weeks, diving, hiking, exploring and learning about the animals everywhere around us. While we were on the surreal island of Isabella...

Epic hike and horse riding on Sierra Negra Volcano

By Delphine Another epic day on Isabela. Arranged a day tour with our guide Claudia to visit the Sierra Negra volcano. Claudia is a bubbly, gregarious and energetic Argentinian lady who's been living...

An extraordinary bike ride on Isabela

Sunday family bike ride on Isabela island. We were recommended to hire some bikes to go on a ride along the coast. We thought it would be nice and fun, and good exercise for everybody. What we experie...

Sail to Isabela

A nice 80nm passage we left early in the morning and arrived around 4pm. Lovely sail off the wind mostly and a little unexpected close hall. Saw a whale shark just miss our bow and a few large dolphin...
Wreck Bay, Saint Christobal ‐ Aug 21, 2022

0.2 km

We are safely on anchor and the Sea Lions are already onboard our boat.

+56

San Cristobal
Day 8 - Panama to Galapagos ‐ Aug 20, 2022

282.5 km

+8

Delicious meals on passage
Day 7 - Panama to Galapagos ‐ Aug 19, 2022

281.8 km

+22

Everyone on watch daily

Watch shifts during passage

9-11pm Arabella 11-2am Delphine 2-5am Big Alex 5-8am Grant 8-9am Apple and Azania 9-10am Little Alex 10-11am Arabella 11-1pm Big Alex 1-3pm Delphine and Azania 3-4pm Apple 4-5pm Arabella 5-6pm Littl...
Day 6 - Panama to Galapagos ‐ Aug 18, 2022

297.5 km

Day 6 - Out of control Gennikar

Nightfall on day five brought much stronger winds and demanded a close haul sail. We were doing 7-9knots most the evening. It was dark and the moon only rising around 12pm when our Gennikar started un...

Day 6 - Catching Longlines

Longlines are a terrible thing. Miles of very strong rope with many lines and hooks on. The huge huge hooks and massive great squid on each hook to catch hundreds of fish per line. They are also prett...
Day 5 - Panama to Galapagos ‐ Aug 17, 2022

247.9 km
Day 4 - Panama to Galapagos ‐ Aug 16, 2022

212.3 km

Day 490

Day 3 of our passage to the Galapagos. As the wind direction and sea conditions aren’t ideal, we can’t sail in a straight line to Galapagos. Instead we have to sail south towards Columbia- Ecuador bor...

Day 4 - Crossing to Galapagos

Day 3 of our passage to the Galapagos. As the wind direction and sea conditions aren’t ideal, we can’t sail in a straight line to Galapagos. Instead we have to sail south towards Columbia- Ecuador bor...
Day 3 - Panama to Galapagos ‐ Aug 15, 2022

214.6 km
Day 2 - Panama to Galapagos ‐ Aug 14, 2022

265.3 km
Day 1 - Panama to Galapagos ‐ Aug 13, 2022

52 km
Isle Pedro Gonzalez, Panama ‐ Aug 12, 2022

0.4 km
Bye Bye Panama ‐ Aug 11, 2022

75.6 km

Ocean #2 And we are off… The Passive Pacific, let’s hope the name is true to its meaning and we have a lovely passive passage. So we are off. Well sort of… Today we leave Panama City and are heading for the Galapagos. We will have one short overnight stop in Las Perlas but that is all. The passage should take us around 6 or 7 days because we have left a little late in the season and will be fighting the wind a little. We are all very excited and couldn’t be more prepared. Delphine has p [...]
rovisioned us for at least 3 months so hopefully we have enough food for a long long time. Roughly we should be in Galapagos in a week and then we plan to spend 2 weeks there and then we should arrive in Hiva-oa in the Marquises in around another month. So sometime near the end of September. Onboard this lovely journey we have the fabulous 5 Horsfield’s including my wife and 3 little monkeys, Big Alex and Apple. We would love to hear from you all so pease pop onto our website www.horsfield.family and/or drop us a note or just leave a note here. Finally please look out for my Panama posting with our adventures to Costa Rica and the Ayahuasca trip. hehe.

+14

Bye bye Panama

Panama City and the Incredible Pearl Islands

By Grant It is fair to say I knew very little about Panama before I arrived here and I certainly never heard of the Pearl Islands or as they say locally Las Perlas. The world is so big and yet so smal...
Flamenca Marina ‐ Aug 8, 2022

325.1 km

The final preparations for the Pacific Ocean Crossing

Tomorrow morning, 11 August 2022 we will leave Panama City for the beginning of our Pacific Crossing. We will pass by Las Perlos Islands again and then onto Galapagos where we will share update. Our b...
David Airport

166.9 km

Aeroplane Landing
Ferry Sierpe, Costa Rica

45.8 km
Ocean Forest Eco Lodge ‐ Aug 4, 2022

45.2 km

+53

Ayahuasca

My Ayahuasca Story

By Grant “Life is a journey with problems to solve and lessons to learn but most of all experiences to enjoy”. Not sure the author of this quote but I’ve always lived by it. And in this spirit we (Del...

Ayahuasca

More details to come on our intense adult cleansing and healing
Calle Ferry - Sierpe

163 km
David Airport, Panama

325.1 km

The parents escape to Costa Rica for some cleansing.
Flamenco Marina ‐ Jul 27, 2022

60.4 km
Saboga, Las Perlas ‐ Jul 26, 2022

26.7 km

Alex and Naomi Ukelele
Isla Pedro Gonzalez, Las Perlas ‐ Jul 19, 2022

55.9 km
Punta Gorda, Las Perlas
Isla del Espiritu Santo, Las Perlas

26.1 km

Whale sharks
Mogo Mogo - Survivor Island, Las Perlas

11 km

Azania and Lee Catching Fish
Isla Pacheca, Las Perlas ‐ Jul 18, 2022

59.1 km
Flamenco Marina, Panana City ‐ Jul 8, 2022

+85

Panama City 2
Panama Canal - Day 2 ‐ Jul 7, 2022

64.9 km

+8

Panama Canal crossing Day 2

Crossing the Panama Canal - A tale of two halves

By Grant 6th July 2022 and we finally traversed the Americas and traveled from the Atlantic to the Pacific. So much anticipation about the journey. So much planning and reading about the canal transit...
Panama Canal Crossing - Day 1 ‐ Jul 6, 2022

61.4 km

+26

Panama Canal crossing
Linton Bay Marina, San Blas Islands ‐ Jun 28, 2022

105.5 km

+27

Best buddies

+23

Schooling & boat work @ Linton Bay Marina
Lemon Cays, San Blas Islands ‐ Jun 27, 2022

38.9 km

+2
Coco Banderos, San Blas Islands ‐ Jun 18, 2022

+24

Arabella & Azania's birthday party @. Coco Banderas
BBQ Island, San Blas Islands

8.2 km

+6

Arabella turns 12!

+18

BBQ island
Mirladub - San Blas ‐ Jun 14, 2022

3.5 km

+17

Mirladub, little Island of paradise
Cayos Holandes - San Blas Islands

13 km

+9

Hollandes Cays
Coyos Chichime, San Blas Islands ‐ Jun 12, 2022

65.1 km
Nombre de Dios, San Blas Islands ‐ Jun 11, 2022

17.6 km
Linton Bay ‐ Jun 4, 2022

50.1 km

+2

COVID invasion!

+12

+29

Zoo del Istmo bird sanctuary
Shelter Bay Marina, Colon

89 km
Panama City ‐ Jun 3, 2022

87.5 km

A short visit to Panama City to go to the French Embassy to apply for long stay visa and to meet up with Chris and Vicky, a couple introduced to us by Anja.

+12

Musings from the Caribbean to Panama

By Grant Here we are in the San Blas Islands of Panama enjoying probably the most idyllic conditions and settings of our whole trip so far. When you set off sailing around the world this is what you e...
Colon ‐ Jun 1, 2022

123.8 km
Sail to Colon ‐ May 31, 2022

397.3 km

+7
Cartagena, Colombia ‐ May 26, 2022

73.5 km

+33

Beautiful city

+7

Beautiful street art

+15

Beautiful restaurants

+26

Beautiful nightlife
Day 3 - Passage to Columbia ‐ May 25, 2022

263.8 km
Day 2 - Passage to Columbia ‐ May 24, 2022

473 km
Day 1 - Passage to Columbia ‐ May 23, 2022

114.8 km

+17

Scary passage from Curacao to Cartagena
Santa Cruz, Curaçao ‐ May 21, 2022

49.9 km

+11

Santa Cruz, Curacao
Curaçao ‐ May 18, 2022

27.1 km

+39

Spanish Water & colorful Willemstad town

+23

Kura Hulanda Slavery Museum
Klein Curaçao ‐ May 16, 2022

44 km

+30

Klein Curacao

+19

Total lunar eclipse at Klein Curacao
Bonaire, Netherlands Antilles ‐ May 1, 2022

Bonaire turned out to be one of our favourite places in the Caribbean! Originally we had planned to just stay for a week but kept extending our time here. Bonaire is a diver's paradise. A long stretch of the west coast offers an uninterrupted strip of over 50 dive sites. The Horsfield clan totally embraced the island's active lifestyle and did something on the water everyday - diving, snorkelling, kite surfing, fishing and Delphine even took a free diving workshop. Grant, big Alex and Delphin [...]
e also did their advance open water and enriched air (Nitrox) diver course. Out of the many dives, we loved the Salt Pier and Hilma Hooker wreck dive the most. We also celebrated big Alex’s birthday and Mother’s Day. On Mother’s Day, all the moms got a day off and went to Sorobon lagoon for lunch, while daddies and kids put together a big BBQ feast for dinner. All the moms agreed that this should happen every week, and not once a year!

+37

Diving in Bonaire

+30

+8

Free diving workshop

Advanced open water and nitrox diving

Salt Pier Dive

Overcoming fear of being underwater

By Delphine Since learning scuba diving last year, I’ve discovered a whole new world that I never experienced before. I have come to appreciate the underwater universe that is so full of beauty, wonde...
Day 3 - Crossing the Caribbean Sea ‐ Apr 30, 2022

348.1 km
Day 2 - Crossing the Caribbean Sea ‐ Apr 29, 2022

294.1 km

Making dumplings
On route to Bonaire, Netherlands ‐ Apr 28, 2022

119.7 km

+26

Passage to Bonaire
Sopers Hole, West End, British Virgin Islands

62.4 km
White Bay - Soggy Dollar Bar

35.3 km

+7

Soggy dollar bar
The Baths ‐ Apr 26, 2022

24.6 km

+6

The Baths early in the morning
Necker Island

+45

Necker Island Tour

Necker Island with Richard Branson

Best things happen when you least expect it. This rings certainly true for us today. For the last few days, I (Delphine) have left the boat and checked into Saba Rock resort by myself while Arabella...
Eustatia Island ‐ Apr 23, 2022

2.1 km
The Bitter End, Virgin Gorda

32.9 km

Motored straight up into the light breeze to Virgin Gorda. Decided to sneak through a very shallow passage and probably will not try that again.

+33

Bitter End Virgin Gorda
Little Harbour ‐ Apr 19, 2022

26.6 km

Such an awesome little bay. The most sheltered bay of the entire Caribbean. We anchored and went stern-to (Mediterranean style) and was lovely. Did a little hike but mostly enjoyed the quiet time to get things up-to-date. Feeling closer to having the boat ship-shape. Delphine organised all the documents and boat paperwork and researched our pacific crossing. I sorted out all the technical boat records and finished my review of all the contractors in Sint Maarten.

+20
Lee Bay ‐ Apr 15, 2022

5.4 km

Lobster Season! Yay we found huge big Spiny Rock Lobster. Not easy to catch but super delicious. Also our favourite company with Dragonfly, Waterdogs, Liv with Kids and Khitara with us. Also we had Cloud Jumper and Chula join for periods. Every night was filled with fun and wine and delicious food.

+36

Full moon party
White Bay ‐ Apr 13, 2022

16 km
Salt Island

10.3 km

+4

Salt island
Road Harbour

11.4 km

Lets just say it was not what I expected. Most of our companies are registered in the Road Town and so is our yacht. I had always imagined it would be the beautiful Caribbean town with sexy quay etc. Well it aint! Sadly my fantasy is squashed. Anyway, we needed to check in and it didnt go as planned. They didnt accept Apples "Crew Book" as a passport entry and required her to get a visa so they held her passport. The joys of country hopping.
Cooper Island ‐ Apr 12, 2022

150.7 km

Great little passage. Full mainsail and full genoa all the way. Broad reach all the way. Just great to be sailing again. With Big Alex back on board we are all learning our roles again. Great to have him back

+3
Long Bay Beach, Saint Martin ‐ Apr 11, 2022

7.6 km

Finally! We left the lagoon and we are back in the open ocean. I was so hasty to leave and make the final bridge opening at 4:30pm that I took 3 contractors on the boat with me with the promise i will bring them back on the dinghy. If we missed that bridge we would not have been able to sail to BVI's early the next morning. Everyone is relieved and thrilled to back sailing.

+3
Lagoon Marina ‐ Mar 19, 2022

32.1 km

Since we arrived at Lagoon Marina in St Maarten, the family moved to an Airbnb so that the boat can be hauled out for anti fouling and other major servicing work. Grant managed all the works with a dozen contractors and vendors with engines, fire services, water maker, plumbing, rigging, solar, batteries, sails work. Full on intense 24-7 work.

+41

Grant's perspective in St Maarten

+59

Delphine's perspective in St Maarten

+76

Kids' perspective in St Maarten

Sint Maarten Dealers and Suppliers Ratings and Review

Hi Everyone We are a family cruising around the world and just spent almost a month in Sint Maarten getting some works done before heading into the Pacific. I have compiled a list of the various contr...

The unglamorous side of cruising

By Grant Not often do we write about the boring, stressful and tedious aspects of cruising, but it is in fact an unavoidable part of living full time on a boat. Everyday there is always something not...
Gustavia, Saint Barthélemy ‐ Mar 15, 2022

139.7 km

We were so fortunate to arrive at St Barts when the annual Bucket was on. What a beautiful sight of these amazing super yachts and we got really close to the action. However the most pleasant surprise was how friendly and nice people on the island are. We didn’t have very high expectation due to previous experience in other French islands. Everywhere we went, people were very friendly.

+19

St Barths Bucket Regatta

+33

St Barths
Jolly Harbour, Antigua and Barbuda ‐ Mar 14, 2022

5.4 km

+36

Jolly harbour
Pinching Bay ‐ Mar 12, 2022

5.3 km

+16
Jolly Harbour ‐ Mar 11, 2022

4.3 km
Hermitage Bay ‐ Mar 10, 2022

43.7 km
Green Island ‐ Mar 5, 2022

16.4 km

The windy beast and the very scary wave!

+26

Green island
English Harbour Nelsons Dockyard Marina

6 km

Definitely the most beautiful marina in the world award. Yes, it is true that the 3 beautiful J-class yachts did add to its beauty but just the natural curves of this incredible marina make it a must stop place. We decided to take a stern to mooring on the quay and were unfortunately given one which had the wind on our beam making mooring a challenge. Big Arabella is not so graceful when the wind catches her abeam and with no bowthrusters can make this tricky intricate jobs quite challenging. Th [...]
is day was no different. Adding to the challenge was that our 40kg Delta anchor definitely didnt get a firm grip with mother earth making it impossible to form any kind of tension. After 2 failed attempts i finally got the local guys to take our line to a mooring ball in the channels which we could then hold onto and reverse safely into the quay and tie up. All is well that ended well and we were in the most beautiful marina ever.

+23

Craig, Carolyn and Anna arrived!
Falmouth Marina, Antigua

79.7 km

+7
Deshais, Gaudeloupe, France ‐ Mar 4, 2022

16.5 km
Pigeon Island, Gaudeloupe ‐ Mar 1, 2022

42.5 km

+6
Les Saintes, Gaudeloupe ‐ Feb 28, 2022

38.3 km

+12
Portsmouth, Dominica ‐ Feb 18, 2022

102.7 km

+27

Kalinago & Indian River again

+4

The whale whisperer

+43

Overnight camping trip

+45

Beautiful and wild Dominica
St Pierre, Martinique, Martinique ‐ Feb 17, 2022

29.5 km

+18

+24

Afternoon excursion to Museum of 1902 catastrophe and Depaz rum distillery
Fort de France, Martinique

16.7 km
Anse d'Arlet, Martinique ‐ Feb 12, 2022

+19

Anse d’Arlet
Baie des Cyclones, Martinique ‐ Feb 2, 2022

11.3 km

Quiet days at this anchorage by ourselves. Running errands and fixing boat. Caught up with a few families on shore on our last night here. There is a curfew at 8pm and so we retired to our Slovenian friends' boat Six and a half for night cap.

+6

Quiet but busy days
Anse Meunier, Martinique

3.6 km

Escaped Le Marin/ St Anne and went around the corner to Anse Meunier, a tranquil and beautiful bay with magnificent coastline. Anchorage was a bit rolly. Many ARC family boats came here to join the upcoming festivities. Found a stunning spot on the beach for Alex and Grant's birthday party. A group of us did a hike along the coast one early morning. Last but not least, the third Martinique Cup was held. Lots of action and fun but we all needed some peace and quiet after this.

+27

Martinique Cup

+13

Beautiful southern coast

+24

Epic Alex & Grant Birthday Party
St Anne/ Le Marin

66.7 km

Arriving in Martinique and seeing many other ARC boats in the bay. In particular, we finally caught up with Dragonfly whom we haven't seen since November in Las Palmas. There are hundreds and hundreds of boats in Le Marin. We've never seen so many boats in one place before. We went onshore to run errands - checking in, grocery shopping, going to chandleries, getting SIM card to get wifi connection, etc. We were underwhelmed to say the least. It is a rather unpleasant town full of unfriend [...]
ly people. Standard response to most queries is 'NO' with heavy nasal emphasis on the 'N'. Every task ended up being a herculean mission.

+15

Saint Anne
Anse Cochon, Saint Lucia ‐ Feb 7, 2022

14.3 km

+4
The Pitons ‐ Jan 31, 2022

Approaching from St Vincent, we could see the iconic Pitons miles away. Jutting up abruptly from the sea to a soaring height of over 700m, the twin peaks Gros Piton and Petit Piton are volcanic spires in the shape of perfectly steep cones. We found our home for the night under the spectacular Pitons.

+12

Happy Chinese New Year!

Happy New Year of the Tiger

Today is Chinese New Year Day, the beginning of the Year of the Tiger. Last night after we arrived at the Twin Pitons, we started making traditional spring festival paper couplets. These are red paper...
Cumberland Bay, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines ‐ Jan 30, 2022

The west coast of St Vincent is pretty rugged and uninhabited. Found anchorage in this little bay in the rainforest. The next morning we went for a short walk. Discovered a beautiful cricket field where international cricket games are held. Grant and Alex loved it. Quick dip in the river. Refreshing and fun. Alex said this river is her favourite spot in the Caribbean and she would definitely return.

+16
Blue Lagoon, Saint Vincent Island

21.2 km

A quick checkout stop in Blue Lagoon and navigating a short channel where i saw our depth gauge go into negative for the first time ever. -0.3m. Last time i check that is land ho. But luckily we set our boat with a 2m clearance when we only need 1.5m draft. Phew. 20cm left over. Yikes.

+4
Baliceaux Island

8.4 km

This little island with a very sad history. The British army banished about 5000 Black Caribs to Baliceaux following the defeat of the rebellion of Carib Chief Joseph Chatoyer in Saint Vincent. Their descendants live today as the Garifuna people in Honduras, Belize, Guatemala, Nicaragua and in the United States. Most of the Garifuna people died on the island with no food or fresh water.
Morning Hike with Delphine and Masha ‐ Jan 29, 2022

16.2 km

Fantastic hike on a very cool Island.

+13

Mustique morning hike
- Mustique ‐ Jan 29, 2022
Britannia Bay, Mustique Island ‐ Jan 26, 2022

+19

The Private Island of Mustique

By Grant The island is around 1400 acres in the country of St Vincent and the Grenadines and it is privately owned by the Mustique company which in turn is owned by home owners through a shareholding...
Rameau Bay, Canouan Island ‐ Jan 24, 2022

4.1 km

What a cool spot!

+17
Sandy Lane Marina, Canouan Island ‐ Jan 19, 2022

9.5 km

Sailed up to the marina to try fix the battery issues i was having and fell in love. What a lovely place. Developed by a Irish fella called Dormand Desmond.

+14
- Mandarin Oriental Canouan Golf Club
  
  Awesome outing to play golf
  
  +2
  
  Mandarin Oriental, Canouan
Petite Tabac, Tobago Cays ‐ Jan 18, 2022

We returned to Tobago Cays for Ryan's (Luna Bay 2) birthday party. It's on the deserted island Petite Tabac also known as the Pirates of the Caribbean island. Cold and wet with squalls but lovely to enjoy a bonfire and marshmallows with friends. The dinghy ride back to our boat was pretty scary though as we had to navigate for a long way around a massive reef in pitch dark in bumpy sea and heavy rain. Super relieved when we finally arrived on Arabella!

+9

Ryan's beach bonfire birthday party
Troisant Bay, Mayreau Island ‐ Jan 17, 2022

6.1 km

Went up to try the Aqua Terra restaurant which is very fancy but ended just having a few drinks. Rolly anchorage but just one night.

+7

Troissant Bay
Palm Island

1.4 km

Short stop at Palm Island with the intention of enjoying a lovely lunch but were shoooo'd off as no outsiders are allowed. COOOOVVVIIIIIDDDD!

+6
Clifton, Union Island ‐ Jan 12, 2022

9.9 km

+26

Grant kite surfing

Alex and Arabella kitesurfing
Chatham Bay, Union Island ‐ Jan 8, 2022

15 km

+27

Homeschooling on Arabella

It has been one month since we crossed The Atlantic to the Caribbeans, and next came Christmas and New Years celebration. Now we finally feel a bit more settled and can establish routines for homescho...
Tobago Cays ‐ Jan 2, 2022

48.5 km

Fabulous sail down in 20knots of wind and a broad reach. My little crew were amazing! Tabago Cays Marine Bay is a conservation area with beautiful white sand beaches, seagrass beds and reefs. It is also home to iguanas, hawksbill and green sea turtles, brown pelicans, Zenaida doves and seagulls. From our boat, we could sea turtles around us everywhere. Snorkelling is fantastic and you can spend an hour swimming with the turtles.

+27

Turtles and Smartkats

Tobago Cays and the Turtles We arrived in Tobago keys quite late in the day. It was a windy day and Tobago Cays offers very little to no shelter from the wind. The sea doesn’t get rough because of the...

Tobago Cays Cup

Tobago Cays Cup following on from the Bequia Cup. From 6 in Bequia, we now have 16 teams racing in what was an incredible day of racing. Format remains parent/child combo. Was quite windy and challeng...
Princess Margaret Beach, Bequia Island ‐ Dec 23, 2021

66.7 km

Welcome to paradise. Our new home for Christmas. What a beautiful place! We are anchored in the best spot, right at the end of Princess Margaret Beach. We are swimming distance from the beach and the reef behind.

+5

Visit to the Old Hegg Turtle Sanctuary

+11

Bequia Cup

+19

Christmas Day

+18

Christmas Eve

+16

DIY Christmas decoration

Bequia Cup on Boxing Day

Today yachts Arabella and Luna Bay II hosted the inaugural Bequia Cup, with fathers crewing for their kids. After a very competitive and nail biting competition, Team Arabella won. Following the match...

Christmas Celebration

Even though we had a late night on Christmas Eve, the girls were up and running at 6:30 in the morning to open presents! Happy girls. Their biggest gift is a brand new giant donut (not the sweet kind,...

Christmas Eve Fun

Since we can't get many things here in the Caribbeans, this year's Christmas required much more creativity and DIY work. The girls have been spending the last week making our own Christmas decorations...
Sandy Island, Carriacou Island, Grenada ‐ Dec 21, 2021

79.1 km

Photogenic postcard Island. It is one of those places that is just magical! A tiny narrow island with nothing but palm trees, sandy beach and a LOT of hermit crabs. The kids built a massive hermit crab kingdom. Great snorkelling at the reef on the north end of the island.

+4
Clarkes Court Bay ‐ Dec 15, 2021

7 km

Beautiful and quiet bay. Very happy that we came here. Explored the island by car (visited the old town, forts, cocoa plantation and waterfalls) , did PCR tests, got our J&J vaccine booster shots, did provisioning and last minute Christmas shopping... Apparently there's a shortage of eggs on the island! Took us a few tries through the back roads to finally get a hold of a dozen eggs in a tiny village. Big Alex left for New York for Christmas. Great having you on board, Alex!

+35

Grenada island tour

+10

Seafood

Freshest and delicious seafood in Grenada

After being in Grenada for almost two weeks, we got to cook and sample many of Grenada's wonderful seafood. Grant and big Alex dived and picked out a bunch of sea urchin, Grant bought half a dozen gia...
True Blue Bay ‐ Dec 13, 2021

13.2 km

Finally it is just the family, friends and I. Yay. What a beautiful little bay.
Day 16 - Grenada, Port Loius Marina ‐ Dec 4, 2021

106.1 km

WE MADE IT.

+9

Day 16 - Cape Verde to Grenada

Atlantic Crossing Story

Sailing across the Atlantic Ocean Grant Well we made it. It’s a terrible cliche to start by saying ‘I don’t know where to start’ but the truth is I really don’t. The last few weeks have been so emotio...
Day 15 - Cape Verde to Grenada ‐ Dec 3, 2021

298.6 km

160nm. Being chased down by the Vikings on Daisy (very slowly) only going 5.5knots. Maui wobbling us home.

+19
Day 14 - Cape Verde to Grenada ‐ Dec 2, 2021

325.6 km

171nm. Maui showing us that i will not die feeling. Squall squall squalls. A few chartplotter issues but just another issue to solve.

+18
Day 13 - Cape Verde to Grenada ‐ Dec 1, 2021

326.5 km

192nm. Massive day. Only 4nm short of our record for 1 day. Thank you Maui,. This was your finest day.

+6

Maui our Parasail
Day 12 - Cape Verde to Grenada ‐ Nov 30, 2021

327.6 km

163nm. Sadness. The Gennikar blew. Disappointment beyond compare. But this is a dont give up kinda family.

+6
Day 11 - Cape Verde to Grenada ‐ Nov 29, 2021

309.9 km

167nm Black Sail up. Dolphins breaching around the boat. Huge fish jumping following the Dolphins. Very strong winds pushing 25-30knots. Gennikar down.

+6

Day 11- Cape Verde to Grenada
Day 10 - Cape Verde to Grenada ‐ Nov 28, 2021

292.5 km

164nm WE LOST MAUI! She blew out under too much pressure. Human error. Professional crew. Sad, dangerous and avoidable. Team meeting. New rules. Always 2 people on at night. No sitting on the big cushion. Stay alert and watch the radar for squalls. Last night was very scary.

+17
Day 9 - Cape Verde to Grenada ‐ Nov 27, 2021

272.2 km

144nm. OUR FIRST SQUALL. Completely unprepared. Scary and dangerous. Human mistake by professional crew. Not acceptable. END.

+10
Day 8 - Cape Verde to Grenada ‐ Nov 26, 2021

296.5 km

159nm. Seaweed Seaweed Seaweed. Its like the Amazon out in the ocean. Very sad site.

+6
Day 7 - Cape Verde to Grenada ‐ Nov 25, 2021

325.6 km

176nm Champagne sailing. Perfect Day. But the wind wont move to the right direction so still heading too far South.

+12
Day 6 - Cape Verde to Grenada ‐ Nov 24, 2021

243.1 km

134nm. WE CAUGHT A 500lb Blue Marlin!!!! Obviously we couldn't sail too far today. Yippeeeeee

+22

Blue Marlin
Day 5 - Cape Verde to Grenada ‐ Nov 23, 2021

244.2 km

133nm. Full day sailing. Sadly Autopilot failed a few times giving you a scare each time. Light wind most of the day so not much progress. Puzzle night.

+19
Day 4 - Cape Verde to Grenada ‐ Nov 22, 2021

267.4 km

146nm Huge Pod of Pilot whales came passed us. Autopilot failed again. Beautiful sunset.

+6
Day 3 - Cape Verde to Grenada ‐ Nov 21, 2021

294.9 km

178nm Small pod of Pilot whales passed out bow. Helius was with us a while but that powered away. Too much speed.

+7
Day 2 - Cape Verde to Grenada ‐ Nov 20, 2021

318.5 km

166nm. First mid Atlantic Swim. 5000m deep. More Whales. 20+ Met up with Helius

+7
Day 1 - Cape Verde to Grenada ‐ Nov 19, 2021

202.8 km

80nm Missed the Start. Could get out of our parking bay because we were parked in. No problem. We raised the Black sail and mainsail and had an amazing start. Its begun.

+11

ARC+ Leg 2 Start date!
Day before we leave, Cape Verde ‐ Nov 18, 2021

0.2 km

Next stop. St Georges, Grenada A quick update on the journey to Cape Verde. Alex van Nes, my friend from Cape Town has joined us. Now we are 8 on board. 5 x Horsfield’s, Morgan, Fede and Alex. It is wonderful having him onboard. It so nice to have an old friend to chat with in the evenings and to enjoy the watches together. Regarding the trip itself. All went well. The first few days were very very strong weather and when we finally had the courage to raise our Parasailor (this is like [...]
a spinnaker which is a very large forward sail you will see in pictures later) we went like the crackers. For 2 days we flew down the coast of Africa at an average of 8 knots. It was wonderful and exhilarating. However not without incident. Late one evening I was on the helm around 3am. We had only put the parasail up just before sunset and I (as was everyone) were still figuring out how and what this sail could do. We were moving around 10knots in 18knots apparent wind and were on a collision course with another yacht. Now I know many of you wonder how this is possible. No land for hundreds of miles and a huge ocean. How can you get so close to other yachts. Well truth is you don’t see other boats for days but it is not uncommon to end up getting closer then you would like. Anyway in this case the other yacht was actually avoiding a collision with another 2 yachts. Balmy evening with yachts everywhere and we were flying. To cut a long story short (sorry for the cliche) but after the other yacht had avoided the others we were only 2 miles apart and converging. A few conversations on the VHF only made matter worse with some miscommunication and suddenly on a very dark night we were in a very critical situation. Last minute corrections from both yacht saved us but I was trembling with fear. From then on I have decided to make 3000% sure to miss all other yachts, especially at night, but miles. The journey was fun until the wind stopped and our lovely yacht Arabella really doesn’t love light winds and we started to flounder with our autopilot not really coping with the lack of movement. So we turned on the engines and motored for 4 hours. This was the only hours we used under motor for the 6 days and 40min we were at sea. I was terribly proud of everyone and also very happy to have a beer. The kids were amazing. For about an hour only little Azania felt and little sick. We all got into an incredible rhythm of cooking, sailing and cleaning. The kids definitely pulled their weight and were superstars. As in previous passages the always now sleep outside in their special little nook. I think we should give this area a name. I think it is fair to say they are definitely becoming little sailors. Everyday between 9am and 12pm you will find them on the helm keeping lookout and in charge of the vessel. And when they are not sailing they can be found baking or cooking in the kitchen and when they are doing neither you can find them sleeping on the flybridge. See pics below. On the fishing front I need to figure out a few ideas. The problem is as follows. From the previous post you know we have a gearbox problem and cannot engage reverse. The second problem is we have a HUGE sail (we have named him Maui) which cannot be brought down quickly and therefor when I hook into a fish we are generally moving around 6-8 knots and I cannot stop the line from spooling. Sadly I caught a Marlin and it was a real site to see it out the water but after about 4 minutes I just couldn’t get the real to stop and all the line went and the fish was gone. Sadly this happened 3 times and I needed to trade USD to get new line from some seriously dodgy charter fishermen in Cape Verde. Anyway next stop… Grenada We leave tomorrow 13h00. We still don’t have reverse and will need to be helped out of the marina. Apple (our Thai steward) has joined the crew. All the family have new hairstyles and the kids have made more friends with other yachts on the same rally. We have done our reprovisioning of supplies and we are ready to go. But sadly the trade winds have turned off. Global warming is seriously effecting everything. What has been one of the certainties since Columbus seems to have been disrupted. We have a huge low pressure system in the North Atlantic which is messing us the traditionally stable trade winds between Cape Verde and the Caribbean. So we may well be in for a very long crossing. I better figure out how to catch more fish. We do have the option of delaying our start but this doesn’t look likely to abate soon and you really never know exactly what the weather will do so for now it is a green light. ARC Rally https://www.worldcruising.com/arc/eventfleetviewer.aspx You may need to select ARC + 2021. This will show our position relative to the fleet and all the other yachts. There are around 80 yachts crossing to Grenada on the ARC + rally but only 23 in our class (DIV 4 Multihull Cruising Class A) SEND US A FREE SMS https://www.predictwind.com/iridium-free-sms/ +881652430325
Day 7 - Las Palmas to Cape Verde ‐ Nov 13, 2021

276.1 km

+17

Day 7 - Las Palmas to Cape Verde
Day 6 - Las Palmas to Cape Verde ‐ Nov 12, 2021

273.8 km

+12
Day 5 - Las Palmas to Cape Verde ‐ Nov 11, 2021

191.9 km

+10
Day 4 - Las Palmas to Cape Verde ‐ Nov 10, 2021

276.1 km

+13
Day 3 - Las Palmas to Cape Verde ‐ Nov 9, 2021

354.9 km

+4
Day 2 - Las Palmas to Cape Verde ‐ Nov 8, 2021

336.2 km
START DAY!!! Day 1 - Las Palmas, Spain ‐ Nov 7, 2021

157.4 km

+12

ARC+ Rally starts! Las Palmas to Cape Verde

3-2-1 Go!!!

Off we go!!! Bye bye everyone, see you on the other side!

Drama already...

Can you believe it. We found out last night we have lost reverse in our port engine. Looks like a transmission issue! Nothing we can do to get it fixed. I guess there is no going backwards. Just forwa...
Las Palmas ‐ Nov 6, 2021

5.1 km

+10

Leaving Gran Canaria

ARC+ 2021 Arabella Rock

We are OFF!!!! And we still don't smell.

Hi Everyone The time is nigh. We are ready (we think). The boat is ready (we hope), for the greatest adventure of our young family's life to sail across the Atlantic. We will leave Gran Canaria Island...
Las Palmas ‐ Nov 5, 2021

9.1 km

The last two weeks in Las Palmas, I went on a shopping spree in preparation of the crossing. Pretty intense. Never before had I bought 200 eggs in one go! Grant said we now have enough food and toilet paper for the next 2 years. ;-) Surprisingly, there are great Chinese grocery stores here, and so stock up on all asian pantry and snacks. We are set!

+10

Shopping spree
Las Palmas ‐ Nov 4, 2021

We met many other sailing families here at the marina, and it's great to share experiences and plans. The girls are thrilled to meet new friends and most families will continue sailing in the Caribbeans, so we can spend more time together after we cross the Atlantic. I was told there's actually a term called 'the boat kids'. Very happy boat kids!

+11

Boat kids
Day 204 ‐ Nov 3, 2021
Las Palmas ‐ Nov 1, 2021

Small world!! Lovely seeing and catching up with Anja and Ashley, old friends of ours from Shanghai, who also moved to Hong Kong few years ago. Their holiday in Gran Canaria somehow coincided with us!!!

Anja & Ashley
Las Palmas ‐ Oct 31, 2021

First time celebrating Halloween in a marina. It was a rocking party!!!

+11

Trick or treat, marina style

Best Halloween party ever!
Day 197 ‐ Oct 27, 2021
Las Palmas, Gran Canaria, Spain ‐ Oct 26, 2021
Day 5 Gibraltar to Las Palmas, Gran Canaria ‐ Oct 25, 2021

305 km

+8

Day 5 sail

Our new parasailor
Day 4 Gibraltar to Gran Canaria ‐ Oct 24, 2021

313 km

+7

Day 4 sail
Day 3 Gibraltar to Gran Canaria ‐ Oct 23, 2021

307 km

+4

Day 3 sail
Day 2 Gibraltar to Gran Canaria ‐ Oct 22, 2021

345 km

+6

Day 2 sail
Day 1 Gibraltar to Gran Canaria ‐ Oct 21, 2021

214 km

+12

Day 1 sail
Gibraltar, Gibraltar ‐ Oct 19, 2021

448.1 km

WE ARE BACK ON THE SEA! Long trip overnight to Gibraltar. All systems go. Yay. Stayed in Gibraltar for two nights to get ready for the big sail to Gran Canaria. Packed things away safely so they don't fly around in the big sea. Arabella and I cooked up a storm. She baked three loaves of bread and a big box of cookies, while I cooked four hot meals for the journey - green chicken curry, black bean stew, bolognese sauce and spicy fried eggplant with minced beef.

+17
Cartagena, Spain ‐ Oct 3, 2021

423.3 km

+38

Cartagena Week 4

+33

Cartagena Week 3

Sisters at work

Spanish school at Funcarele

Cartagena Week 4 (Final week)

Can’t believe we only have one week left in Cartagena. So much left to do! The girls have established their daily routine with Chinese zoom class, Spanish class, swimming followed by helping out wit...

Cartagena Week 3

Arabella and Alex got to know Cartagena town really well. They walk to school every day and ride their scooters from home to the marina where our boat is moored. We met another sailing family – Alex...
Madrid ‐ Oct 1, 2021

425.3 km

Family weekend road trip to Madrid. Amazing city! Too short a trip.

+64

Madrid Weekend Getaway

From Cartagena, it was a 4.5 hours drive to Madrid filled with songs from Frozen, Moana, The Greatest Showman, Sing, the Lion King, etc. Stayed at the NH Hotel Collection (Palacio de Tepa) which is i...
Cartagena ‐ Sep 16, 2021

96.8 km

The final push brings us to the end of Stage 3 of our adventure. We will moor Arabella in Cartagena for 1 month and do a little maintenance and a super spring clean. I have never been so excited to clean in my life. We will also change a few things on the boat before we embark into the 'Great' Atlantic Ocean. On route i caught a nice little Mackerel which served us a lovely breakfast dish.

+39

Cartagena Week 2

+63

Cartagena Week 1

Cartagena Week 2

We moved to another Airbnb apt in downtown Cartagena, so it'll be more convenient for us to go to the marina and for the girls to go to Spanish school. The girls love their Spanish class so much that...

Cartagena Week 1

We rented an Airbnb in La Manga Club, so that we can do major engineering and spring cleaning on the boat, in preparation of our Atlantic crossing in November. After six years, we realise we've accumu...
Tabarca

179.3 km

+6
Formentera ‐ Sep 13, 2021

127.6 km

+23

Formentara
Santa Ponsa ‐ Sep 11, 2021

98.5 km

We visited Palma on route to Santa Ponca. Palma was really the first big shopping for the ARC and we needed to buy some safety equipment. I did a long walk and got to see a but of the place. Fede and Morgan brought all the stuff back to the boat. From Palma to Ponca give you a real glimpse of how British tourism has developed the coastline with dozens and dozens of condo developments. A very rugged and beautiful coastline but lots of buildings. Ponca was not the fancy place we expected. Rather a [...]
holiday town full of British and no local flavour. Perhaps the most underwhelming stop of the trip to date. Luckily we had the US Open womens tennis to keep us occupied. :-)

+32

Santa Ponsa and Palma
Petro ‐ Sep 10, 2021

94.9 km

Great sail to Mallorca. Beam reach all the way. Fabulous fun. Finished up by a fabulous rain storm. Oh how we miss a little rain. Then a delicious dinner at a great restaurant in Petro

+2
Galdana ‐ Sep 9, 2021

40.3 km

Started early with a plan to get to Ciutedella early to do a little shopping before the shops close for the afternoon. 1-5pm all shops seem to shut. Its a lovely life to siesta everyday for 4 hours. Anyway, uneventful trip to the town and we bought a few new kitchen things and enjoyed a lovely spanish tapas lunch. Delphine tried their famous Sangria and i enjoyed a Gin with lemon Granita. Ciutadella really is a very beautiful town where they only sell one type of shoe. More on this later in pic [...]
s. Afterwards we sailed down to Galdana which was unfortunately very bumpy and not a great anchorage. Morgan needed to sleep on the fly-bridge and so did Arabella. We had two idiots anchor so close to us we couldn't sleep very comfortably thinking they would actually hit us. Fenders were out as a preventative measure. Really just not necessary.
Quiet bay on Menorca ‐ Sep 8, 2021

75.9 km

Left Mahon later than planned but still enjoyed a lovely downwind sail in around 15-20 knots around the north coast of Menorca. What a lovely rugged coastline with crazy little nooks and crannies. Reminds me a little on the French coast of Brittany. Not for the feint hearted.

Thank you Greece

By Grant Thank You Greece We have said goodbye to the second leg of our world adventure. We
Mahon, Menorca ‐ Sep 4, 2021

447.4 km

Just left Bonafacio and heading to Menorca.

+11
- Ciutadella
  
  39.7 km
  
  Day trip to visit the police station and clinic. Also spent the afternoon enjoying the cutest little town. Will sail their tomorrow. Too nice to not return.
  
  +10
  
  Ciutadella, Menorca
Bonafacio, France

43.8 km

We left Italy and sailed into Corsica, France and one of my top 5 beautiful towns in the world. Hello Bonafacio

+26
Capo Ferro, Italy ‐ Sep 3, 2021

23.1 km

After sadly saying bye to Kai, we sailed north to get a little closer to Bonafacio in Corsica. We are all very excited to return to this amazing place. It was a lovely sail with Morgan and Fede doing most the sailing because Delphine, the girls and I spent most of the morning focused on tidying up the boat and getting things organized onboard. On our way though we saw so many incredibly beautiful yachts sailing. There is a big race today and we were surrounded by them doing their final day train [...]
ing. Anyway then came our first storm. I will write a separate post for this. Read the 'Storm of Capo Ferro'

+2

Capo ferro
Porto Rotondo, Sardinia Island ‐ Sep 1, 2021

293.3 km

Sailed across overnight. Just arriving now. Lovely evening sail. Arabella caught her first Tuna just before sunset. Albacore Tuna. See pics. Delphine and I did sunset shift till 11pm and then again the morning shift from 4am to 7am. A little sleepy now but happy to be going west. Everyone is very excited to see Kai who is working on a yacht. We planned to meet him and he will spend the night with us. YAY. Started the 30 days challenge of 500 club in September - 100 squats, 100 push ups, 100 sup [...]
erman, 100 sit ups and 100 pull ups. Day 1!

+17

+14

Sail to Sardinia
Ponza ‐ Aug 31, 2021

82.5 km

We left the mainland of Italy behind and began the long leg to Sardinia via Ponza. A total of over 250nm. After enjoying the Hot Springs of Ischia (the island they made the movie "the incredible Mr Ripley") we sailed to Ponza in the evening and arrived just before 1am. The girls were excited to see the mythical island where the nymph witch Circe was exiled. She loved turning men into pigs. Odysseus and his men spent a year on the island. We were planning to spend the day in Ponza having been h [...]
ere in 2019 but because my Nephew Kai has got work over the weekend we headed out in the morning and are currently sailing to Sardinia.

+11
Ischia

33 km

We visited Thermal Park and Spa Aphrodite Apollon for some natural Hot Springs, swimming pools and a massage for Mommy and Daddy

+4
Capri ‐ Aug 30, 2021

25.2 km

Arrived early in Capri after a slow sail down from the mainland. Not much wind but nice a pleasant. Capri from the sea is equally as impressive as the Amalfi.Rugged, steep, majestic and beautiful. You often wonder why people even came here in the first place because building on this landscape could have been easy. We have never been to Capri and were worried it would be over busy and over commercialized like many places weve been but that wasnt the case at all. You still feel the old art deco fe [...]
eling and the place has aged magnificently. If anything i wish we could have stayed longer. But alas we must cross the Tyrrhenian Sea soon to enter Spain or else we will fall foul to some stupid visa restrictions. Bye Bye Capri. You have found a special place in our heart.

+40
Conca del Sogno ‐ Aug 29, 2021

22.1 km

Sailed along the Amalfi coast. Probably the most dramatic coastlines in the world with incredible buildings. You feel as if the property you are looking at is the most incredible until you see the next one. We then sailed out and around past the Sirens. (I will let Delphine write about these because they are about bewitching ladies voice and they filled my ears with wax so I couldn't hear). Stopped on a fairly unmemorable mooring for the evening where Morgan and Fede enjoyed a candlelit dinner f [...]
or 2. Hopefully i will get a picture of this.
Amalfi ‐ Aug 28, 2021
Salerno ‐ Aug 26, 2021

6.1 km

+28

Ravello and Vietri sul Mare
- Ravello ‐ Aug 27, 2021
  
  13.2 km
  
  Day trip to Ravello. We were supposed to visit Versuvius and Pompei but ill leave this story to a special post.
- Pompeii and Vesuvius
  
  49.7 km
  
  +48
Cetara ‐ Aug 25, 2021

10.9 km
Amalfi ‐ Aug 24, 2021

11 km

Delphine and I stayed in Positano for a couple of nights whilst the kids and crew headed to Amalfi
Positano

51.9 km

A we finally arrive on the Amalfi coast. How sexy is Positano?

+45
- Amalfi coast drive ‐ Aug 26, 2021
  
  38.4 km
  
  +10
Agropoli ‐ Aug 23, 2021

14.9 km

+5
Paestum

40 km

+10
Acciaroli

30.3 km
Palinuro ‐ Aug 22, 2021

160.6 km

+15
Stromboli ‐ Aug 21, 2021

25.5 km

Checked off the bucket list of hiking up the Stromboli, one of the two active volcanoes in the Aeolian islands. The other being obviously Vulcano. As we were hiking, we heard loud rumbling noises and vibrations from the top of the mountain, followed by puffs of dark smoke from the crater! Quite an unnerving hiking experience to say the least.

+12

Hiking in Stromboli
Panarea Island ‐ Aug 20, 2021

52.2 km

+18

Snorkeing at underwater volcano at Isola di Lisca Bianca

Lisca Bianca is part of the structure of an underwater volcano which is not yet completely dormant. In the stretch of sea between Lisca Bianca and other rocks, the water boils w
Pecorini, Filicudi ‐ Aug 19, 2021

43.8 km

Sailed to the quaintest little village called Pecorini. Very busy but very pretty. Delphine and i enjoyed sunset cocktails with Meimei at a cute little beach club kinda thing

+8
Lipari ‐ Aug 17, 2021

70.7 km

Our first stop is Lipari.

+44

Back in the Aeolian Islands

Here we are back in the Aeolian Islands which we visited in 2019 and had such fond memories. Named after Aeolus, God of the winds according to Greek Mithology, the Aeolian archipelago is a group of ex...
Scilla ‐ Aug 14, 2021

61.6 km

Sailed up the Messina straits. Always a superb adventure with all the historical tale of monsters and crazy seas. We smartly decided to sail up at high tide with the current and slight breeze allowing us to really achieve some remarkable speeds. Always fun. More importantly Delphine caught a huge (7-8kg) Dolphin Fish (aka Dorado or Mahi Mahi). Great fight with the fish tail walking on nurmerous occasions. Such a beautiful fish you can almost find yourself feeling sorry for the fish. Alex certain [...]
ly did.

+16

Swordfishing

+52

Swordfishing in the Straits of Messina

By Grant Massive bucket list item for me. In 2019 when we sailed through the straits i saw these incredible fishing boats. The are around 23m long with an amazing 40m bowsprit and 35m mast with a bird...

Sicilian cooking with Giovanni

We met Giovanni at the Scilla harbour. He was wonderfully kind, generous and helpful. He arranged Grant to go swordfish fishing with his fisherman friend in Sicily. We met his son Gianmarco, a gregari...
Taormina ‐ Aug 13, 2021

14.7 km

Headed up to the unbelievably beautiful Taormino Village on top of the hill. In 2019 there was a terrible fire so we couldn't visit. So glad we could this time because the village certainly stands out as one of my favourite and most beautiful places in the world (sans Portofino, Bonafaccio, Scarborough, SA). We all thoroughly enjoyed our new Italian cuisine and enjoyed a marvellous dinner followed by a cool walk through a very busy little village. See photos.

+40

Climbing Mount Etna

+10

Climbing Mount Etna

So the girls and i decided to give Mommy a break and we ventured out to climb Mount Etna. I guess climb is not completely accurate. We drove our rented car to about 1800m above sea level, then we took...
Riposto

193.7 km

Sailed through the night to reach Riposto to officially check in to Italy. We have been here before in 2019 and probably had a more romantic memory of the place. Sadly it aint what we remember it as. No festival and just a really run down little town at the base of Mount Etna and a layer of black volcano ash covering everywhere. Collected fuel, internet and some supplies and off we went after a fairly long police clearance job. Welcome to Italial

+6

From mainland Italy to Sicily
Cantanzaro Lido ‐ Aug 12, 2021

192 km

Full long day sailing. Over 100nm to a fairly unmemorable place for a short dinner and swim before cracking on. Delphine and I did the 9-12pm shift as we sailed towards Sicily.

Sail from the heel to the ball of the 'Italian' boot
Santa Maria de Luca

121.4 km

Finally we officially left Greece and sailed in 25-30 knots of wind across the Ionian Sea to the heel of the boat. Initially we planned to try sail all the way across the instep but realized it was a bite too far as the sea really grew big. Roughest water we have sailed in yet. No seasickness so another feather in the cap for the girls.

+4

Sail from Greece to Italy
San George, Greece ‐ Aug 6, 2021

58.8 km
Corfu

30.9 km

+21
- Ibiza, Spain
  
  1 584.5 km
  
  Grant left the family to visit Filip and a few friends in Ibiza.
Petriti, Corfu Island ‐ Aug 1, 2021

98.9 km

Petriti Corfu
Lefkas Town Key ‐ Jul 31, 2021

5.4 km

+5

Lefkada Town
Lygia ‐ Jul 30, 2021

9.2 km
Nydri ‐ Jul 28, 2021

+11
Vasiliki ‐ Jul 23, 2021

+4
Fiskardo

32.2 km
Melissani Lake / Cave

Underground Lake

+6

Melissani cave
DIAS Apiary

Amazing experience at the Dias Apiary. Learnt so much about bees and honey. Thanks to Eleni and Thanassis for giving us an incredible tour. Highly recommend this to anyone who visits Kefalonia. Stay tuned for the girls’ upcoming blog. http://beekeeping.gr/dias/

+14

Dias apiary
Fiscardo

Watched the Olympic Games opening and girls cheered for Hong Kong and South African entourage. Celebrated Azania’s third birthday on the boat. Lots of presents!

+12

Fiskardo
Vathy, Ithaki ‐ Jul 20, 2021

15 km

Through a chance conversation with John and a few phone calls, we were able to get the J&J Covid vaccines and get a European Travel Passport. So we sailed back to Vathy for a quick visit to the hospital. Life is about seizing opportunities. Thank you Greece. Hehehe.

+2

Vathi
Frikes, Ithaki

4.4 km

We rented a car and spent the day exploring the Island of Ithaca. So much altitude in such a small and beautiful island. We also have an incredible story of finding Odysseus sleeping in the cave of the Nymphs. I cannot tell more about this because you will get the full story in a separate post.

+4
Kioni, Ithaki

77.4 km

Alex and I brought the family back to the little town that Alex and I visited two years ago. Kioni is a lovely little village where we bought some amazing ceramics from our friend John's shop. I cannot recommend this guy's shop enough. It is amazing. I will write a separate post on this topic. Alex started doing gymnastics in the town square, attracted a small crowd and a bunch of kids joined in.

+10
St Nicholas ‐ Jul 15, 2021

59 km

+48

Zakinthos Island

Chicken Casserole (Mum’s Recipe)
Keri

46 km

Making Bread with the African Naked Chef
Ancient Olympia, Pyrgos ‐ Jul 18, 2021

We left Pylos before dawn. At 10am we hooked 2 great Big Eyed Tuna and landed them both. Awesome. See pics. Mommy and the kids have been learning all about the Olympics and are now visiting Olympia - home of the original Olympics in 800BC and the place where the torch is lit every year before the games begin. Daddy is taking some relaxing time with Azania.

+13
Pylos Bay ‐ Jul 15, 2021

Lovely anchorage with flat water and great wind. We used the time to catch up on some projects for the kids. You can see their latest posts in the blog section. https://horsfield.family/blog/ Daddy got to play with his new toy the Wing Foil. See pics and videos. Mommy got to do some hiking with Daddy.

+18
Karoni ‐ Jul 13, 2021

75.8 km

Delphine and I did a wonderful hike across the the second furthest south peninsula of Europe. What a treat it was. Lovely scenery but ended end a very difficult end. A good 9km and plenty incline. The kids did some wakeboarding and then we ended making episode 7 of the new cooking channel. How to make a loaf of bread!

+50

Peloponnese
Porto Kagio

67.6 km
Elafonisos ‐ Jul 12, 2021

166.4 km

Finally we’ve left the Cyclades. Onwards and upwards towards the Peloponnesus

The Tuna Extravaganza

Tuna Sushi Chef
Paralia Vathi, Sifnos Island ‐ Jul 5, 2021

46.8 km

Hi Everyone. Finally we have left Milos. What a wonderful island. I certainly will report on this extensively on my recap on the Cyclades but in the meantime lets give a short synopsis. The island geology is extraordinary due to its unique creation. After a massive volcano erupted millions of years ago that was so large it effected China, the island was formed. But what is remarkable is the different types or rock and sand formations you find. If you were to do a research report on all the diffe [...]
rent types of rocks you could find in the world i reckon you could come here and find them all. The Island has only a few small towns but all very different a beautiful. We decided to stay in Milos for 1 whole week. The highlights were Pollonia Town which is a it quaint little harbour with a few great restaurants, the north coast including Sarakiniko Beach, Mandrakia Beach and the restraurant Medusa, the Bears, Kleftco and the cliffs and caves, and finally the Paleochori Beach were we enjoyed eating food cooked in the sand of beach. The sand is heated by sulfur gas coming up through the sand to about 75degrees. Anyway, we loved Milos. Definitely the highlight of the Cyclades so far. Sifnos is the gastronomical capital of Greece so we have a fancy romantic dinner for the parents only tonight. More on this after. For now - later aligator.

+22
Paliochori Beach, Milos ‐ Jul 4, 2021

We had lovely lunch at Sirocco restaurant on the beach. Their specialty is slow cooked lamb and pork knuckle in a volcanic sand oven. The meat melts in your mouth and it was delicious.
Kleftico, Milos ‐ Jul 3, 2021

27.3 km

+20

South coast of Milos Island
- Grant’s hike to Kleftico ‐ Jul 3, 2021
  
  21.9 km
  
  +34
Adamantas, Milos ‐ Jul 2, 2021

27 km

Rented a 4x4 and explored Milos on land. Definitely by far the most beautiful island we've visited. Stunning volcanic island full of cliffs, caves and tunnels. Colours and textures of the rock and the clear water is truly breathtaking. There are over 70 beaches on the island! We hit quite a few - Pollonia, Sarakiniko, Parafragas, Fyropotmos and Mandrakia, etc. We also visited the port town Adamantas and a tiny fishing village Klima. At Alogomandra main beach, Alexandra discovered a hidden be [...]
ach by following the local kids and it was perfect setting for watching a spectacular sunset. Have now sailed down to the southwest coast Kleftiko - an impressive collection of rock formations with crystal blue water.

+34
Pollonia, Milos Island ‐ Jun 29, 2021

90.9 km

Definitely the most incredible day sailing. Probably averaged around 9-10 knots all day on a beem reach in 20-25knots of wind. For a big boat like Arabella with one reef in, we were flying. I was on the helm from anchor up to anchor down and thoroughly enjoyed my day. Was pretty exhausted at the end and enjoyed very tasty few beers at the end and watched England beat Germany in the Euro's and the South Africa beat the West Indies in Grenada (my other homeland) in the Cricket.

+12
Livadi, Schinoussa Island ‐ Jun 28, 2021

77.1 km

Awesome day sailing. Clocking a nice 10.5 knots sailing a downward reach. Really enjoyed the sail. Perfect conditions of around 20knots
Antiparos ‐ Jun 27, 2021

8.1 km

Sunset sail to Antiparos
Seagull island

38.1 km

Sail, wing foiling, diving, fishing. Everything. Awesome

The Flying Captain

Episode 4 - let's make orange juice!
Naxos

34.2 km

Arrived to a beautiful sunset and a few beers in this incredible beautiful little town.
Scorpios, Mykonos ‐ Jun 25, 2021

13.6 km

A few gorgeous days of fun at Scorpios. Beach cabanas, fabulous food and some dancing

+59
Tourlos, Mykonos ‐ Jun 24, 2021

11.8 km

Sunset cruise to the other side of Mykonos.
Mykonos ‐ Jun 20, 2021

130.1 km

Onwards to Mykonos for a few days of PPPAAAARRRRTTTTTYYYY!

+26

Mykanos

Alex stop start music video

The African naked Chef Episode 3

Quick update from Mykonos

This is my 3rd trip to Mykonos and i am never disappointed. The island cannot ever be described as beautiful. Frankly it is an ugly rock with nothing growing on it. Dry and desolate. But for all that...

Week 9 from the Pirate, naked Chef and Daddy

It’s been a little more than 2 months since we left Hong Kong and we have finally made our way to Greece after what can only be described as an fabulous time in Turkey. I am not sure how to recap beca...
Temple of Poseidon ‐ Jun 19, 2021

34.4 km

Arrived in the early evening to anchor at the Sounion Bay. Perched up on top the cape is the ancient Temple of Poseidon (God of the Sea), built between 444 and 440BC. We tried to hike to the temple in the early morning only to find that the whole site has been fenced off, and not open until 9:30am. Captain Morgan was here 20 years ago and there was no fence. Onwards towards Mykonos with a deli-belly.

+4
Athens ‐ Jun 17, 2021

48.4 km

+19
Poros Island

50.6 km

Sea trial Sunreef 80 named Genny. Lovely sail from Poros to Athens

+8
Marine of Alimos ‐ Jun 16, 2021

33 km
Athens International Airport

283.5 km

Due to COVID, only boat crew are allowed to sail into Greece. So we had to part with our yacht and crew. Our family flew from Izmir to Athens. Massive delay due to the seaplane mechanical problem. They ended up sending us another plane from Athens.
Adnan Menderes Airport, Turkey

35.9 km

Lovely flight
Hidden Bay, Teos ‐ Jun 14, 2021

195.6 km

So cool. Pics coming

+34

Hidden Bay Teos
Selim’s place/ D-Hotel Maris Bay ‐ Jun 12, 2021

+18

Selim's place
Chiftlik ‐ Jun 11, 2021
Gocek ‐ Jun 5, 2021

36.7 km

Back to Gocek, charming little town. We will spend the next 3-4 nights in a resort for a little TLC on both us and Arabella the yacht. Daddy is giving little Azania intensive swimming lessons. There is a lot of scootering, bicycling and exploring around town. Daddy and mommy started doing exercises together in the morning... sometimes yoga, sometimes 500 Club (100 squats, 100 push up, 100 tricep dip, 100 sit up and 100 superman)!!! Yucks!

+30

Gocek June 2021

Week 7 from the Pirate, naked Chef and Daddy

Hello all. I have 2 new pseudonyms. Pirate which is my daily name of choice. And Chef Grant (African naked Chef) which comes out less often. Nevertheless I use both but mostly am referred to as Daddy...
Fethiye ‐ Jun 4, 2021

84.4 km

Quiet drive from Kalkan to Fethiye via Patara Ruins and Beach. We were the only visitors at Patara. The girls performed gymnastics and sang baby shark at the ancient roman amphitheater .

+11
Kalkan ‐ Jun 3, 2021

187.8 km

Awesome drive through the mountains to the cutest little town called Kalkan. After dinner, the girls all went for their first Hamam Turkish Bath. (please read Alex's blog post on her hamam experience)

+5
Antalya ‐ Jun 1, 2021

72.3 km

Visit my friend Kaan Bey and staying in his lovely apartment overlooking the sea of course. Incredible hospitality. The girls loved playing with their new friends Talia and little Kaan.

+8
Olympos Eternal Flame

29.4 km

+6
Adrasan ‐ May 31, 2021

26.8 km

Ancient wreck diving

+23

Diving in Adrasan

Archeological diving

Two highlights Diving off the coast of Adrasan, Turkey. What an humbling experience! Many of the wrecks and artefacts are from around 800BC. And to be shown this by the most esteemed expert in Turkey...

Quotes on life

Hi everyone I will use this post to add quotes on life I think worthy. Please share any you think are great and I’ll add if I think they warrant. The world isn’t fair after all. “One Martini is all ri...
Karaoz ‐ May 30, 2021

50.1 km
Simena Castle, Kekova ‐ May 28, 2021

31.2 km

After an delicious lunch we snorkeled around a new dive spot that included a real life war tank. It was awesome. Arabella snorkeled around the whole island without lifting her head once. Afterwards we sailed to Kekova and the Simena Castle. On the way we stopped at a very dramatic scenic ravine where Alex proved she is no slouch and snorkeled at least 500m unassisted back to the boat. So proud of both of them.
Kas, Turkey ‐ May 26, 2021

83.3 km

Sailed down to the coolest little place called Kas (pronounced Cash). What a spectacular little town. Truly sexy. Quaint an beautiful little streets and shops and what looks like amazing restaurants. Sadly we could try any restaurants because of the lockdown but will try on our way back past next week if lockdown ends. On the way down we sailed past Butterfly Beach which was extremely dramatic. Will need to add pics of this when we go back past because the light was all wrong (apparently). Anywa [...]
y, we are now focusing on getting Delphine her PADI license so it is all dive dive dive. And i get to do a little fishing at night. Super cool. More to come

+17
Gemilar Adasi

34.6 km

After a morning spent trying to troubleshoot the Flightboard we ascertained that the battery is faulty but whilst testing unfortunately the board hit a piece of wood which damaged the carbon fiber. At first we were looking at a repair but i have asked for a new board. Apparently will arrive in a few days. Anyway, we finally left and headed further South and came to this incredible little island with an entire village with 4 churches completely abandoned. It is a spectacular site. Found a stunnin [...]
g anchorage. We hiked up to the top of the island where the views were simple breathtaking. Please read Arabella's blog post about her experience on this island.

+32

Gemilar Adasi (Island)
Gocek, Day 8, Boynuz Buku, Turkey ‐ May 24, 2021

3.9 km

Just a final stop before we head out early tomorrow morning.
Gocek, Day 7, Gocek Town, Turkey

13.4 km

Heading back to Gocek town for a hopefully final visit with the Volvo Penta engineers. Will catch up with some shopping.
Gocek, Day 5&6, Sarsala Koyu, Turkey ‐ May 21, 2021

3.4 km

Left the dock alongside the jetty early morning before the wind picked up. The dock had actually broken in the night from the wind. See pics.
Gocek, Day 4, Wall Bay, Turkey

25.5 km

Early in the morning i took the drone out to capture some wakeboard footage and lost signal with it when it went over the mountain. I didnt really know what to do so tried out the Return to Home (RTH) function and luckily for me she came back home. All is well that ends well. Beautiful upwind sail in about 15-30knots. In the afternoon we reefed Arabella as the wind picked up. She handled beautifully. No drama even in very strong winds.

+12
Gocek, Day 2&3, Gocek Ad, Turkey ‐ May 20, 2021

3.6 km

We found a little anchorage near the town on Gocek in order to do a few running repairs on Arabella and meet the engineers from Volvo Penta to check the starboard engine. They think the problem we are having with our starboard engine vibration is from the propeller shaft being not straight. We have made an appointment for them on Monday to remove the shaft and check all is right. If this is not the problem then it could either be the dampner or the turbo jets. Will know more on Monday. Gocek t [...]
own also has 3 different rigging companies so we used this opportunity to invite one of the companies to come and do a rigging inspection. They reported that all is well except our 2 furlers on the Jib and the Genoa could do with a service. We removed the Job one and did a service. The Genoa is a big job which would require too much time and effort. We will do this another time when we are off the boat a while. Arabella has also been experiencing some tooth pain so we made an appointment for her to see the local dentist. She has some gum infection from some food which was stuck between her expander on the braces and a baby tooth coming out soon. All is well with some more mouthwash and better brushing. Finally, we enjoyed 2 days pottering around the little town of Gocek and enjoyed some shopping. New wetsuit for Arabella and a new wakeboard for Alex. The happiest of them all was Azania who got her first scooter. She is over the moon.

+19
Gocek, Day 1, Boynuz Buku, Turkey ‐ May 18, 2021

97.6 km

And finally we get to Gocek. Turkey's playground in the Aegean sea. What a cool place. Lots of updates to come.

+7
Serce Limani ‐ May 17, 2021

36.1 km

We move further south on route to Gocek. Beautiful evening.

+7
Orhaniye

8 km

We came to Selim’s jetty and clubhouse to fetch some frozen desserts and meet a Volvo Engineer to check our engines. More to report later

+9
Cululu Bay ‐ May 14, 2021

35 km

We left early in the morning after the local Turkish coastguard told us we were anchored in the entrance to the harbour. I am not really sure who we were in the way of because everything was pretty quiet. Anyway, we headed off on a somewhat eventful trip to this little bay we are in now. But, let me tell you about about this amazing little town called Datcha. WOW!. Such a cute little place. The night we arrived there i took the 3 little girls onto shore for a little scooter riding and exploring [...]
. What we found was a perfect little town fast asleep in the midst of Turkish lock-down. But strangely this gave it an even more quaint and beautiful feel. At the end of the little peninsula we found this old abandoned house/mansion. What a place this must have been in its prime. 300degrees surrounded by water, a grand driveway to match any old estate and a huge lawn leading down to the water. Truly a special place. The kids thought it was haunted and Azania kept saying "scary house" and i could see why with all the spray-painting on it. Anyway, now we have moved on and trying to get further south to find warmer water before coming back north slowly to find our way across the Med. Arabella (the yacht) is still experiencing issues and sailing down to where we are we actually had no working engines for a while. We are still struggling with issues which need a serious looking into from a Volvo technician. We have made arrangments to have one onboard on Monday after the lockdown in Turkey is hopefully over. In the meantime i dont think we will be moving from this little bay. We are moored next to a great new friend Selim and his yacht A.S.O.S. He is the guy with the cars from Ismir. Such a lovely guy. He hosted us yesterday for both lunch and dinner. Another of his friends Husein and his family joined for dinner. He just happens to be the Chief of Police for the second most populous province in Turkey. Not a bad guy to know. :-) But in all seriousness i have rarely met such seriously kind, genuine and generous people. We are thoroughly enjoying meeting all these new people. Finally i ended the day trying out our new electric foil board and Arabella went for a wakesurf. See pictures and videos below. Super day all and all.

Besiktas

+23

Selim's Bay

Sharks :-)

Wakeboarding 180's

Arabella Wakeboarding

Alex nearly DROWNING!!!!!

This is Alex, Ok so my last post was my book report. Now this is a post of me nearly DROWNING! I was SOOO scared, and it happened today. So, you never thought that this innocent baby could have nearly...

Besiktas Wins

Our new friend Huseyin needed to leave us today to go and do policing work during the final round of football matches in the Turkish Footbal League.After all he is the Chief of Police in Ismir. Final...
Datcha ‐ May 12, 2021

83 km

Awesome sail from Bodrum to Datcha. This is the actual exact route we sailed. I used my Garmin to track our progress

+7

Covid Testing
Late start

2.8 km
Bodrum ‐ May 11, 2021

14.2 km

Welcome to Bodrum. Anchored under the Castle of St Peter. Explored the 15th century castle with beautiful courtyards and terraces and stunning views to the town. There were fantastic exhibits of shipwrecks and artifacts from tombs inside the castle towers. Unfortunately Turkey is under lockdown these two weeks, and so most shops and restaurants are closed. Arabella and mommy managed to find a beautiful spice, tea and dried fruit shop and we tried and bought dozens of dried fruit. Our new f [...]
avourite - dried pomelo skin!

+21

Not all plain sailing!

So... for all those folks who are fedup with seeing the beautiful side of sailing, here goes a post with some of the less pleasant things we deal with on our crazy voyage. [youtube=wf8Ey-Pw2l8]
Yalıkavak ‐ May 10, 2021

25.9 km

Sailing in 25knots. Awesome

+9

Sailing from Didum to Yalikavak
Didim Marina ‐ May 7, 2021

13.3 km

We're going back to Didum Marina because the Watermaker broke. the watermaker makes drinking water out of seawater so that we can shower on the boat, drink water, cook, and tons of other things. On our last morning here, 'architecture buddies' mommy and Alexandra went to visit the Temple of Apollo (6th century BC), one of the best known oracle of the ancient world and one of the largest of its time. We had the whole temple to ourselves as we were the only visitors! We actually flew over the t [...]
emple during our helicopter ride few weeks ago.

+16

D-Marin Marina in Didum

Update from the Marina

Hi everyone. Whilst we thought this short stay in Didum Marina would be awful we were very pleasantly surprised. The facilities here are incredible and we are enjoying the amazing hospitality of D-Mar...
Six Senses Kaplankaya

7.3 km

We went back to Kaplankaya to say goodbye to friends. We kept leaving and coming back for more! Loving the yoga, spa and beautiful nature in this special place.

+27
Kazikli Balik Avit ‐ May 4, 2021

17.7 km

Finally we set sail. We are so happy and excited. Because of the wind, we couldn't anchor at Kaplankaya so we moved to this pretty little bay. We spent the whole next day tidying up the place. Daddy did the fishing and diving equipment while mommy and the girls did the rest.

+4

First sail. Yay

Boat tour pt 1
Kaplankaya Six Senses Resort ‐ Apr 30, 2021

104.8 km

Back to Kaplankaya to finish off the last few things on Arabella.
Didim Marina

Headed to Didum Marina to launch Arabella back into the water. YAY

Launching Arabella
Ephesus

76.2 km

Visited the incredible ruins of Ephesus. What a remarkable story of how the mosquito destroyed a great civilization.

+11
Teos ‐ Apr 24, 2021

111.4 km

We flew from Kaplankaya to Hidden Bay resorts but took the opportunity to view Didim Apollon Temple, Miletus Amphitheater, Heraklia Antique City, Priene Antique City from the sky. Amazing

+32

Hidden Bay, Teos & Izmir

Hot Spring in a tiny Turkish village

Octopus experience

Kaplankaya to Teos
Kaplankaya Six Senses Resort ‐ Apr 18, 2021

51.9 km

Arrived at our new home for the next 7 days. We need to do 24hrs quarantine in our Villa which is perfect because it is a great chance to gather the collective family thoughts about our journey ahead. Such a lovely place with a great community of families who have been living here during this Covid year. We met so many wonderful new friends here and the kids are in heaven with their new friends. They do gymnastics, play tennis, play on the beach, go to kids club, etc.
Milas–Bodrum Airport ‐ Apr 17, 2021

432.8 km

Landed safely in Bodrum, Turkey. Next stop Kaplankaya Six Senses

Hauling luggage
Istanbul

7 996.3 km

First flight of our adventure done. Connecting now to Bodrum
Hong Kong International Airport, China ‐ Apr 16, 2021

43.5 km

And we are off. 14 pieces of checked in luggage, 264kg!! Definitely a record for the family.

+6

Off to airport

A very quiet Hong Kong Airport
Wong Chuk Hang, China ‐ Apr 14, 2021

Almost ready! Grant and Arabella working on website. Alex packing her stuffies. Delphine and Grant getting their second vaccine jabs at Life Clinic!

+2

Packing up and getting ready