Going Home! (April 2014)

Vessel Name: Nirvana
Vessel Make/Model: 37' Irwin Ketch
Hailing Port: St. John US VI
Crew: Marc and Eric
Social:
29 September 2013 | Near Redland City Marina, Australia
06 September 2013 | Brisbane Australia
05 September 2013 | 103 miles ENE of Brisbane
04 September 2013 | 236 miles ENE of Brisbane
03 September 2013 | 353 miles ENE of Brisbane
02 September 2013 | 474 miles ENE of Brisbane
01 September 2013 | 601 miles NE of Brisbane
31 August 2013 | New Caledonia
30 August 2013 | 8 Miles from pass into New Caledonia
29 August 2013 | 128 Miles NNE of New Caledonia
28 August 2013 | 250 miles NNE of New Caledonia
27 August 2013 | Luganville, Vanuatu
24 August 2013 | Luganville, Vanuatu
22 August 2013 | Ambrym Island, Vanuatu
19 August 2013 | Port Vila,Vanuatu
16 August 2013 | Tanna, Vanuata
15 August 2013 | Waisisi Bay, Tanna, Vanuatu
15 August 2013 | 83 miles ENE of Tanna Vanuatu
14 August 2013 | 223 miles ENE of Tanna
13 August 2013 | 376 miles ENE of Tanna Vanuatu
Recent Blog Posts
29 September 2013 | Near Redland City Marina, Australia

Last night on Nirvana at anchor

We left the mooring in Brisbane this morning about 10am. We had a very good last night in Brisbane as there was a huge festival called Riverfire. Brisbane set up barges full of fireworks all along the river in the city. At 7pm they had the most spectacular fireworks I have ever seen. All around us [...]

06 September 2013 | Brisbane Australia

Arrived in Brisbane

We arrived yesterday morning in Brisbane after sailing 1163 miles from Vanuatu. The last day was very pleasant as the wind slowly backed off and turned more east as we approached Brisbane. We caught two big mahi, 50 pounds and 35 pounds just at sunset so we will have fish for some time here. The weather [...]

05 September 2013 | 103 miles ENE of Brisbane

Day 5 to Australia

We sailed 134 miles yesterday with an average speed of 5.58 knots. Wind was still up yesterday gusty 20-30 knots and we still have the third reef in the main adjusting the genoa according to conditions. Seas calmed a little don to 8-10 feet and not quite so angry. Winds are about 20 knots this morning [...]

04 September 2013 | 236 miles ENE of Brisbane

Day 4 to Australia

We sailed 118 miles yesterday with an average speed of 4.92 knots. As predicted, conditions have been very poor with 25-30 knots of wind, higher gust around squalls, and 12 foot seas. Not the worst conditions we have been in but close. The beam reach makes these conditions very wet and uncomfortable. [...]

03 September 2013 | 353 miles ENE of Brisbane

Day 3 to Australia

We sailed 129 miles in the last 22 hours with an average speed of 5.86 knots. I am writing this update a couple of hours early as I am up and the weather has calmed some for the moment. The heavy weather arrived yesterday about 5pm with winds up to 30 knots. It is still dark but I would guess seas [...]

02 September 2013 | 474 miles ENE of Brisbane

Day 2 to Australia, calm before the storm

We sailed 141 miles yesterday averaging 5.88 knots. Wind started to die off last night as predicted and turn south so Eric started the motor last night. We are motoring now in about 5 knots of wind out of the south in calm seas. We have continued on our course of about 200 degrees and have a 230 degree [...]

Day 1 to Vanuatu

13 August 2013 | 376 miles ENE of Tanna Vanuatu
Marc
We sailed 108 miles our first 18 hours after leaving Lautoka yesterday with an average speed of 6.0 knots. Winds have been a little stronger than predicted by the grib files and are now south at about 15 knots. After everyone read the cruising guides for Vanuatu yesterday it was decided we would try to make Tanna our first stop. Unfortunately this is quite a ways south with a rhumb line of 238 degrees making our reach rather tight right now. Winds are predicted to turn more easterly the next couple of days so we are running just north of the rhumb line. Thankfully the seas are a moderate 4-6 feet now so the ride is ok and not too wet. Vanuatu sounds very interesting and we are hoping to stop at 4 islands in our 10-11 days there. First Tanna, for the volcano experience, Port Vila Efate for duty free rum, Abrym for another volcano and unspoiled nature, and finally Espiritu Santo to dive the world war two relics. It is a lot to cover in a short time and will certainly be weather dependent but that is our plan for now, we will see. We will make up a day on this passage and should arrive Thursday night or Friday morning to Tanna as long as the winds cooperate. All is well on Nirvana and I will post another update tomorrow.

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