Dave, John, Brett and Jo had rough times and great times - especially at South Minerva Reef with the other members of the South Minerva Social Club: Migration and Guava Jelly

'No shoes Dave', Carolyn, Brett and Jen returned to visit the Loaloa family near the Dakuniba Pass, where the yacht 'Touche' was tragically lost

Our family and friends gathered to farewell us on our great adventure

The 2011 New Zealand-Tonga passage included crew of Master Dave, 1st mate-in-training Carolyn, the terrible twins of John and Tony, and the Croc-wearing Aussie, Kevin

South and North Minerva Reefs provided a wonderful exciting respite on our way to Tonga.

Dave fought the magnificent black marlin for 2.5 hours, and then it took the crew another 1 hour to land it

We entered the smallest harbour in our world and donated Dave's marlin to the people of Eua

We celebrated our successful journey with a roast chicken dinner, red wine and a lot of laughs

We rested up off Big Mamas Yacht Club and here we met Relapse and Ruby-June and formed the RRR Club

Our friends from Relapse and ourselves were driven by the wonderful Wesley to see Tongatapu's highlights

We joined the inaugral flotilla from Big Mummas Yacht Club to celebrate the (now deceased) King's birthday in cruising style

The RRR Club journeyed through the Haapais and were privileged to swim with magnificent humpback whales and their calves

The RRR Club journeyed to the acclaimed Vavau'u Islands

With our crew of Terry and Bronwyn we sailed with the RRR Club to Savusavu, Fiji

We loved the cruisers' facilities and town of Savusavu

The RRR Club loved the people of Rabi Island - in fact we loved it so much we came back again with Sandy and the girls (see later)

The RRR Club was no more! We discovered Budd Reef, returned to Qamea, discovered Taveuni and headed for Savusavu to meet Sandy and girls. On the way we caught a marlin and donated it to the Loaloa family

Dave's sister Sandy and his nieces Alice and Michaela joined us, and we took them to some of our favorite places

We felt very privileged to be allowed access to the northern islands of the Lau Group

We were lucky enough to find where 80 year-old turtles had been laying their eggs for centuries. We only hope they don't get hunted to extinction

We loved Makogai - its history as the leper colony, its marine reserve status, and its new focus as a clam breeding centre and turtle sanctuary. And here we met our new cruising partners: the wonderful families on the good ships Gromit and Solara

Levuka was all we had hoped - historic and quaint

Naigani Island was just as the brochures present Fiji to be

With the Gromits and Solarans we sailed Bligh Water, bound for Lautoka

For Carolyn it was a return to her home of six years, for Dave it was an insight into Carolyn's childhood

Dave's sons Liam and Matt and their friend Chris, joined us to explore the Yaswas

Dave and his son Matt, and friend Chris had a memorable trip home, catching superb fish along the way