We are happy to be sitting in Port Villa on a mooring off Yachting World busy replenishing stores and taking care of a few repairs (oil pressure sender and mainsail down haul!) We arrived here two days ago after a fabulous overnight reach from Tanna with ENE winds at about 10-12 knts all the way. BAHATI [...]

Bonjournee a tous!

Hi Virtual Crew! This is a test message from BAHATI preparing to sail toward Vanuatu!

Capt B is happy to report that he and old mate, Kule Jackman, who transitted the Panama Canal with us and sailed as far as Malpela Island off the coast of Columbia on our first attempt to reach the Galapagos (!) ventured to the South Island and spent a wonderful week "tramping' the Routeburn Track and "sailing" in Milford Sound...also visiting and enjoying Queenstown! Kule has now left to continue his "round the world" trip via Oz and Thailand and Honk Konk and other romantic spots over the next few months...while on a global "job search"! We were thrilled to have him back on board again and it was particularly fun to get as far south as we did (the furthest EVER and certainly on this trip!) to see the wonders of Fjordland and the western alps. (please see photos attached!) We are now back in Bayswater and preparing to leave for Opua which we plan to do around the 15th of April after Cam Grillo arrives to BAHATI's crew! Capt B travels to Singapore for work between 4/18 and 23 and Tim Barker and Meghan DeWalt arrive on the 23rd to join the crew as well! We're excited to welcome Tim back aboard and to have Meghan and Cam join us as well! Now all we need is a good "weather window" and we'll be ready to go! The weather on the So Island was spectacular...no rain on the Routeburn (which we understand is highly unusual in a place that gets an average of 3 meters (!) of rain a year! And the weather here in Auckland the last couple of weeks has been perfect as well....sun, clear skies, cool nights...just loverly! A treat after the Nor'easters earlier in March! We plan to host a "bon voyage" potluck for our NZ friends here at the marina next Friday. It will be sad to say good-bye but we are ready to sail into new waters after a challenging and, ultimately, very good year here! Last weekend Capt B was privileged to be asked to deliver a workshop for a group of arts therapists here in Auckland. (see drumming photo!) Such a great group of people working hard in the healing arts! It was a great way to close our time here...especially after the chance to sing with the Welsh Choir on St David's Day! Lots of good art and music therapy to help the old captain move on in a good state of mind! Mate Betsy will be saying a sad good-bye to her young charges, Gussy and Bram, and all the great kids at the childcare center as well. She's enjoyed the work but, unfortunately, had to give it up last week due to a glitch in our work visa extension process (more on that later!) For now, we bid a fond farewell to Auckland and look forward to revisiting Opua and the Bay of Islands for a few weeks before sailing north again!

Greetings All!