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 [...]

A night in New Caledonia

31 August 2013 | New Caledonia
Marc
We motor sailed around to the west side of New Caledonia yesterday and dropped the anchor. We will clean the bottom and set sail today for Australia. We have 712 miles to Brisbane at 222 degrees and 660 miles to Bundaberg at 232 degrees as a fall back. Winds should be good for the next 2 to 3 days then are forecast to pick up just over 20 knots at 145 degrees. We will try to make as far south as we can before winds pick up. 20 knots doesn't sound so bad but it has been my experience in the Pacific that when the grib files say anything over 20 knots, look out. We will see what happens this time. We can't sit here in New Caledonia for a week and wait however as I am not going to beat into the trade winds for almost 200 miles to clear in. Hopefully we will make Brisbane directly by traveling as far south as we can to get a better reach while wind and seas are down. Bundaberg is about 150 miles up the coast and would offer us a more downwind reach and closer if necessary. I will post another update at sea tomorrow.

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