J&H

Whangarei Town Basin Marina, New Zealand Our brief cruise here in New Zealand is wrapping up, eight weeks full of all sorts of nautical and cultural delights. Visiting Urupukapuka, Opunga, Whangamumu, Whangaruru, Tikorangi, Wainui, Okahu, Mokohinahu, Whangaroa, Tutukaka, Orokawa, Paihia, Parua and Kerikeri was enough to keep us up on our Maori vowels and history.

Urupukapuka Bay, Urupukapuka Isl, New Zealand To no surprise to most of you, yes indeed, we are back to the cruising life. What may be a surprise is that we have transitioned to the “dark side”, that is, we are now power boat owners. And we could not be more thrilled! Our new cruising platform,

McCall, ID It’s official. On January 31st we turned over the helm of Kailani to a new owner. The tears were bittersweet as we stepped off of Kailani for the last time in Opua, New Zealand, our time aboard as a family officially over, and a major chapter in our lives complete. This journey with

McCall, ID We departed from down under in mid October, and after seven flights, time spent in Colorado and New Jersey, many time zone changes, and one encounter with a movie star … we are back in Idaho! We left New Zealand during their spring, had glorious warm fall weather in Colorado and back in

Bay of Islands, New Zealand Finally – a GREAT passage! We had fantastic weather for the 1,200 nm run from Tonga, arriving into the Bay of Islands at 1230 local, just as a cold front arrived, this of course meaning 30 kts on the nose and pouring rain. But we were in the shelter of

Kenutu Island, Tonga On a certain warm July afternoon, my father stood on the trash dock of Vava’u harbor, watching my mother bring in Kailani and eagerly narrating the proceedings to me. I was sprawled on top of my suitcases, legs hanging off the end, a Duke hoodie covering my face. Now and then I

Kapa Isl, Tonga Well, as of yet, still no cabana boys delivering drinks to me while I lounge on the beach … Truth be told, I have not really given these phantoms a chance, since I have only been on land twice since we arrived. Yes, it is strange to think I have spent less

At anchor, Kapa Isl, Tonga 6,956 miles and 40 days and 4 hours from leaving Panama, we put the hook down in Port Maurelle, Tonga. In true Kailani form, we arrived at night, in a raging thunder and lightning storm, with lightning strikes getting as close as one mile from us. We were able to

At sea, South Pacific Ocean Today we cleared the extensive French Polynesian island group, leaving its over 120 islands, atolls and motus in our wake to the east. Kailani has finally found fair winds to make a westerly course, and for the last 24 hours she has really been stretching her legs at a pace

At sea, South Pacific Ocean Blazing along today at 4 kts flying just the Code Zero sail in light, almost non-existent wind we have come within sight of land, the first such sighting since we skirted the Galapagos over two weeks ago. This particular island now broad on our port beam is one of many