Sail Planet Express

At the end of September, Planet Express arrived back in North America. A quick solo sail across the strait during a gale warning had me and her back in Canada in no time. Naturally the wind shut off as soon as we scooted past Trial Island and into Haro, which was convenient for my quick phone call with Canada Customs to do a NEXUS marine check in.

Planet has officially sailed over 25,000 miles in the past five years, and they’ve largely been trouble free as far as a boat is concerned. The UK Sailmakers X-Drive Endure laminate sails still have life and shape in them after such a long voyage. All systems still work, and the rust stains vanished quickly.

Yes, it’s a boat which means there are things to fix to get her ship shape again (our webasto diesel heater took a hefty drink of sea water off the cape of Mendocino) and there’s some bright work to spruce up. We’ve treated her well and she’s treated us well in return, despite all the testing and trials we’ve endured over the 25,000 miles Planet and I have seen. There Is character in her wear lines (and on my face.)

Here’s to hopefully many more adventures!

Plans in the South Pacific are written in the sand at low tide, but eventually they turn to stone.

I had a few setbacks in sailing back home. Firstly, I wasn't feeling it (turns out I probably had dengue.) Second, after we left, we discovered a gooseneck problem, which has since been resolved but required us to return to the docks to enact a repair. It's better than new now, but the schedule became off track.

As a result, we were unable to visit Palmyra within the allotted time. Maybe we'd have been able to make it, and maybe we shouldn't have tried to sail to a schedule. Trying to make crew goals and a skipper/owner's goals meet is sometimes at odds. And so sadly, I sent the crew back home and took the resource I had (time) to figure out a plan. There were too many 'red lights' and I listened to the universe to wait for some green lights to appear to figure out the next steps for my escape plan from the South Pacific. Go to Australia? Sell the boat? Wait out another season?

In that research, the green lights appeared, and I hired a delivery skipper to bring Planet Express home from Fiji. They set sail yesterday on the long voyage home. It will take them at least 40 days. My flight was 12 hours.

This wasn't the bookend to the adventure I was hoping for, but it's the best possible outcome considering the circumstances. There'll be lots to share as I reconnect with everyone now that I am back home. But here are three lessons learned in trying to wrap this up.

- Figure out your escape plan early, and be open to changes. I had planned to sail to Tonga, and even French Polynesia. The weather windows never arrived, and the gang I had hoped to do that trip with had a change of plans.

- Offshore insurance is a significant hurdle to overcome. It takes a long time to bind policies when your plans change. I should have listened to the warning signs early and changed my tack.

- Living on a boat will change your mindset. I used to think sailors who waited for the best weather windows were just soft, now I know better. Sailing to a schedule, or treating your boat like a car, is the best way to ruin sailing.

I am sorry to have disappointed the crew who planned to do these last passages. For me and Planet Express, the tide came in higher than expected, and those plans were washed away.

We’re back in Savusavu… and Planet is at a marina until we depart Fiji. Thus ends our cruising adventure. It’s bittersweet - we’ll stay at a resort for a couple of days before Janessa and Monty fly back home. New crew will arrive, and we’ll prep the boat to intend to depart July 1 bound for Hawaii, then home.

Two days ago Monty celebrated his 9th birthday, and I celebrated one year abroad. Where does the time go?

It hasn’t always been easy. Life on a boat can be tough in surprising ways. Thankfully we haven’t had any major boat issues to deal with, a common theme with those we meet. Brand new multi million dollar boats with broken booms, and other very expensive and very difficult to replace parts in the South Pacific.

The Lau was beautiful and we’re glad we visited it. Our track around Fiji has us seeing many of its beautiful places and it is easy to understand why some cruisers spend several years here. It is hard to leave. To go west is to commit to selling your boat or continuing around the world (or take a huge loss.)

Fiii, we will miss you (but we’re not gone yet!)

Our gorgeous anchor spot in the Bay of Islands

Vanua Balavu Fiji - Bay of Islands

We have been making our way back up from Falaga in the southern Lau and are on our way to Vanua Balavu. Last night we anchored in a gap in the reef off of Lakeba, a tiny hidy hole with breaking waves all around us. There were the occasional barrel and the constant sounds of the surf. It was only a bit rolly, but surprisingly calm. Definitely a unique tactical stop. This morning I hauled anchor at 4:30 and were currently doing 7.5-8kn+ on a reach towards Vanua Balavu and the town of Lomaloma. We need to get a few supplies so hopefully the small village stores can help us.

PS send beer.

! Skeletel Remains Warning !

We visited the bone cave on Falaga today. Our host family, Bale, arranged for Bill to take us up.

Legend has it these are visiting sailors who don’t offer sevusevu. 😅

The story as we were told, are of a village at the top of the hill which would rain down rocks and boulders upon the Tongan warriors which were spotted at sea. Now it just a cave. Of bones. A short hike up from the chiefs house.

50 shades of Blue

Falaga has been gorgeous. Yesterday we went for a drift snorkel at the entrance pass which goes from a 100+ foot drop off to shallower waters in the lagoon. Unfortunately the pictures didn’t really turn out, but there were many large reef fish, colorful coral and large white tip reef sharks.

We moved the boat later in the day closer to the sandbar, and most of the boats all gathered for a sundowner later in the day. Today is Sunday and in Fiji a day reserved for church, family and rest. We were asked by the village to refrain from any sports and generally to keep a quiet low profile in this very traditional spot.

Cruising - fixing boats in exotic places.