Jim and Vicki go SOLO

Not long after arriving in the Bay of Islands Dylan and Frank departed for their respective homes. Jim and Vicki were out on the blue seas enjoying the sunshine and enjoying what the BOI had to offer. Read more?

Poor Knights travel South

Firebird began her travels South with the anticipation of a stopover at the Department of Conservation regulated Poor Knights Island and more for some exciting diving adventures. We had mad our way to Whangaruru when the weather took a turn for the worse! But we decided to go for the diving regardless! Read more?

Gulf Harbour

Since New Years Eve we have been based in Gulf Harbour Marina. Our time here has consisted of local sightseeing trips and tours into the city and surrounds. Most of our time has been taken up by projects including painting the topsides, varnish, engine room work, ordering of spares and the likes! We have met some friendly British folk, Rob and Sharon, and also met up with old friends from Rarotonga, G and Tamarin! Read more?

City Life

Auckland city is well kept, organised and exciting centred around the Sky tower which is lit with different colours each night! The festivities and events are too numerous to get to but we have enjoyed the likes of the Asian Lantern Festival, the Waiheke Island Food and Wine Festival and the One Day International cricket match between South Africa and New Zealand. Read more?

South bound

Jim and Vicki went South for 3 weeks and plenty more miles. They had a great time and logged many great experiences! Read more?

New Zealand Reflections

Looking back on our New Zealand trip we thought we had a pretty good time. It was great to see such an interesting and beautiful country with such varied geography! We managed to take care of all there was to take care of on our humble floating home, Firebird, and we managed to make a few friends along the way. In all it was time well spent we guess! Enjoy the memories.

Passage North to Tonga

A fairly plain sail. Other than large seas and little wind in the mid section of the passage all went smoothly! Oh and the incident with the deisel supply to the Main engine! That one kept us up all night! Read more?

Vava'u Kingdom of Tonga

Our main reason for returning to Tonga was to get a glimpse of the Northern territory of Vava'u. The sunsets were breathtaking and after being in civilisation for so long it was great to be 'away from it all'. That is until the airline service went bankrupt and left our two crew members stranded! Read more?

30 Days in Feejee

Fiji has been great so far. We have met many interesting people, discovered wonderful village life in the Yasawas and had many fishing experiences along the way! We are now in the Lau group, also known as the Exploring Isles and that is what we plan to do! Read more?

Another 30 days

We cruised the Western reaches of these calm waters including all of the Yasawas and after making our exit over the North of the most northern islands, visited the North coast of Viti Levu the Southern part of Vanua Levu, the island of Kandavu and then onto the Lau group. Dylan made a short trip to New Zealand and on his return we headed onto the welcoming arms of Suva. What an enlightenment that turned out to be! Read more?

Tanna, Our first encounters in Vanuatu

Soccer finals, rugged roads, jungle interior, belching volcanoes, hot water springs and cargo cults. What more could you ask for as an introduction to your newest country. Click here to read more

Efate and Epi, Vanuatu

Efate, the capital island of Vanuatu and the seat of its government, ruled up until 1979 by the Condominium government, a co-governed country with Britian and France as rulers was our first stop for provisions, duty free and All- American lunches at Jills. Epi just north of Efate, offered some wonderful scenery and the chance to see dugongs! Read more?

Lamen Bay and the Maskelynes, Vanuatu

Our first encounter with the DUGONG, the dinner ashore and the spectacular village efforts of the people of Lamen Island who treated us to a wonderful slice of island life for a day. The daily sailing migrations, the kite boarding and then onto the Maskelynes which housed sheltred harbours and dive sites to boot. Read more?

Ambrym, Vanuatu

The island with the Rom dancers and the most sacred of volcanic peaks in all of the islands of Vanuatu. The birthplace and current residence of some of the most talented magicians. Yam harvest rituals and Rom dance masks including some of the finest wood carvers in the island chain. Read more?

Pentecost and Maewo, Vanuatu

Pentecost was host to feuding chiefs, landjumpers, plane wrecks, our experiences with strong winds, the beautiful waterfalls, the smiling children and the friednly people. Maewo offered us only one anchorage which we indulged in and our reward included another magical waterfall, a superb shore side walk with wonderful ocean and anchorage views, as well as a truly wonderful show hosted by the people of Asanvari Yacht club and the Chief Nelson. Read more?

Santo, and the Banks and Torres, Vanuatu

Our delights in Santo included scuba diving into the famous WW2 wreck of the President Coolidge, taking a tour of the WW2 sites and sounds. Enjoying the cheeseburgers in paradise, making friends. We had to say goodbye to David who left for New Zealand whilst here too. Provisioning, broken windlasses and engineering in the outback. Whilst in the Banks and Torres groups we enjoyed a great waterfall and met up with friends along the way. Read more?

Santa Cruz and Santa Anna, Solomon Islands

On our arrival into Graciosa and also on our departure we were treated to some spectacular displays of dolphins jumping completely out of the water and doing all sort sof tricks. It was fantastic. We really enjoy it every time. Our first experience of the ever-present betel nut stains was realised here in Sola. Read more?

Malaita, Solomon Islands

It is now 04H00 and we have already been up an hour and a half! We woke to the sound of the breeze through the rigging and the whistle that is produced by 12 knots of wind! It is quite hospitable, the weather, in that on a yacht it lets you know when it is arriving in that you generally get bounced out of bed from jarring around or rolled out from the size of the swell that rolls in to your once fine anchorage! Back to make a short story long.........Read more?

Gaudalcanal, Solomon Islands

We would like to wish you a very Merry Christmas (belatedly!) and all the best for the New Year - from the Solomon Islands, the land of betel nut, crocodiles, head hunters, amazing wood carvings, and the ring of fire. We have been in the Solomon Islands for almost two months now and have enjoyed them immensely. During this last month, we have not seen any other cruising boats. All the people we have met are the most sincere, friendly race of people we have ever experienced in our travels. Read more?