Images & VIDEO GALLERY

• 2022/2023
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• 2020/21
• 2019
• Videos

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Nancy and Peter SV Seeker at Waya, Fiji

Whangapoua Beach east side of great Barrier Is , NZ

Good to have power boat friends when your water maker malfunctions! Tusi Express fills Chameleon. Sam supervising

Shakespear Regional Park Whangaparoa is a working public farm. July 22

Never rely on a shackle! SV Chameleon March 22

Kauri Tree Great Barrier, Withey's Track from Whangaparapara May 22

Snapper limit at Katherine Bay GBI.

The filleting job on board Chameleon Katherine Bay

Bradshaw Cove, Kaikoura Island Great Barrier. SV Chameleon in isolation.

Airstip on Kaikoura Island GBI. 550m flat hard packed

On west track from Bradshaw on Kaikoura Island, GBI.

WW2 Lookout on west Track Kaikoura Island

West Track Kaikoura Is GBI looking out to Little Barrier Island

West Track Kaikoura. No wooden steps on this Island so very pleasant walking

Katherine bay, north Great Barrier Island.

The sprawling Pohutakawa tree at Katherine bay indicates the start of the track up the hill to the lookout.

A brisk 35min hike up the hill from Katherine Bay enables internet connection. Tusi captain Mike and crew

A pod of dolphins entertained us at obsession Bay at the head of kaiarrara Bay GBI.

Man o War entrance to Fitzroy Harbour GBI. Twin islands in foreground

Port Fitzroy from Kaikoura island Mt Overlook hike

Trails vary in size and difficulty on GBI but all are great. This is on Kaiarrara to Kiwiriki Track.

An easy trail to follow on GBI. Kaiarrara to Kiwiriki.

And some trails are more difficult so a rest to look at the view is welcome. Little Barrier in distance. Coopers Castle Track

No trip to Great Barrier is complete without a lovely sunset view. Katherine Bay.

The bridge to kauri tree accessed from Fitzroy up past the reserve.

Plenty of crayfish at GBI so bring a big pot!

The top right bay is Kaiarrara with a Mussel farm at the entrance which is good for catching snapper.

Good boot cleaning will help control kauri die back. This is the popular starting point for several tracks. Bushs beach, Kaiarrara. GBI

Be warned. But the climb is worth it to the top of Maungapiko, 280m. start from Kiwiriki. Great Barrier Is , NZ

view from top of Maungapiko, 280m. GBI

Taken from Mt Magog, Port Pegasus, Stewart Island, looking north. SV Spirare 3/23

Looking back SSE at Port Pegasus and at just over the horizon Antarctica. SV Spirare 3/23

sv sOMERSET AT mONTEBELLO iSLANDS Western Australia, 26-4-2023

Vanua Balavu. Fiji's Bay of Islands. June 2023 Anna SV Zoomax

Ann, SV Zoomax, Vanua Balavu, Fiji

100 Shades of green. Vanua Balavu June '23. Anna SV Zoomax

Wash Day. Vanua Balavu. Captured by Anna SV Zoomax

Vanua Balavu. SV Zoomax June 2023

ZM2SEA, portable winlink station - 7/23 in Gisborne.

ZM2SEA portable winlink antenna in Gisborne July 2023.

Now Dec, 2023 . Susimi and Russula visit GHRadio. Paul, Hazel, Dawn and Craig.

Wow. SV Akimbo, Peter & Vanessa were passed on the Coomera River, Australia!

Pohutakawa Dec 2023 - our NZ Christmas tree. With some Aussie interlopers in the background

The Opua Customs Dock, 19 Nov 2023. Jean-Pierre grateful to all those who helped his arrival. SV Crystal Spray

SV Taku and Sonrisa in Bora Bora. Holly &Saxon, Sabina & Curtis. 2023

Sabina , SV Taku, showing the value of visiting Minerva, 2023

Curtis, SV Taku, with a mahimahi that will certainly fill the freezer. 2023

2023 and Fiji beckons! Ocean Fever on one of the 5 free moorings at Taveuni. Boating Barney

Whangaroa Harbour taken by Patricia, SV Chameleon at the top of St Peters hill Jan 2020

Teresa and Billy, SV Corumba, at the Whaling Station museum grounds Mongonui. Feb 2020

Benno, SV Belena, demonstrates the dual purpose of Covid19 PPE at Norsand hardstand during the lockdown. March 2020

The much appreciated water buoy in Whangaroa Harbour. Sail up and fill up for $10. Position 35 01.223 S and 173 46.201 E. Patricia SV Chameleon

Price and Benny, SV Panache demonstrate their NZ winter attire. Opua April 2020

What more perfect place to be "stuck in" than Marlborough Sounds. SV Spirare - Sergio and JoAnne are loving their off grid cottage -- with mooring outside.

A very happy gathering of the fleet at Whangarei celebrating winter 'sailstice' . Photos from Michelle SV Pogeyan

Even the Mayor of Whangarei joined in the celebrations. The locals have been very welcoming to their visitors.

Max and Alessandra from Y2K shared accommodation on land with another Italian cruiser couple during lockdown. I bet the food was great!

Even the ducks get looked after in Whangarei! Photo Michelle on SV Pogeyan

SV Belena looking happier in the water. Benno and Marlene, explored the tracks and bays in Whangaroa Harbour January 2020.

Mongonui Harbour Northland with the 4Square store providing much needed replenishment to cruiser stores. Feb, 2020 SV Chameleon

Winlink Station ZL2SEA. It will go from Nigel and Diane's caravan to its own little house on the top of a hill late 2020.

ZL2SEA is completely off grid near Kaeo Northland. This bank of solar panels powers all their electrical needs to run the farm and the winlink station.

Ulla and Pelle, SV Loupan hiking on Kawau Island July 2020.

SV Chameleon returning from from a cold visit to Kawau Island. Picture taken by Pelle on SV Loupan passing us. July 30

Welcome Home! Guilty until proven Innocent. Oct 21 opua

SV Spirare in Four Fathom Bay, Pelorus Sound, Lockdown Haven!

Start of great track . Waiiti Bay Cavalli Islands. 35S and 173*55E

Island to the north end of Cavallis seen from track on Waiiti Bay anchorage.

Urupukapuka Island in the Bay of Islands. Our favourite hiking island here.

Looking towards the entrance of Wangaroa Harbour

Looking the other direction over the marina at Whangaroa

The end of the Duke's Nose pole with the rewarding view.

The Whangaroa Duke's Nose pole! Straddle it like a fireman would and it is easy

David tying down during the 55kt gale when at Mangonui. Feb 20/21

The Mangonui Pub has a choice of the freshest fish

Crew of Quiet One enjoying a calm ferry ride in Whangaroa. 14 years old so the sea air is beneficial.

Patricia, SV chameleon, enjoying the essential stop at the Duke of Marlborough Hotel in Russell

Supply ferry arrives port Fitzroy, great Barrier island

We named this Flying 15 anchorage, Port Abercrombie, great Barrier Island

yes this is really December - our NZ summer sometimes goes wobbly.

The beautiful Kauri Cliffs anchorage. 35*03.6S and 173* 55.8E

The last group to leave Marsden gathered for their final meal together. June 5, 2019

This happy lot have arrived in Savusavu after a rather tumultuous journey or a pause at Minerva. Time to celebrate!

Minerva Reef - Watercolour Artist: Eva Askulv SV Alta, who clearly listens to GHRadio!

Another wonderful painting from Eva Askulv SV Alta. The Chief of Dalconi Village, N Lau Group Fiji

Satellite Picture from Erromango in Vanuatu. Click on the next image for a picture of the real thing. Photo from Diego on SV Meccetroy

Clouds above Erromango in Vanuatu. See the satellite picture to compare. Diego on SV Meccetroy

Large buoy washed up on South Minerva reef. May 2019. With crew from Kupere, Midnight Sun and Whistler. Photo : Margy on SV Whistler see https://www.svwhistler.com/south-minerva-reef/Whistler

There is a very interesting story about clown fish in Jeffrey's blog so see https://flyingfishsail.wordpress.com/2019/06/19/send-in-the-clowns/

This handsome spotted moray fortunately has its mouth shut or Jeffrey may not have been so close. For more see www.FlyingFishSail.com

The banded sea snake with a helthy looking reef was shot in the Port Vila area June 2019. see www.FlyingFishSail.com

A very arty looking turtle, also photographed in the Port Vila area of Vanuatu. see www.FlyingFishSail.com

Some cruisers take listening to GHRadio very seriously! Diego on Meccetroy is multi tasking

The anchorage at Anatom (french chart) or Aneityum (english chart), Vanuatu. Diego on SV Meccetroy

Mystery Island where the cruise ship folk go at Anatom Vanuatu. Taken by Diego SV Meccetroy June 2019.

A very tasty soup! Left Jack & Monique on Aloha. M. Alessandra & Max from Y2K, and R. Diego & Marina on Meccetroy

South Minerva reef. Not easy to walk on but full of life. Photo Margy on Whistler

He thinks he is hiding from Monty, SV Whistler but not so. Photo by Margy waiting for dinner

No one goes hungry in South Minerva . The Whistler freezer hopefully has some space for these. Photo Margy

South Minerva reef is alive and well. Photo Margy SV Whistler

Kelefesia Island Hapaai group Tonga. Photo Margy on Whistler. see more on Kalefesia at https://www.svwhistler.com/kelefesia-island/

The beautiful anchorage at Kelefesia - in calm weather. Boats include Whistler, Saltheart and Malakite. Photo Whistler

Kelefesia Island is for sale if you have USD10m. Photo Margy on Whistler

The Acapella rudder repair - first part. ref video below. Photo Pelle sv Loupan

This is Nick at South Pacific Fibreglass works in Port Denerau, Fiji joining the pieces. Photo from Pelle on Loupan

Martin does a final sand before painting. Only two weeks after the Acapella grounding. Photo Pelle on Loupan

Wali anchorage, Pentecost Island, Vanuatu. These lucky boats got perfect weather for the last day of the land diving. l-R Aquarius, Aloha, Meccetroy, Nikola and ZigZag. Photo from the the Meccetroy drone.

Port Sandwich, Malekula, Vanuatu. Photo Diego Meccetroy

Cook Bay and the meskylenes as seen from Port sandwich, Malekula Vanuatu. Epi in the distance. Photo Diego on Meccetroy

Port Stanley, Malekula, Vanuatu. Diego, Meccetroy, checks out the anchorage using his drone. (We used to take a dinghy in the old days).

Is it a bird? Is it a plane? Aliens? No it's Diego's drone above Malekula . SV Meccetroy

Norsup, NE Malekula, Vanuatu as seen from the Meccetroy drone. Thanks Diego for making us wish we were cruising again.

Diego found this photo of the WW2 airstrip, built by the American 7th and 15th Construction Battalion in 1942 at Palikulo Bay, Luganville. It is a relic of the past now, but was 5000' long built on a coral base. SV Meccetroy

Palikulo Bay, Luganville. A very good anchorage in a blow. Isolated but the road is frequented for the 15min drive into town. SV Meccetroy

looking SSW from Palikulo Bay, towards Aore, opposite Luganville. SV Meccetry

Port Olry, Espiritu Santo, Vanuatu. The lovely protected anchorage is a dinghy ride from the township on the right. Diego from Meccetroy 2019.

The Port Olry anchorage has an added attraction as a swim in the fresh water lake is a short walk away from the lovely sandy beach. Meccetroy 2019.

Now here is an interesting couple of photos. Same people. Same place - Borabora. Diego and daughter Alice who is currently visiting again - this time on Meccetroy in Vanuatu. 2019

Step forward to 2017. Back in Borabora. Great you have changed your shorts Diego! But 20 years has certainly changed Alice. SV Meccetroy

Lake Taupo, central North Island NZ. 21 September, 2019. Just to show there can be beautiful weather in early spring.

A day later at Lake Taupo and the wind is coming up. The next three days saw gale winds up to 40kts in most of the north island!

Awesome picture from Ulla and Pelle on Loupan. It made our day Oct 1, 2019. Suva harbour in the background.

Pumice from the underwater eruption in Tonga has reached Nananu-i-Thake, Sept 19. Photo form Whistler

The Citrus Tarts - Michelle and Steve, at Nananu-i-Thake. Photo from Whistler, Sept 2019 with pumice in the background.

Some of the pumice 'rocks' are a decent size. Photo SV Whistler at Nananu-i-Thake, Sept 2019

An unusual sky above Gulf Harbour Radio. A hole in the stratocumulus right over our vertical SteppIr antenna. And we were not even broadcasting as Sunday 13 October 2019. The intense low is on its way.

A well shod NZ Customs dog checking out the galley on Midnight Sun. Along with 8 officers! A training day I guess. October 2019

Beautiful Blue Lagoon Fiji . Shot taken october 2019 by Karen SV Koromiko

Leilani, SV Amazing Grace, with master carver Tui in Fuluga. The intricate carving is now at Gulf Harbour radio.

Beautiful coral at South Minerva. Margy from SV Whistler

North Minerva Reef. Video by David Hartman 2019. The drone is 500m amsl.

Snorkelling near Muscat Cove off Malolo, Fiji, with crews from Libeccio, Vivere and Splash

​Suva Harbour. Tallship ALVEI being restored in the harbour. Anahata anchored next to her. Video by David Hartman 2019.

Well, it has happened to most of us - but maybe not this bad. We thank the  Acapella crew, Martin and Ellen, for making this available.  Also see pictures above.

The temporary repair to the Acapella rudder got them to 
Denerau and this video shows how the professionals do it!
Thanks Martin and Ellen for the video.

SV Panache turned on the under water lights  when at Muscat Cove. Plankton were attracted and the manta ray had dinner. October 2019