Rapaki heads to Vanuatu and New Caledonia

Today we are clearing customs in Fiji to sail over to Vanuatu and then New Caledonia. The photo is us on the customs dock. It will take four days to get to Vanuatu. I will have limited internet from now on so not sure when I will be able to post again.

You can follow our progress at: yit.nz/yacht/rapaki

TOO HOT!!!

Today it is 33 degrees! The only way to cool down is to go for a swim. The water is 28 degrees.

Sailing

I have been doing a lot of sailing. Its been really fun.

Matuku farm

We visited this farm in our dingy (by motor (3.3hp) 45min by sail 30min). We went through mangrove's and up a muddy path to the farm.

Fijian fruit

Bananas grow in palms upside down.

Pineapples grow on the ground.

Papayas grow in bunches.

Fishing Boat Repair

We visited a village and got hooked into a boat repair. We used metal and fibreglass, I learnt a lot. The boat use to be the school boat to take the village kids across the bay to the school. Now its used for fishing. We also found a lizard.

The Navigator

We recently saw this 15 foot boat designed by kiwi John Welsford. It was shipped to the Fiji and then sailed through the Yasawas  about 15 years ago (you can check out this epic trip at...https://books.google.com.fj/books?id=jkM3nhtncxgC&pg=PA12&lpg=PA12&dq=john+welsford+navigator+yasawas+David+Perillo&source=bl&ots=QZRbpe_xCI&sig=-fe2zNPgC6uU-YGzAPSNxC9LKX8&hl=en&sa=X&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q=john%20welsford%20navigator%20yasawas%20David%20Perillo&f=false It is now used to transport live goats and fruit and vegetables around Fiji.

wave riding

Yesterday I zoomed around on a sup we went super fast, I was not scared a little bit, it was awesome.

Flags

When we visit another country we fly the New Zealand flag from our stern (back). We fly the red ensign. While visiting Fiji we fly the Fijian flag on the starboard (right) side of our mast. If we had Fijian crew it would be on the port (left) side.

Submarine

Some people think of the weirdest things to make their boats look awesome. This superyacht has a submarine onboard, it is a two person submarine.

Cabin

This is me in my cabin.  You can only crawl into it but I can sit up on the bunk.  The pipe behind my head is safety stuff.

The market

The market in Lautoka is not like the Sunday farmers market because it is open every day except Sunday. You can buy kava, papaya and lots of other yummy fruit and vegetables.