Author: Di Fitzgerald

Just when we think we can relax and enjoy ourselves, we discover that gremlins have invaded Toucan. Some of them are benevolent, some are tricky, and others are downright nasty.

Continue reading “Gremlins!”

Our destination is Penumu Island, 30 NM east of Waisai, where we’re keen to do some diving. But there’s no need to rush – there’s plenty of great places to explore on the way.

Continue reading “A Taste of Paradise – Friwin, Gam and Penumu Islands, Raja Ampat”

We’re heading to Waisai, the main town on the island of Waigeo, and the gateway to Raja Ampat.  The name means “Four Kings”, for the four islands that make up the Birds Head Peninsula – Batanta, Waigeo, Salawati and Misool.  It’s an archipelago of over 1500 islands with the richest, most diverse marine ecology on the planet and we can’t wait to explore it.

Continue reading “The Four Kings – Waisai, Raja Ampat”

There’s not much more we can do until the new prop arrives so we decide to head over to Batanta Island for the weekend, about 20NM north of Sorong. It’ll also give us a chance to do a sea-trial of the gearboxes and new oil seals as it’s unlikely we’ll get enough wind for sailing.

Continue reading “Batanta and Back”

Prior to arriving in Sorong we’d been in email contact with Warwick (Wick) Alliston, an ex-pat Aussie who owns Helena Marina, and also happens to be the OCC (Ocean Cruising Club) Port Officer (email: wick.eon@gmail.com; ph: +62811485371). Everything we’ve heard about Wick is positive, and our experience proves to be no exception – he’s simply a godsend, and one of the nicest people you could ever meet.

Continue reading “Mr Fix-It – Sorong, Indonesia”

We have wind! We don’t care if it’s on the nose, we’ll tack our way to Sorong if necessary. Anything to avoid using the engines (and all that oil). However, we discover this is the least of our dramas on this passage….

Continue reading “Pirate(s) of Manokwari – Passage to Sorong”