Sailing 70 miles upwind in rain and fog, we’re chasing a rare weather window to reach one of Fiji’s most remote gems—Vanua Balavu, the Northern Lau. 

We’re sailing east against the trade winds, trying to make our way back to the crown jewel of Fiji, the Lau Islands.  A light wind period is allowing us to day hop this tricky route from Naviti to Taveuni, where captivating coral reefs rise from the depths like crystalline daggers— a hidden danger stunning in their beauty, yet poised to cut through the unwary hull of any passing boat. 

Most people dream of discovering unspoiled paradises, but they never get the chance to see the world beyond the tourist maps. We’re exploring the true heart of Fiji—its people, traditions, and untouched natural beauty by boat.

THIS will make you want to sail Fiji. Dramatic coastlines, countless islands that make for beautiful day sails hopping from one island to the next, protected bays with flat water, and incredible marine life an arms length from the anchorage.

We are setting sail on the longest voyage we have undertaken as a couple; 1900 miles from Bora Bora to Fiji across a stretch of water known as “The Dangerous Middle” where unpredictable weather conditions and poorly charted reefs are known to challenge the most seasoned sailors.

Our time in French Polynesia is coming to an end and we are trying to make the most of our remaining days in Bora Bora while navigating bureaucracy and preparing Wanderlust for a 1900 mile passage.

The trust between us and and our sailing catamaran Wanderlust had eroded over time. After a month long steering refit...

While sailing 12,000 miles our new Seawind 1600 catamaran’s steering system was failing one part at a time putting us in potentially dangerous situations. After discussion and research Seawind agreed to refit the steering while we were in remote French Polynesia, hopefully freeing us to answer the call of adventure once more. 

We’re in the final stretch of sailing with our flailing steering system. Just 250 miles stand between us and our much awaited steering refit, but we’re unwilling to face a Maramu hurling 14-foot waves on our rudders.

Sailing around the world it’s best to have specific sails for different sailing conditions. We have struggled to sail deep downwind but today we’re launching our new winged spinnaker and it is proving to be an absolute game changer.

We’re facing the final challenge of our voyage: a 500 nm sail upwind to the Marquesas, our sanctuary from cyclone season. Join us for an epic rollercoaster ride to one of the most beautiful anchorages in the world.

On our upwind journey to the Marquesas for cyclone season we hunkered down in Tikehau, waiting for squally weather to pass. It gave us time to reflect and see these moments for what they are, not interruptions, but life, real and raw.

Cyclone season has begun in French Polynesia and we need to sail 1,000 nm east upwind against the trade winds to get to the safety of the Marquesas.

Did we almost lose our mast is a question that arose after a series of unexpected events. The story begins with the simple decision to buy a new head sail which set off a chain reaction leading to the ultimate explosive question no sailor ever wants to face.

Swimming with humpback whales, black tip sharks and stingrays, diving beautiful reefs full of turtles, hiking by pineapple fields and through magical forests to incredible viewpoints. This was the Moorea we’d been promised, but there must be a catch.

We’ve been sailing the Pacific Ocean with our eyes wide shut, without a radar, for four months. Hit by unexpected squalls at night, not knowing which way they’re headed. Today that all changes, but not without a few bumps along the way.

What you’re about to see changes everything for us. Over the past 8 months we’ve hand steered our catamaran almost 5,000 nm but hopefully that is about to end…

Sailing flat water lagoons, diving with sharks, admiring beautiful coral, wandering pink sand beaches, eating from the land and sea; our time sailing the Tuamotus has been amazing and these islands are quite possibly our favorite cruising destination yet. But it seems we’ve tempted fate and lingered in paradise a bit too long…

The beauty, freedom and sense of discovery in the Tuamotus is addicting but sailing between atolls and navigating the passes to access the lagoons and their underwater world can be quite tricky.

Walking on pink sand beaches, snorkeling beautiful reels, diving with sharks + 1,000’s of grouper suddenly turned into disaster. Watch now to see what happened!