10:38S 133:16W

24 hour run - 147nm

miles to go - 320nm

 

The first question people ask when they see our New Zealand flag flying from Bandit’s stern is “did you sail all the way from New Zealand?”  It’s with slight regret we tell them no, but that we are sailing her there.   A circumnavigation is perhaps something we would have done if not for the piracy situation in Somalia and we’re full of admiration for those who have done it.  A circumnavigation these days is only possible by going around Africa and that holds no appeal for us.

 

When we bought Bandit in Gibraltar in 2006 the idea was to spend a season in the Mediterranean and then head home to New Zealand via the Caribbean and Pacific - circumnavigating was never part of the overall plan.  One season stretched out to five as we explored the Mediterranean as far east as Antalya in Turkey, north to Gallipoli and the Halkidiki Peninsula in Greece and south to Sicily.  Along the way we took in the beautiful Spanish Balearics, stunning Corsica (one of our favourites), the Italian islands of Sardinia and Elba and more than 50 sensational Greek Islands.  We visited the beautiful Turkish coast, Italian Riviera and the south of France spending winters in Gibraltar, Preveza in Greece, Marmaris in Turkey (two) and Sardinia respectively.  

 

Along the way we’ve met dozens of cruisers, listened to their tales and have been inspired by their travels.  Long term cruisers Rob and Dee on Ventana were responsible for us spending two seasons in the Caribbean and we’re so glad we did. It would have been easy to just head straight to Panama and into the Pacific but we delayed things and, taking Ventana’s advice, sailed to Venezuela and Colombia before heading to the Rio Dulce in Guatemala where we wintered, using the chance to backpack through central America.  We then explored the Honduras Bay Islands,Belize, Mexico and Cuba before crossing the Gulf Stream and heading up the east coast of the States visiting Washington DC, New York, Newport and Long Island on the way.  On the way back down we came through the Bahamas to astonishing Haiti, Jamaica, the beautiful San Blas archipelago and Panama.  When we hear people say they are underwhelmed by the Mediterranean or Caribbean we smile to ourselves.  That’s because you missed the best bits we think, reflecting on all those places that are somewhat out of the way.

 

But now we’re in the Pacific and it really is the slippery slide downhill. You have to be out of the Pacific by November so it’s a very short season.  Long days on Bandit have given us plenty of time to discuss our future travel plans that don’t necessarily involve a boat.  We won’t be putting down roots for a while.

 

Meanwhile the sailing is pleasant enough as we inch closer to the Marquesas.  Unfortunately the swell has become confused again so we’re rolling a lot but at least the finish line is in sight.