Barco is getting a thorough Field Day

Barco Sin Vela II is in the midst for a great field day, much rubbing of compound on the gel-coat and waxing of surfaces. Charlie, our new wax on/wax off specialist is hard at work on the project. We will be looking shiny and clean by Saturday. A visit to the fuel docks on the Ortega River will occur because we are down to a mere two hundred gallons, and one must keep diesel tanks full to inhibit water formation. Water in diesel gives life to some odd critters who live to clog filters and diesel injector systems, which then keep a whole industry alive who specialize in removing said gunk.


An alert/deployment order has been received from the island of Huahine; One or two of the Barco Crew shall be required to mount a relief for the good sailing boat "Beaujolais". The First Mate having some medical issues which require a return to Australia.


I will be departing in the next two weeks for Rarotonga, by way of New Zealand. Upon arrival, Beaujolais departs 02 August for Niue.


Here is the itinerary:

Depart Rarotonga, Cook Islands August 2^nd for Niue (5 nights at sea)

Cruise Niue – 8^th  to 11^th August

Depart Niue 12^th August for Tonga (2 nights at sea)

Cruise Tonga – 15^th to 24^th August

Depart Tonga 25^th  August for Savu Savu, Fiji (4 nights at sea)

Cruise Savu Savu 31^st August to 4^th September

Depart Savu Savu, Fiji 5^th September for Suva, Fiji (1 night at sea)

Depart Suva, Fiji 7^th Sept for Musket Cove, Fiji (2 nights at sea) 

Musket Cove Race Week - 10^th to 17^th September

Cruise Fiji Islands – 18^th September to 28^th September 

Depart Fiji 30^th September for Vanuatu

Cruise Vanuatu

Depart Vanuatu 14^th October for Bundaberg Australia, maybe via New Caledonia, to arrive Bundaberg 28^th October (8 or 9 nights at sea)

Depart Bundaberg 2^nd November to arrive Coolongolook by 7^th November.

The great thing is that I don't have to purchase a sailboat to take this trip. But I have to be the crew, so I hope that I can fit into that role as well as I would want my crew to be.

As for the blog; I hope to update when there is internet availability and I will include many more photo's than you have seen from my previous journeys. That will be because of the technology of digitized cameras. I won't have to purchase film or wait for the processing. You, the reader will see more underway photography and less bar scenes.

It will be a busy two weeks.