Some comments from Roger

I flew into Noumea on a Sunday and was greeted by warm afternoon and bright
sunshine; but that was to be short-lived as the next day, Monday, it rained.
Anyway, umbrella-less (we're roughty-toughty sailors you see),we cleared out
at Customs and Immigration, provisioned for the trip and motored out a few
miles to pick up a mooring ready for an early getaway the next morning
(Tuesday).
Joanna was already on board and so the first-come-first-served rule meant
that she got the double berth. Well, being an old sailor and all, I
struggled along regardless and enjoyed the entire trip on an extremely
comfortable sea berth (between you and me, I think I got the best deal so
don't tell Joanna). Really the facilities and accommodation on Callisto are
superb and this, coupled with the very enjoyable company of Skipper Mike and
co-crew Joanna, made for a great experience.
Callisto is a real joy to sail. Putting aside the obvious comfort and
convenience of electric furling gear and winches (sail handing equipment),
she sails so easily and is very tolerant. Weather on the trip ranged from
winds of 30 knots on the nose right through to an oily-calm sea. One day we
had every possible piece of cloth that can be hung at the same time hanging
from the masts. Mizzen, Mizzen Staysail, Main, Staysail and Genoa. We
screamed along and actually covered 186 miles in a 24 hour period. If the
conditions had prevailed a little longer, it could have been a 200-mile day.
Mike called a 3-watch rota of 3hrs each to take us through the nights which
meant we each had a 6 hour sleep every night; luxury, sheer luxury it was.
The company was great. We all enjoyed being together and worked so well it
seemed that words were often unnecessary (except during the conversations of
course). We sorted out all of the world's problems but ultimately decided
that our ideas probably wouldn't catch on so I'm not going to mention them
here.
So, what were the highlights for me? In no particular order they were: Truly
great company, wonderful sailing and ....seeing Wales! oops sorry, I meant
Whales. Yes, we saw a pod of Whales passing by as the travelled north. They
were no more than 200m away and were rising halfway out of the water and
blowing regularly. It was a wonderful sight.
When we finally arrived in Newcastle harbour 7 days later and just after six
in the morning, it was a beautifully clear, sunny morning and that gave us a
very calm and peaceful finish to a terrific trip.
Thank you Mike, Thank you Joanna.

Back in the USA

Ann and I are back in our apartment in San Diego after the usual hassles with air travel. It is a long trip but clearly more efficient than sailing. It's good to be back, now that the jet lag has gone away. We will spend some time re-exploring San Diego and visiting friends, hunting down spare parts and doing the doctor, dentist thing. We plan a trip to the Coachella Valley tomorrow and the time is flying by.

New Caledonia- Australia. Some thoughts

Some comments about the cruise from Noumea to Newcastle.
Joanne arrived at the end of September and Roger on October 1st from Australia and we spend the day putting the dinghy away and doing our final preparations for leaving, shopping for fresh food and checking out of New Caledonia. This was very easy and took an hour only and was free unlike the constant handouts in Vanuatu. We left the marina and took on some duty free fuel.
The weather was windy and cold and we decided to spend the night on a mooring at Ilot Maitre.
By the folling morning the weather had cleared and we left soon after dawn for Passe Amadee. Once out of the barrier we ran into some swell from the prior frontal system and we did well sailing and motor sailing for most of the day. There were some line squalls but it was other wise clear. The wind died that night and we motored most of the second day. Day three gave us an ideal 15 knots of breeze, we had every rag up including the mizzen spinakker and we made excellent progress. These conditions changed by the end of the day and we ran into some massive line squalls with a great deal of lightening and rain and the inevitable head winds as the front blew through. Over the last 36 hours the wind went north and we were able to motor-sail quite effectively until we arrived in Newcastle.
This was a different cruise from the usual trade wind sailing where we set the sails and have steady conditions for day after day. On this trip , we had pretty much everything from flat calm to head winds on 20 kts to a screaming beam reach. Callisto, as usual, handled it all with ease and we had no problems or equipment failure except for the mainsail furler which would not work well under load and will have to be taken apart and repaired.
We saw whales on the calm days and some dolphin but did not do any fishing as we had more than enough food to be consumed before the quarantine guys took it away. And take it away they did! Even though we were told that that dairy products from the EU were ok they took almost all of it away and I had to pay for the dubious privilege.
This was a very enjoyable cruise, It's great to have an all British crew as they all appreciate the need for proper tea. In fact, I drank so much tea I thought my kidneys would float away.
Apart from some initial mal de mer , we all ate well and having three crew also meant easy watches and plenty of sleep.
The trip was 1090 nautical miles and was completed in just under seven days for an average speed of 6.6 kts. We motored or motor sailed for 110 hours and burned just under 400 litres of fuel.

arrived

Newcastle, Australia
We arrived safe and sound in Newcastle, Australia at 0615H at sunrise. It's a beautiful clear day and we are sitting on the quarantine buoy waiting for the customs and immigration to show up at 0900H.
All in all it was a good trip but we did have to motor and motor sail a great deal of the time. Clean up first and full analysis to follow.

position report day 6

The past 24 hours went well up until 0300H when we again got 25 kts on the nose. Consequently we are motoring slowly at about 4.5 kts. This should only last a few mor hours and we will be able to resume course for destination and gain some speed. We should be in by tomorrow morning if the weather behaves.
Current position at 0630H local time is 31 07S, 153 42E speed 4.5 kts course 228M wind speed 25 kts from SW seas 6-8 feet SW
140 miles to go

Position report day 5

Alas, the outstanding sailing we had yesterday is no more. The breeze went light and we went through a huge squall line with winds to 25 kts and then it went light again. We now have headwinds from the southwest and we are making slow progress. I still haven't decided whether we will stop in at Coffs Harbor and wait for some better weather to go south or bash directly through to Newcastle which is our final destination. Coffs is only 24 hours away so I will have to make my mind up pretty soon. All is well on board we are steadily eating our way through the freezer before the customs guys come aboard.
Current position at 0700H local time is 29 18S 155 19.6E. Speed is 5.5 kts course 235 M Wind is SW at 14 kts Seas 2-4 feet SW.

Day 4 Saturday october 8th, 2011.

Instead of motoring through an area of high pressure
as predicted by the forecast we have been skirting
the edge of the high and had ideal sailing conditions
over the past 24 hours. We did have to motor for a
few hours but then got into 12kts just ahead of the
beam. This has allowed us to lay a good course  for
our destination and also hang every rag we have
including the mizzen spinnaker. We have been going
between 8 and 9 knots since 1100H yesterday. The
wind increased to 15-18kts overnight and we have been
going fast under genoa, mizzen and reefed main sail.
Chili for dinner last night and all is well on  board.
Position at 0600H local time is 27 24S, 157 31E,
Speed 8.5 kts, Course 210M Wind
16kts NW Seas 4 feet.
We have 288 miles to Coffs Harbor and 444 miles to
Newcastle, ETA Monday or Tuesday depending on destination. 

6 October

Here is day 4 position report.  We have made better
progress over the past 24 hours.
There is no wind at all and we have been motoring for
the past 20 hours. It is calm with some long period
swells at about 6 feet from the south. We are making
7.0 kts on a course of 218M. Current position at
0600H (local time ) is 25 23E, 159 55S. We will most
likely head for Coffs Harbour rather than Newcastle
as there is a frontal system on the way and I don't
think we will be able to get into Newcastle before it
reaches us. ETA for Coffs Harbour is early Monday morning
(LT) but that may well change depending on conditions.
All is well on board, Joanne is over her mal de mer and
we a busy eating our way through the freezer before the
Ozzie quarantine officers take  all our remaining
food away 

Day 2 at 0500H local time Oct 6, 2011

The wind died at about midnight as predicted
and we are motoring slowly into the swell at
about 6.0 kts to preserve fuel as we still
have 700 plus miles to go. We should be through
the high in about 36 hours and should get some
useful breeze by then. We may have to make
landfall north of Newcastle as a new low  pressure
system is expected next week. We should
be in by then. The ride has been much less bumpy
since the wind went light. Beef stew for dinner
last night. Joanne should feel better today and
all is well on board. Current position is 23 38.9S,
162 17.3E, Speed 5.8 kts course 221M, wind 5kts 
variable mostly SW Swell 6 feet SW.

Day One

Our first 24 at sea have been difficult due to head
winds and intermittent rain  squalls. The forecast
says that as the low pressure system slides by to
the  south of us the wind should be more favorable
and then go light. We will wait  and see. All well
aboard, Joanne feeling a little green about the gills
but ok.  We have been sailing and motor sailing and
trying to keep our course. We may  have to go to
Brisabane before we get to Newcastle at this rate.
Current position is 23 02.6S, 164 32.9E.  Course is
255M and speed is 6.0 kts.  We made a pitiful 126
miles in the past 24 hours of which only 110 was to 
destination. Wind speed has varied from 10 kts to 28
kts in squalls from the SW. Should have a better time
later today and tomorrow

Ilot Maitre, New Caledonia

The fuel dock at Port Moselle

The crew, Roger, Joanne and yours truly on the foredeck

We are now moored up at Ilot Maitre on a very blustery afternoon with intermittant rain and gusty winds as a front blows though to the south of us.

We are all checked out of New Caledonia and we are topped off with fuel and provisions are aboard. The weather should clear by tomorrow and we are leaving for the 1000 mile cruise to Newcastle , Australia at dawn.

I will post a position report on a daily basis.