The people who made my faulty battens in New Zealand have, somewhat inconveniently, gone out of business. And, considering all, not a surprise. So for the next 2,000 miles to Australia I will have to nurse the rig.

I visit an orchid garden started by Raymond Burr, better known as Perry Mason. In this dry season brush fires still break out every day dropping black ash all over my nice clean Wild Fox. It has been good fun here at the marina but now it is time to move on to Vanuatu the home of what is now known as bungee jumping. a five day sail away it is a diverse range of modern cities and traditional native villages it also plays to host many active volcanoes. I have permission to check in at an un-official check in port as the official port is an anchoring challenge. I will stay about a month and then move on to New Caledonia.