September 19, 2024

There's our pretty lady! Off the shores of Belfast.

No, I have not missed her inaugural sail! Hopefully, I will be on board for that next week! We are sooo close! Don't want to speak to soon, but today VVR did private testing to make sure all systems are working as they should, and they did!! Thanks be to God! Tomorrow the ship will be loading with fuel, and four containers of provisions, medical equipment, coffee makers, supplies and parts. Then Friday, we have our hopefully final SEA TRIAL with the testing agency, DNV to get our final compliance certificate to SAIL! Then we need insurance and department of health sign offs Monday and hopefully by Tuesday, we have the green light to live on the ship and sail away!! We are supposed to then head to the Azores, then Bermuda and then down to Nassau, Bahamas, where we will rejoin our planned third segment in the Caribbean. Once we set sail and they post the revised itinerary, I will let you all know so we can make some plans to hook up. So, I am going to enjoy my last few days here in Philly with some more pool & friend time and a little work too!

PORT DEARAU, FIJI - Naidiri Village

By Patricia Patrick • December 4, 2025
Today we went to see the coastal Naidiri Village that has recently won the Top Prize in global restoration, for their ocean reef project. The reef restoration was borne out of necessity to solve their dwindling food/ main protein source for the village, of fish. It was started by 2 of the villages rugby players and today is run by the local teenagers (mostly boys) in the village. It was great seeing how empowered and proud they were of their amazing efforts.

LAUTOKA, FIJI

By Patricia Patrick • December 1, 2025
The port agent offered several trips to areas around Lautoka . We chose the trip to Serenity Island Resort which included van and boat transfers and lunch. It was a really nice day enjoying the sun, reef, pool, turtles and amenities!

RIVER TUBING DOWN THE NAVUA, SUVA, FIJI

By Patricia Patrick • December 1, 2025
I organized a group tour for a fun day experience. We had a great day despite the rain that decided to join in. We started with a 45 minute van ride out through the city, into the countryside. Then we got in long boats and went up river to a waterfall, some swam or cheered on the guides to cliff dive. Then back in the boats to visit Sabata Village where 50 family members live as a community existing totally off the land, along the river. Next was a quick boat ride to our BBQ lunch spot. After lunch we got to tube down the river, through light rapids, for just about an hour. We ganged our tubes together with the guide - we had a chain of 14 in my group and the guides totally blew us away singing hymns for a good chunk of the journey. It was truly moving in that place with the rain drizzling and all of us linked together. Loved it!