V207 Vanautu to New Caledonia

Noreen's words and pictures (with contributed shots from Geoff Saunders) of our goodbyes to the islands of Vanautu and the ocean passage west to New Caledonia.

V206 Central Islands, Vanuatu
NEW Voyage Crew Trine Torgersen first voyage with us: "On the second day of our voyage, we sailed around the clock from Santo to Maevo, and that night we sailed under a clear sky with bright stars and a full moon. I think that was when I fell in love. A new passion was born in me, and with 8 more days still to come, I was already dreading the moment this wonderful adventure had to end...."

From Santo to Port Vila - we revisited some of our favourite islands: Noreen writes "The custom dancers once again put on an outstanding show, the feathered head dresses and beating of the drum provided us with many great photo opportunities, but the children’s dance was the real hit. After showing how the “hopping” was done we joined in jumping over and dodging bamboo sticks that were being rapped in the beat of the music, it was a challenge that looked much easier than it was!

V205 Banks Islands, Vanuatu
Noreen's Voyage Log journal Part 1: "This is a special trip not only because we are venturing into the northern islands of Vanuatu, but also because Tiger Timbs, previous owner of the “Eye of the Wind”, along with many former “Eye of the Wind” Voyage Crew, have joined Soren Larsen for this trip as a reunion sailing voyage! My first tall ship was “Eye’ and what a treat it is to sail with my first captain once again as well as to have the company of some familiar faces off my old ship..."

Banks Islands Journal Part 2: "By afternoon smoko we were anchored just off the Twin Waterfalls, some grabbed their swimsuits while others filled their laundry bags to get the best possible clean in the fresh water pool! The following morning we were spoiled with a bag full of fresh water prawns traded for a bag of rice and sugar! The keen snorkelers were once again dazzled with the under water world in search of tropical fish, coral, turtles and sharks!"

V204 Fiji to Vanautu
Part One - A 0700hrs breakfast provided the needed energy for climbing aloft, ungasketing the sails and preparing for a sail off the anchor. We sat looking at the horizon wondering where the much needed wind was, we bobbed along for a couple of hours when what seemed out of nowhere strong gusts filled ourselves and we were off…The ship was coasting through the almost flat sea and we managed to keep speeds between 8 and 9 knots!

Part Two - The following morning our guide met us on the beach, while a group of 13 of us trekked in the hot sun towards the waterfall, another ventured into the village for the Sunday morning church service! After a short trek we could hear a flowing stream and after an adventurous crossing to the other side (some were piggybacked!) we laughed when the guide said he was sorry, we crossed too early! Eventually we found ourselves at the base of the waterfall and we did not hesitate in the slightest to refresh ourselves in the delightful waters, a few sat back and watched, but I don’t think they really knew what they were missing!

Voyage Crew Karen G. Waxes lyrical.. "I was going to do notes for the website again to go with some pictures but this time around I found myself putting together a Girlie Shanty. The verses just started flowing out of me. I am so comfortable on the Soren Larsen that it feels like home, the moment I stepped on her deck I heaved a sigh of relief and left my real life behind...

V203 Tonga to Fiji
Noreen's family comes to sail the Seas on Soren!
" I am going into my twentieth month aboard Soren Larsen and I have to admit that this month is by far the most exciting of all! Now my dream is coming true…. my family is no longer living through my tales of adventure, they are here to experience it themselves!"
Part One
Part Two

AND Janet liked her voyage on Soren Larsen, from Tonga to Fiji, a lot . Read her views here.

V202 Cook Islands to Tonga
Noreen tells of the voyage to Tonga..
"Rarotonga was very welcomed by the ship and her crew. It was the closest we’ve felt to New Zealand since departing in February...

Whalesong email from the ship and a nice message from VCrew Martyn

V201 Tahiti to the Cook islands
A Turtle's Tale.
Pics from Tahiti to Cook Islands and a seagoing 'Soren's
new adventure.

V201 - A Captain's Log - Tod reports:Sailing through the Society Is gave us a chance to revisit some of our preferred anchorages from the previous voyage V.200 - Cooks and Opunohu Bays at Moorea, Tapu. Marae in Raiatia, the friendly town of Fare at Huahine, the vanilla farms of Tahaa and of course Bora Bora - as well as exploring new islands.

V200 - Tahiti and the Society islands June 2004
Noreen's account and picture gallery of the voyage- "We cast off our lines and left the busy center of Papeete and motored north to Point Venus. This is quite a historical anchorage for this time of year, because some 236 years ago, Captain Cook himself anchored in the very spot we find ourselves today to record the transit of the planet Venus!"

See the ship's account of the voyage - here

In appreciation of V200. Some kind words from the Tahiti voyage.
Alan McKie sends pictures of his trip

++ V199 Easter Island to Tahiti April-May 2004

See Noreen's Voyage Log account from V199 Easter Island in full here ..
Easter Island was by far the most mystical place I have visited. There was a certain feeling about the island and its people were so proud of their island, their Rapa Nui. The days I spent ashore were better than I could have dreamed. The island and its history had such story to tell that the two days were not nearly enough. It is one of the places you must add to your “places to visit” list. Part 1:

Read part 2 through French Polynesia here . In Oa Pou voyage crew ventured ashore for a walk between the towering columns of rock while crew swam in the dark, almost black waters off the ship.

See V199 Easter Island to Tahiti
Picture gallerys here

Easter Island - Pitcairn - Tahiti read
the regular Voyage Logs from the ship - here

V198 Auckland to Easter Island Feb - April 2004 V198 here's Noreen Hill's log of Auckland to Easter Island -
part 1
part 2 here
part 3 here

V198 Auckland to Easter Island reports from the ship: March 2004,
ETA Easter I Thursday 25th. "Great sailing making 6kts over smooth sea. Rain squall passing now, but ok as on Alan's watch! Now 7kts!
Read all of V198".

++

Contact our Auckland HQ:
Phone 00 649 411 8755
Fax 00 649 4118484
Email : escape@sorenlarsen.co.nz
Postal address P.O.Box 310 Kumeu
n Auckland 1250 New Zealand