Archive of Soren Larsen 2005 Voyage Log

See LATEST VOYAGE BLOG from the ship

Arrival home
The ship arrived safely back at her berth in Auckland.
Blustery and cool conditions welcomed the ship home in to the Waitemata harbour - but that didn't dampen everyone's celebration of the end of the voyage and parting goodbyes.
More Pictures

Vanuatu to Auckland - Voyage Crew Ruth recalls ..
NEW "We are coming to the end of our three week voyage across the South Pacific from Vanuatu to New Zealand as I write this reflection.
I had no idea of the impact this journey would have on me when I booked my berth in January 2005, but like voyage crew in the past I’ve discovered a love of sailing, and a love of Soren in particular!"

Natasha and Fraser’s Vanuatu Experience..

On only our second night on board, we had our first experience with the locals at Chief Nelson’s village in the postcard perfect tropical bay of Asanvari, on the island of Maewo. We were given: a tour of Chief Nelson’s village (including neighbouring waterfall), had a game of football with some of the locals, were treated to some local Kastom (custom) dancing, experienced a local boar feast, and finally had a Kava party with a typical local string band.

Vanuatu Banks Islands .. Dales's highlights..
What a trip!
It is hard to believe we were total strangers when we met at Aore on the 3rd
October. Now we are friends, watchkeepers, part of a team that heaves on
ropes, sets sails, puts them up, pulls them down, works together, plays
together. A great bunch of people!
........and the highlights:

Ein Südseetraum geht in Erfüllung! Eine Reise von Tonga nach Fidschi...
A German Log from Yvonne Stahl and Peter Welters
for the voyage from Tonga to Fiji...

Soren Larsen - Kingdom of Tonga To Fiji
Valerie & David Powell write of their travels
in the South Pacific from Tonga to Fiji....

G´day G´day!
An account from crew member Kenny of the passage
from Rarotonga to Tonga

Auf Wiedersehen, Französisch Polynesien!
Susanne's account of the passage
from Tahiti to Rarotonga in German

Over the Sea of the Moon to Moorea
'Reinforced trade winds gave them a moonlit sail downwind
in what Captain Tony described as a "Fantastic sailing! Making 8-9 knots in perfect conditions - the best sail I've had with the ship in several years!!" .

Arrival Tahiti
The end of the 49 night voyage from Easter Island.
Marita's Log entries for the conclusion of this
remarkable voyage.

Exploring the Tuamotu archipelago
Stunning pictures from Astrid and Paul
of eastern French Polynesia
Here

Endlich: die Paradise der Südsee!
Astrid Luweg's account in German here

Tuamotu Picture Gallery 2
More amazing images of the real
South Seas..
Here

Diving in the Tuamotus
Pictures to make you go 'Wow!'
Stopping at Atoll Fakarava we take 2 dives with local scuba operator

Entering French Polynesia - the Marquesas
Marita's Journal of their exploration of these volcanic isles.
"Fatu Hiva is the most southern island of the Marqueses, it consists of two craters forming arcs open to the west. We anchored in Baie des Vierges at the sleepy village of Hanavave. The phallic protuberances caused this bay to be called Baie des Verges (The bay of penises) outraged, missionaries added a redeeming (i) to rename it Baie des Vierges (Bay of Virgins)..."

Picture Gallery of Marquesas
Of jungles and waterfalls and volcanic cliffs - Peter Jackson's King Kong could have been filmed here...
See pictures here

Ein Stück Französisch Polynesien...
Astrid Luweg's account in German here

Life at Sea
A few days on watch with Voyage Crew Pitcairn to Marquesas
"The magical little piece of paradise called Pitcairn is now a couple of days over the stern and everyone is readjusting back into the watches. The royal blue of the water surrounding Pitcairn has turned back into the amazing indigo of the deep ocean that we first encountered sailing from Easter Island. We “officially” cross into the tropics one night but you wouldn’t have known it –"

Departure from Pitcairn 2005
Nate Stone's farewell to the island.
"One by one they come on to the rolling decks of Søren as the inflatable is secured alongside. Each has a story to make the others envious: Carol found herself stuck in a hillside cave, while Rod helped harvest breadfruit with a .22 Winchester rifle, and all the while everyone showing each other their authentic Pitcairn ”Drinking License”.

NEW Pitcairn Picture Gallery
Marita and Astrids photos from
Adamstown here

At Sea from Easter island to Pitcairn 2005
Ship's crew, Nate Stone tells of the life aboard Soren Larsen on the voyage to landfall at Pitcairn.
”Whales astern!” was the cry from the stern. A pod of 20 or so Pilot Whales approached while Paul, Kristian, and I were aloft. As the off duty hands scurried on deck from below with cameras blazing, we enjoyed the best view from 50 feet up...

Pitcairn Island – eine Insel seit über 200 Jahren am Scheidewege
Voyage Crew Christian Kniess - with his own view of the history of Pitcairn and the mutiny
that led to its foundation: in German here
"Seit 2 Tagen sind mein Kabinengenosse Paul und ich bei Charlene , Vaine und ihren 4 Kindern privat untergebracht. Ihre warme Gastfreundschaft läst uns im Gefühl , dass wir uns seit Jahren kennen und die besten Freunde sind...

Navigating to Pitcairn 2005
2nd Mate Astrid tells of the journey from Easter Island to Pitcairn,
and the task Captain Cottier has set - to navigate there by means of traditional celestial navigation..
in German here

Easter Island to Pitcairn 2005
Paul Eyton-Jones joins a tall ship for the first time -
here's his first impressions:
"You’re being downright foolhardy and reckless in my opinion,” said my friend Jo when I told him that I was joining the square-sail ship Soren Larsen to voyage across the South Pacific. My first sight of the ship was as it bobbed at anchour off Easter Island’s capital Hanga Roa. “They can’t be serious” I exclaimed under my breath. The 105-foot long boat looked far too small to cross the English Channel let alone some of the remotest parts of the Pacific. Fortunately after just a few hours on board I realised that my fears were misplaced. ..."

Easter Island April 2005
Read Marita's own account of her visit to this
fascinating and remote place here

Read Astrid's experiences at Easter Island
in German here

New Zealand to Easter Island March 2005

Marita's Journal -
Deckhand-Assistant Purser-Assistant Bosun, tells of the Southern Ocean passage to Easter Island "This voyage is an opportunity of a lifetime, something that most sailors dream of but only a few have the opportunity to fulfil. Sailing a 55 year old timber Brigantine to one of the most isolated islands in the world has been a very special experience.."

See her Photo gallery

Our 2nd Mate Astrid selects this photo gallery
of a Southern Ocean adventure

Astrid's first hand account of the ocean passage to Rapa Nuie..

German language version.

Deckhand Christiane's journal of her first Soren Larsen voyage
Dutch language version.

New Zealand Feb 2005 - Tauranga Dry Dock
Its that time - the ship's annual haul out and hull paint and preparations for the forthcoming Pacific voyaging.
Never a dull moment.. Picture gallery

New Zealand Christmas and January 2005 Hauraki Gulf Bay of Islands voyages++

Back in the Hauraki Gulf - Soren starts her New Zealand season

V209 Christmas / New Year Picture gallery

New Zealand Auckland - Bay of Islands January 2005
Soren Cook Shawn Strange's journal: Part one: "So, with one Christmas tree firmly affixed to the top of the forward mast and the other delicately decorated down below, we set sail from Auckland on Christmas Eve with a lot of wind, a bit of rain and a full boat of lively voyage crew fleeing to the Southern hemisphere to escape a European winter."

Part Two: "All those going ashore, loaded into the small boats and got ready for a wet landing on Bush’s Beach on the Kaiarara Bay. The cicadas sang a raucous welcome as the boat landed, and this time I decided to take a longer hike up to the lower dam on the Kaiaraara River."

New Zealand January 2005

Auckland to the Bay of Islands
Picture gallery of our first 5 night voyages up the coast

To add your contribution to the Soren Larsen Voyage Log send us words and pictures to
Tallship Soren Larsen - email escape@sorenlarsen.co.nz

We'd also be keen to have your feedback about the Voyage Log - with views, commendations, brickbats and suggestions about the website. Thanks.

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