Mahina Expeditions conducts sailing and navigation training and expeditions in the South Pacific and offers offshore sailing seminars http://www.mahina.com.com Latest Updates and News on Mahina Expeditions, John and Amanda Neal en-us Copyright 2012 Mahina Expeditions http://www.mahina.com/rss Tuesday, 21 February 2012 11:24:49 PST STRICTLY SAIL MIAMI BOAT SHOW AND SURPRISE FT. LAUDERDALE VISIT VERY EXCITING! The opportunity to watch and photograph the survey and go for a test sail with a consultation client on the Manta 42 cat that they had made an offer on, plus the chance to see the first day of the Strictly Sail Miami Boat Show proved irrespirable, so Amanda and I accompanied Pete McGonagle to Ft. Lauderdale, Florida this week. We had the opportunity to interview and photograph several boatyards, make connection with a new buyer's broker whom we will be referring selected clients to and generally learn much more about resources available in South FL for our Boat Selection Consultation clients. Also, very importantly, we had the chance to go aboard, photograph and speak with boatyard owners or reps of Antares, Catana, Seawind, Leopard, St. Francis and Knyssna catamarans, plus meet with the Jachney's and view the latest (and excellent) Hylas yachts. A real bonus was meeting Stan and Sylvia Dabney, founders of Valiant Yachts whom I had last seen in 1976 when they had just started Valiant Yachts. http://www.mahina.com/newsletter.html john@mahina.com Tuesday, 21 February 2012 11:24:49 PST CHICAGO BOAT SHOW AND SEMINAR TOTAL SUCCESS! Our seminars were packed but most exciting thing of all was to meet several people who attended last year's Offshore Cruising Seminar and are now on their own boats cruising or just waiting for their homes to sell so they can head for warmer water. http://www.mahina.com/newsletter.html john@mahina.com Monday, 30 January 2012 12:23:25 PST BAXTER, MOLLY AND KALA HAVING WAAAY TOO MUCH FUN IN THE BAHAMAS!! Swimming pigs that come out to your boat for food scraps when you call them, snorkeling in sunken airliners; you gotta check this out! Baxter and Molly were Boat Purchase Consultation clients (they ended up purchasing a very tidy and quite well equipped Tartan 37) and joined us on a very exciting Leg 2-11. Shortly after returning from Rarotonga, they set sail south from North Carolina and are now in the Bahamas seriously having too much fun! This is what it is all about - you don't have to sail around the world to get away and have an amazing adventure. http://www.mahina.com/newsletter.html john@mahina.com Monday, 30 January 2012 12:23:25 PST WE LOVE TORONTO!!! Our first ever visit to the Toronto International Boat Show was fantastic! Several of our seminars were standing room only with keen sailors lining the aisles, doorways and sitting on the floor. The show is HUGE compared to any indoors US shows, and the audience amazingly keen on setting out on their own long-distance sailing adventures. I think being surrounded by cold and snow for half the year may have a lot to do with that. We are currently working out details on a totally-new mini Mahina Offshore Seminar for the 2012 Toronto Boat Show! http://www.mahina.com/newsletter.html john@mahina.com Thursday, 19 January 2012 12:08:15 PST STRICTLY SAIL CHICAGO STARTS JAN. 26, AND WE ARE PACKING UP AND EXCITED! Our seminar registrations are coming in steadily and we are looking forward to having Jimmy Cornell as a co-presenter (along with Pete McGongale) for the first time in nearly ten years. We will also be presenting several free seminars Thursday and Friday, Jan 26 & 27 before our all-day Offshore Cruising Seminar on Sat., Jan. 28. http://www.mahina.com/newsletter.html john@mahina.com Thursday, 19 January 2012 12:08:15 PST WE CAN'T BEAR LEAVING THE SOUTH PACIFIC JUST YET Although we said in this column that we would start heading back to Europe in 2013, we had such a wonderful season last year that we've decided to make another similar season in the South Pacific in 2013. Part of our reasoning is that we are hoping Amanda's parents, Robert and Lesley will sail up to meet us in Fiji for the third time in the ex-Sunsail Beneteau 432 they just purchased in Tahiti and sailed home to New Zealand. http://www.mahina.com/newsletter.html john@mahina.com Thursday, 19 January 2012 12:08:15 PST AT LEAST THREE SETS OF EXPEDITION GRADUATES ARE NOW AT SEA ENROUTE TO OPUA, NEW ZEALAND! We're looking forward to a mini-Mahina Expeditions graduates reunion once we reach Opua, NZ on our final expedition of 2011. Jim & Katie Thomson aboard Tenaya report flying along at 7.5 kts with just a couple days to go aboard their gorgeous HR 40. We enjoyed seeing them in Vanuatu earlier this season. We heard yesterday from Beth and Norm Cooper aboard their Saga 43 were making 8 kts with just two days to go aboard Sarah Jean, their Saga 43. On top of that, we just heard from Neil Scott, aboard his Island Packet 44 is just leaving Fiji for Opua and should arrive about the same time we do. We are hoping to share a meal and introduce them to our intrepid Leg 8 crew. http://www.mahina.com/newsletter.html john@mahina.com Friday, 13 January 2012 10:26:35 PST LEG 8, 2011 UPDATE 2 November 10, 2011, 0250 hrs, 35.10 S, 174.08 E, Log: 152,981 miles Baro: 1018.1, Cabin Temp: 71 F cockpit 61 F, sea water 65.8 F Beam reaching at 7 kts in 13 kt SSE winds, totally flat seas and clear skies with a full moon! Single-reefed main and geona BAY OF ISLANDS, NZ, HERE WE COME! http://www.mahina.com/leg11/8.html#update2 john@mahina.com Monday, 28 November 2011 13:27:25 PST JIMMY CORNELL TO SPEAK AT OUR CHICAGO AND OAKLAND OFFSHORE CRUISING SEMINARS! It's been several years since Jimmy was a co-presenter at our seminars, and we are really looking forward to his joining us for these two seminars. He will have copies of his new Cruising Atlas which will have it's US debut at the Chicago show. http://www.mahina.com/freeseminars.html#jimmy john@mahina.com Tuesday, 14 November 2011 9:37:25 PST LEG 8 UPDATE 1 November 5, 2011, 0620 hrs, 30.41 S, 162.04 E, Log: 152,343 miles Baro: 1020.7, Cabin Temp: 71 F cockpit 69 F, sea water 69.6 F Close reaching at 8.1 kts in 14 kt SSE winds, nearly flat seas and clear skies Single-reefed main, full geona EXCEPTIONALLY FAST AND FINE SAILING TOWARD NEW ZEALAND! http://www.mahina.com/leg11/8.html john@mahina.com Monday, 07 November 2011 10:32:25 PST AT LEAST THREE SETS OF EXPEDITION GRADUATES ARE NOW AT SEA ENROUTE TO OPUA, NEW ZEALAND!

We're looking forward to a mini-Mahina Expeditions graduates reunion once we reach Opua, NZ on our final expedition of 2011. Jim & Katie Thomson (http://www.mahina.com/leg07/1.html) aboard Tenaya (www.tenayatravels.com) report flying along at 7.5 kts with just a couple days to go aboard their gorgeous HR 40. We enjoyed seeing them in Vanuatu earlier this season. We heard yesterday from Beth and Norm Cooper (http://www.mahina.com/leg09/5.html)aboard their Saga 43 were making 8 kts with just two days to go aboard Sarah Jean, their Saga 43 (http://www.sailblogs.com/member/sarahjean2/). On top of that, we just heard from Neil Scott, (http://www.mahina.com/leg08/1.html) aboard his Island Packet 44 is just leaving Fiji for Opua and should arrive about the same time we do. We are hoping to share a meal and introduce them to our intrepid Leg 8 crew.

http://www.mahina.com/newsletter.html john@mahina.com Monday, 27 October 2011 10:00:25 PST LEG 7 UPDATE 2 October 9, 2011, 2000 hrs, 26.33 S, 154 13 E, Log: 151,693 miles Baro: 1011, Cabin Temp: 74 F cockpit 74 F, sea water 77 F Close reaching at 7.1 kts in 14 kt NW winds, flat seas, clear skies and nearly full moon Full main and geona HEAVE AWAY, HAUL AWAY, WE'RE BOUND FOR AUSTRALIA! http://www.mahina.com/leg11/7.html john@mahina.com Monday, 13 October 2011 10:16:25 PST LEG 7 ITINERARY Leg 7 Itinerary has been posted. http://www.mahina.com/leg11/7.html john@mahina.com Tuesday, 11 October 2011 11:07:45 PST LEG 6 UPDATE 1 September 17, 2011 2200 hrs, 20.49 S, 167.36 E, Log: 150,747 miles Baro: 1021, Cabin Temp: 71 F cockpit 74 F, sea water 77 F Close reaching at 7.9 kts in 16 kt SE winds, moderate seas Double-reefed mainsail and triple-reefed genoa HOORAY, WE'VE JUST EASED SHEETS AND MAHINA TIARE IS CHARGING ALONG! http://www.mahina.com/leg11/6.html john@mahina.com Friday, 30 September 2011 11:20:45 PST LEG 5 UPDATE 1 September 2, 2011 0700 hrs, 20.11 S, 170.04 E, Log: 150,347 miles Baro: 1019, Cabin Temp: 77 F cockpit 74 F, sea water 78.3 F Broad reaching at 7.4 kts in 15 kt SE winds, moderate seas ADVENTURES WAITING ON THE HORIZON! Our 13 days between Legs 4 & 5 were a treasure. We are convinced that Fiji has to be one of the best tropical cruising destinations in the world. After our saying goodbyes to our excellent Leg 4 crew the following day we headed to Lautoka by taxi to reprovision then set sail for one of our favorite spots on the planet, Musket Cove on Malololailai Island. We anchored in the same spot and walked the same beach where we were married by a sulu-wearing Fijian minister in 1998, between Legs 4 & 5. We scheduled 13 days off this year between Legs 4 & 5 and not only did we get Mahina Tiare in top shape, we had time for trail running, kayaking, swimming and visiting with our Fijian friends and cruisers. Life just doesn't get any better! http://www.mahina.com/leg11/5.html john@mahina.com Monday, 12 September 2011 11:47:45 PST WE LOVE FIJI!!! This has to be the best tropical cruising destination in the world, and we are delighted to be back, anchored in the same spot and walking on the exact same beach at Musket Cove, Malololailai Island where we were married by a sulu-wearing Fijian minister in 1998, between Legs 4 & 5. We scheduled 13 days off this year between Legs 4 & 5 and not only are we getting Mahina Tiare in top shape, we've had time for trail running, kayaking, swimming and visiting with our Fijian friends and cruisers. Life just doesn't get any better! http://www.mahina.com/newsletter.html john@mahina.com Wednesday, 24 August 2011 14:57:45 PST 2011 SEASON IS NOW SOLD OUT Wait lists are now forming for Legs 7 & 8. http://www.mahina.com/newsletter.html john@mahina.com Wednesday, 24 August 2011 14:57:45 PST LEG 4-2011 UPDATE 1 August 7, 2011, 1610 hrs, 13.52 S, 177.00 W, Log: 149,370 miles Baro: 1010.4, Cabin Temp: 84 F cockpit: 81.1F, sea water: 84.7 F Broad reaching at 8.4 kts in 25-35 kt ESE winds with occasional squalls. Main and jib both triple reefed, substantial seas. Rockin’ and Rollin’ Our Way Toward Fiji! http://www.mahina.com/leg11/4.html john@mahina.com Friday, 19 August 2011 12:26:25 PST LEG 4 - ITINERARY Samoa to Fiji Expedition Itineary Posted http://www.mahina.com/leg11/4.html john@mahina.com Monday, 08 August 2011 12:26:25 PST LEG 3 - UPDATE 1 July 13, 2011, 0440 hrs, 19.12 S, 169.49 W, Log: 148,364 miles Baro: 1017.4, Cabin Temp: 79 F cockpit 76 F, sea water 84.4 F Broad reaching at 3.4 kts in 9.5 kt E winds, clear skies with nearly a full moon NIUE ISLAND AHEAD! http://www.mahina.com/leg11/3.html john@mahina.com Wednesday, 27 July 2011 11:21:25 PST ONLY ONE BERTH LEFT ON LEG 7 BEFORE OUR ENTIRE 2011 SEASON IS SOLD OUT! This passage from Noumea, New Caledonia to Brisbane, Australia is an excellent one if you're looking for serious offshore experience and don't mind a bit of weather. http://www.mahina.com/newsletter.html john@mahina.com Monday, 11 July 2011 11:21:25 PST 2012 EXPEDITIONS FILLING UNUSUALLY EARLY We've just received five applications for 2012 expeditions in three days and now Leg 1 is sold out and Leg 2 & 4 each have just one berth available. We're not sure what to attribute these early bird applications to - possibly our series of articles that have been appearing in Australian Yachting, as we're having more Aussies than ever apply. http://www.mahina.com/newsletter.html john@mahina.com Monday, 11 July 2011 11:21:25 PST KIA ORANA FROM RAROTONGA, COOK ISLANDS! We're off to a great start for our 21st season of expeditions, and are nearly ready to start Leg 3 this Friday. We've had the best weather we can remember in 35 years with hardly a squall and the fewest hours spent motoring ever. The exciting thing about this year is how many of our expedition members have either broken the start of a cruise on their just-purchased boat to join us, or are going home to pick up a new boat and set sail on the cruise of their dreams. Now that IS exciting - watching expedition members gaining skills, making notes, taking pictures - all information that they will apply to their own boats. http://www.mahina.com/newsletter.html john@mahina.com Thurs, 07 JULY 2011 10:26:25 PST LEG 2, 2011 EXPEDITIONS, UPDATE 2 June 27, 2011, 0530 hrs, 16.49 S, 153.55 W, Log: 147,345 miles
Baro: 1013.1, Cabin Temp: 78 F cockpit 76 F, sea water 83.4 F
At anchor, Mopelia Atoll (250 mi W of Tahiti). Our 100 mile overnight passage from Maupiti to Mopelia... http://www.mahina.com/leg11/2.html#update2 john@mahina.com Wed, 05 JULY 2011 09:55:15 PST LEG 2, 2011 EXPEDITIONS, UPDATE 1 May 30, 2011, 0530 hrs, 16.49 S, 151.25 W, Log: 147,099 miles Baro: 1012.7, Cabin Temp: 78 F cockpit 76 F, sea water 83.9 F At anchor, Baie Faaroa, Raiatea (130 mi W of Tahiti) SURROUNDED BY BEAUTY! http://www.mahina.com/leg11/2.html#update1 john@mahina.com Fri, 24 JUNE 2011 12:37:15 PST LEG 1, 2011 EXPEDITIONS, UPDATE 3 May 30, 2011, 1800 hrs, 17.30 S, 149.49 W, Log: 146,905 miles Baro: 1013.5, Cabin Temp: 80 F cockpit 73 F, sea water 82.8 F At anchor, Cook's Bay, Moorea WHAT A FINISH! http://www.mahina.com/leg11/l.html#update3 john@mahina.com Tues, 31 May 2011 12:37:15 PST LEG 1, 2011 EXPEDITIONS, UPDATE 2 May 20, 2011, 1400 hrs, 28.41 S, 160.03 W, Log: 145,878 miles Baro: 1014.6, Cabin Temp: 73 F cockpit 81 F, sea water 73 F W winds 27 - 40 kts, seas 12' with swell Close reaching at 7 kts under triple-reefed main and just 30% of genoa NOW THESE ARE THE SOUTHERN OCEAN CONDITIONS WE EXPECTED! http://www.mahina.com/leg11/l.html#update2 john@mahina.com Tues, 31 May 2011 12:37:15 PST LEG 1, 2011 EXPEDITIONS, UPDATE 1 May 16, 2011, 1500 hrs, 32.27 S, 170.17 E, Log: 145,299 miles Baro: 1014.6, Cabin Temp: 73 F cockpit 81 F, sea water 71 F W winds 18-20 kts, 6' crossed swell Broad reaching at 7.4 kts under full sail. ARE WE IN THE SOUTHERN OCEAN? http://www.mahina.com/leg11/l.html#update1 john@mahina.com Tues, 11 May 2011 12:37:15 PST BUY LOW IN THE U.S., SELL HIGH IN AUSTRALIA! Patricia and Jack Tyler are cruising friends of mine dating back 30 years when they organized the Albin Vega 27 owner's association. We met them in 2010 in New Caledonia, and they said they were considering selling Whoosh, their very tidy Pearson 424 once they reached Brisbane, Australia. Sell her they did, and for a price considerably higher than they could have if they sailed Whoosh 9,000 miles to windward back to the US. They have agreed to let us post their in-depth analysis of why it makes sense to sail downwind to Australia, and sell your cruising boat there. Incidentally, this is what I did 30 years ago; I sold Mahina Tiare I in Noumea and delivered her to Brisbane with the new owner aboard. http://www.svsarah.com/Whoosh/ewWhooshSellAbroad.html#Selling_WHOOSH_in_Australia john@mahina.com Mon, 09 May 2011 09:47:15 PST NEARLY READY TO SET SAIL FOR TAHITI! What a blur the last 13 days has been! We arrived in Auckland to find Mahina Tiare clean and dry under her full-boat cover and quickly set to work packing the cover before forecasted deluges arrived. Our first priority was to get our baby girl ready to launch, and here's a list of what we accomplished: http://www.mahina.com/newsletter.html john@mahina.com Fri, 06 May 2011 13:18:45 PST Mahina http://www.mahina.com/graphics/mahinamexicanmeal.jpg http://www.Mahina.com/newsletter.html STRICTLY SAIL PACIFIC BOAT SHOW AND SEMINARS A ROARING SUCCESS!!! With sunny weather, record seminar crowds and very cool boats, gear and parties, this was an unforgettable blur! Our brand new Diesel Engine Essentials freebie seminar was totally packed and we are already refining and improving it for next year. http://www.mahina.com/newsletter.html john@mahina.com Wed, 20 Apr 2011 11:19:28 PST