We have successfully avoided marinas over the past 10 years–the last time we had to go in was in the Cape Verde Islands to have a shroud replaced. It’s not just a matter of saving money, we just don’t enjoy being in a berth: creaking lines, noisy neighbours with clanging and banging halyards, it’s hot, you can’t go swimming, the wind’s never from the bow… Continue reading »
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2023
18
May
2023
12
May
No fish no reef, no reef no fish!
Scientific models predict an El Niño period for the next (southern) summer, meaning that we can expect rising ocean surface temperatures. The consequences here in the Pacific will be most likely more severe cyclones and bleached coral reefs (and many other types of catastrophes around the world). Coral can only recover from storm damages and bleaching when lots of herbivore fish keep the weak reef… Continue reading »
2023
06
May
The oceans are protected–at least in theory…
Have you read the news? The High Seas Treaty aims to turn 30% of the seas into protected areas by 2030, to safeguard and recuperate marine nature. The president of French Poly announces one marine reserve after the other, browsing through the news about other Pacific nations one can be happy to see that most of the waters around the Marshall Islands are protected and… Continue reading »
2023
03
May
Pitufa as Cover Girl on All-At-Sea Magazine!
Birgit Hackl, Christian Feldbauer: Choosing a Cruising Boat, All At Sea Caribbean, May 2023, p. 36–38. download the whole magazine for free.
2023
02
May
Splashed!
Yippieh, after 1 and a half weeks of sanding, painting, replacing stuff, sweating, swearing, running, searching, shopping, 13 steps up the ladder to quickly fetch stuff, balancing on rickety scaffolding, swampy puddles to work in, constantly muddy feet, mosquito-ridden bathrooms and more sweating and swearing (oh and some more sweating and swearing, did I forget to mention that?) we are BACK IN THE WATER!
2023
02
May
How to replace an all-rubber cutlass bearing
We spent a week running after mechanics to help us remove the cutlass bearing, were strung along and advised impossible solutions until Christian finally decided to build a make-shift pusher himself: only 2 pieces of wood, 1 piece of steel tube, 2 threaded bars, 4 big washers and 6 nuts were necessary to makeshift this ingenious gadget! When we replaced our cutlass bearing 3 years… Continue reading »
2023
02
May
Read Online: Article on Atoll Navigation in Boating NZ
Birgit Hackl, Christian Feldbauer: Mind the Reef, Boating New Zealand, March 2023, p. 88–92. Read the online version of this article.