A view written from Rick The many remote island villages of Fiji often depend on ingenuity to provide conveniences, such as electricity, that others take for granted. In addition, the inhabitants of his nation of islands, depend on outboard engines for boat transportation and their fishing livelihood. Generators, solar panels, battery banks, outboards are everywhere, even in the most isolated locations. Inevitably, these devices require repair which is usually expensive and very far ...| MV Starr
The following post was written by our Marine Biologist/Chef/Deckhand Laura Murray Starr has been lucky enough to visit some beautiful and vibrant reefs during our time in Fiji, a few of which are considered to be top in the world, including Rainbow Reef and Astrolabe Reef. We have swam with manta rays, turtles, sharks and just about every reef fish you could dream of. All whilst snorkeling over beautiful, healthy and diverse coral. It would... The post We did more then just work on motors! ap...| MV Starr
The gifts of a prolonged navigation of Fiji are many, beautiful, and deep in meaning. As we prepare to end this phase of our voyage and go on to explore The Marianas and Japan, I can’t help but choke up as I reflect on our stay in these beautiful islands. I am ambivalent, ready to go on, yet sad to leave where I have had so many wonderful experiences. We have covered over 1,875 nautical... The post It’s Time to Say Goodbye! appeared first on MV Starr.| MV Starr
Nestled into a quiet corner of the Bay of Islands in Vanua Balavu. We had Starr with two stern ties and two bow anchors holding her firm, she wasn’t going anywhere, and honestly, neither were we. The spot was perfect. Protected, peaceful, and beautiful, surrounded by the dramatic limestone formations where the tiny trees growing out of the lava rock looked like Japanese bonsai. It was only after a few slow mornings and long afternoons...| MV Starr
Lau Group We’ve just wrapped up two incredible months cruising the Yasawas. Though the Yasawa Islands stretch only 55 nautical miles end to end, we managed to log 560 nautical miles zigzagging between our favorite anchorages and making a few return trips to Denarau to pick up more of our sailor friends. Passage to Fulaga Our journey to Fulaga (also known as Fulanga/Vulaga) began with an overnight stop at Yadua Island, followed by a provisioning... The post Arriving at the Lau Group appeared...| MV Starr
We haven’t posted anything because there wasn’t much to say other than the 12-day passage was a breeze. We covered 2900 miles with one stop for two days at the French Island of Wallis, which was a quiet and isolated island. One evening we took the dinghy to a tiny uninhabited island where we had a beach fire, cooked chicken over the hot coals, and looked at the stars. The whole passage was so smooth... The post Bula, Fiji! appeared first on MV Starr.| MV Starr
John and Karen Lattanzi are sailing friends from Hawaii. They have crossed the pacific in the 90’s and have years of sailing experience behind them. This is their post about our experience we had at the Sawa-I-La caves in the Yasawa’s. Sawa-I-Lau Caves Nabukeru island By Karen Lattanzi My nerves were running pretty high as I entered the water of the first cave. I had expected it to be frigid, as typically ground water... The post Diving the caves in the Yasawa’s appeared first on MV ...| MV Starr
Cruising through Fiji aboard Starr has been one of the most beautiful and challenging experiences of our journey so far. The islands are stunning, but navigating them safely requires a different level of attention and preparation. One of the first pieces of advice we received from experienced local sailors was to only travel between 10:00 and 15:00. During those hours, the sun is high overhead, making it possible to see coral heads clearly through the... The post The Challenges of Navigating ...| MV Starr
We were lucky to be in Yalobi Village on Waya Island just in time for the semi-finals of the island’s annual rugby championship. It was one of the most fun and energetic days we’ve had here. The matches were held at the local boarding school, which brings together students from all seven villages on the island. While the school serves the whole island, only four villages were taking part in the rugby semi-finals. Still, it... The post Waya Island Rumble 2025 appeared first on MV Starr.| MV Starr
This morning, at 10:30 AM, we anchored at Waya, located at 17°19’ south and 177°07’ east. We are told that we are the 3rd boat for this year. The village of Waya has 54 homes and about 300 people. We were introduced to the village nurse, who cares for 1,300 locals from seven separate villages all dispersed around the island. We flew the drone for the first time and here’s what it looks like from the... The post Waya appeared first on MV Starr.| MV Starr
Saturday, April 19, 2025 1° 31.1’ N, 171° 27.9’ W We’ve just altered course 24° to port, now heading for Wallis Island—940 nautical miles to the southwest. We’re craving fresh French baguettes and pain au chocolat, and this little detour seemed like a worthwhile indulgence. The new course adds about 40 miles to our trip, but it should also give us a better angle to handle a low-pressure system developing out of New Zealand. I’ve...| MV Starr
