2025 – Page 2 – CucumberLemon.com

Yearly Archives: 2025

Vanuatu: Rich Culture and Lush Landscape

Posted on July 27, 2025 by by

Kay Chung Posted in Pacific Islands, Sailings, South Pacific

Local Fresh Market, Port Vila, Efate Island, Vanuatu

We cleared Customs, Immigration, and Biosecurity a week ago. Officers confiscated a few onions, cut lemons, and garlic I’d forgotten, disposing of them in the biosecurity bin. They told me I could buy better, organic options at the local fresh market.

After clearance, we moved to a mooring in Yachting World Marina (https://yachtingworld-vanuatu.com/), which offers garbage disposal, showers, and easy dinghy dock access. John immediately began researching new autopilots and decided on two Raymarine sets. He initially wanted to order from New Zealand for simpler shipping,

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Sailing from Bundaberg, Australia to Port Vila, Vanuatu (Story 5 – Arrival)

Posted on July 21, 2025 by by

Kay Chung Posted in Pacific Islands, Sailings, South Pacific

Bunny at Quarantine Anchorage in Port Vila on Efate Island, Capital of Vanuatu,

(Sailing Days 8 & 9) We’ve safely arrived in Port Vila, but the last two days at sea were challenging. Constant changes in wind speed and direction made for an uncomfortable beat, and sleep was scarce.

Our autopilot, original to the 33-year-old boat, failed again, and again, and again. Despite replacing various parts, we couldn’t fix it. Hand-steering for two days seemed inevitable until we found a workaround: the autopilot would steer, but in the opposite direction. We adapted by steering the opposite way.

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Sailing from Bundaberg, Australia to Port Vila, Vanuatu (Story 4)

Posted on July 17, 2025 by by

Kay Chung Posted in Pacific Islands, Sailings, South Pacific

Cat Grass Kept by the Mast Inside of the Boat while Sailing

(Sailing Day 7) After many days of motoring, we started feeling some winds. We’ve been sailing for the last 18 hours. Hooray! The quietness (the cats love it!). This morning, I saw the cats chewing their cat grass. This was given by a lady in Bundaberg. Originally, we thought of throwing it away before approaching Vanuatu because most countries don’t allow bringing any plants. John read more information on it and saw that “as long as the plant is healthy and stays on the boat, it is okay to bring it into Vanuatu.”

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Sailing from Bundaberg, Australia to Port Vila, Vanuatu (Story 3)

Posted on July 16, 2025 by by

Kay Chung Posted in Pacific Islands, Sailings, South Pacific

We are motoring in the Coral Sea.

(Sailing Day 6) This morning, my favorite star, Venus, was incredibly brilliant! I can’t believe how bright it was!

We’re still motoring. Seas have been calm and winds less than 5 knots. The new engine has been working nonstop for days. John changed the transmission fluid after running it for the first 24 hours. We switched the RPMs up and down every hour for that initial 24-hour period. Since then, we’ve set the RPM between 1500 and 1800. John thinks the performance is best at 1700 RPM. During my watch,

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Sailing from Bundaberg, Australia to Port Vila, Vanuatu (Story 2)

Posted on July 15, 2025 by by

Kay Chung Posted in Pacific Islands, Sailings, South Pacific

Persistence pays off! Glad you found a spot, seagull.

(Sailing Day 3 to 5) Good morning, world! I slept a solid six hours without waking up. At 1:30 AM, we changed the watch schedule. The cats got their first treats of the day; they usually get three treats daily while at sea. They don’t like the engine’s noise, but we’ve been running it for two days straight. The weather forecast predicts another 30 hours of motoring. Despite the doldrum motoring, I feel refreshed and enjoyed the bright stars, Venus and Sirius, early this morning.

On the third day,

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Sailing from Bundaberg, Australia to Port Vila, Vanuatu (Story 1)

Posted on July 13, 2025 by by

Kay Chung Posted in Australia, Sailings, South Pacific

Sailing at Full Moon Rise in the Coral Sea

(Sailing Day 1 and 2) It’s 4 AM in the Coral Sea. I hear the waves and John’s snoring – a much better symphony than the angry, gusty seas we battled just an hour ago. That earlier sea state was way beyond my comfort level, forcing us to compromise by sailing a little downwind rather than upwind. The good news? The weather forecast predicts motoring for the next few days, so we can easily correct our course then.

Despite taking motion sickness pills, I felt utterly hopeless on the boat earlier.

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Shakedown Sail: Bundaberg Port Marina to K’gari Island

Posted on June 22, 2025 by by

Kay Chung Posted in Australia, Pacific Islands, Sailings, South Pacific

Sunrise at Woralie Creek Anchorage, K’gari Island, Queensland, Australia

A new engine had just been installed on our boat, so we decided to do a shakedown sail to K’gari Island (pronounced “Gur-rie”), also known by its former name Fraser Island. The island boasts endless powdery white sand beaches, and its creeks and streams flow with blackish fresh water into the sea.

There are many camping areas on the beaches, and after campers leave and before new groups arrive, dingoes emerge to check for any food scraps. We walked on the beach carrying a safety stick, just in case they showed interest in us.

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Many public holidays occur in Australia during April.

Posted on April 22, 2025 by by

Kay Chung Posted in Australia, Boat Projects

Bad Bunny’s New Bottom Paint, John also used leftover blue paint from other boat to SCARE the sharks under water!!!

Last week, most businesses were closed for four days due to Good Friday and the Easter Monday holiday. This coming Friday is ANZAC Day, which stands for Australian and New Zealand Army Corps. It’s a day of remembrance similar to Veterans Day in other countries. As a result, this week is a three-day work week. Our mechanics and boatyard employees will be available from Tuesday to Thursday.

Our engine project is nearing completion. We are scheduled to lift the boat out of the boatyard and return it to the water on Thursday.

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How to be happy today?

Posted on March 29, 2025 by by

Kay Chung Posted in Australia, Boat Projects

Finding happiness during our engine replacement delay has been a challenge. This morning, I asked Google Assistant for advice, and it suggested the above. (Source: https://www.nhs.uk/mental-health/self-help/tips-and-support/how-to-be-happier/)

I’ve discovered a peaceful escape by taking the local bus to Bundaberg. The 30-minute ride passes through beautiful farmlands, with vibrant fields and expansive blue skies. The daily bus pass is incredibly cheap, around $1 AUD. On the early morning school run, I enjoy watching the energetic children. The midday bus is a social hub for retirees, who greet each other warmly.

We’re looking forward to exploring Australia properly once the engine is fixed.

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