Category Archives: video

Still learning – drama off Oz east coast

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After 7 years, and 10,000 sea miles, there are a few things I always wondered about Gray Matter – never expected to discover all of them in a period of 5 hours.   To name a few; how would Gray Matter handle dead in the water in 25 knots of wind, abeam to 4-6 foot waves; how about underway without stabilization; what is required to tow and with what tackle; and most importantly how to diagnose a fuel system puzzle while rolling 30 – 40 degrees abeam to a building sea state.

Underway down the east coast of Australia from Brisbane to Newcastle with following wind and sea, we experienced a main engine failure, leaving Gray Matter without the Naiad stabilizers.   We started the Wing Engine, which failed within 5 minutes.

The nature of the engine failures appeared similar to fuel contamination, with a slowing of RPM, loss of power then finally the “sounds of silence”.  So that was our working hypothesis.
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The end of the Pacific crossing and a new start at Brisbane

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We’ve been in Brisbane just over a week, after anchoring nearly everyday for 9 months, making our own water and power, it feels like we’re in the land of plenty. No worries about the anchor dragging, the batteries needed charged, and the water maker filters needed changed. This was our goal, and the achievement is bittersweet as this marks the end of a great adventure.

Gray Matter at Dockside Marina.

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The Amazing underwater world (video)

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Sometimes what seems like the biggest challenge turns into the biggest blessing. In American Somoa we noticed a problem with our dive compressor, sure enough when we arrived in Fiji, it would not fill tanks beyond 1500psi (half full). With good internet in Savu Savu we contacted the dealer in Sydney Australia and they suspect the fourth stage has failed. They have a piston and cylinder in stock and we arranged to have it shipped to Nadi later the month. Yet, the reality is that we are in some of the world’s best diving without a compressor.

Running between the moorings in our “micro dinghy” we stopped and chatted with a couple from Chicago on “Eagle’s Wings”. They have been cruising for 9 years, and this is their 3th season in Fiji, returning to NZ for each cyclone season. They offered that they were going to the Namena Marine Reserve and would be happy to fill our tanks.

Arriving in the Namena we anchored near Eagle’s Wings, and arranged to dive with Ken and Beth the next day. A couple days later, 3 NZ boats arrived – one of them, “Just In Time”, carry a big dive compressor unit onboard – 10 minutes a tank – Mark is having serious compressor envy. Soon enough, we were doing 2-3 dives a day with all these new diver friends we just made and having a blast.

We logged 12+ dives in the week at Namena and Makongai- absolutely spectacular – the best soft and hard coral we had seen. Check out the action in the video.

Namena island

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American Samoa

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When we cleared into Ensenada Mexico in late December it wasn’t clear when I’d need these American Dollars I had from the craigslist firesale of everything “unneeded”. Here in the middle of Polynesia is a little bit of ‘Merica.

Our original plans to head to Tonga changed given the weather, which has continued to be unfavorable for passage and stay in Tonga. 450 miles west of Suwarrow lays American Somoa; four islands of polynesian history that are an American Territory. So yes – McDonalds, ACE Hardware, English speakers, US Dollars (no FX charges on your Visa card). What we didn’t expect was stunning beauty, a combination of the Marquesas Islands with convenience of a weekend at Catalina.

Industrial, but surely beautiful.

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Wall diving at Fatu Hiva

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We had never seen any recommendation on diving at Fatu Hiva, neither travel guide or diving book ever mention here — just too remote. We found the most fabulous wall diving right at the Bay of Virgins. Sheer wall drops into 100+ ft, caves tuck underwater like giant cathedrals, tens of thousands fish … Plus 80+ft visibility and 80+F water temp. We could ask no more.

Here is a glimpse. Enjoy.

Amazing whale breaching

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2.18.2012 18:00

We saw many whales on our way down the pacific side of Baja, but haven’t had much luck once we turned into the Sea of Cortez. Now we realized that whales, just like us, prefer warmer water. Starting at Los Frailes on the east cape, we started to see the action, and up to another level this time. They were showing up in groups, swinging their tails and breaching!


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