Where's Balto right now?
Follow us as we explore new destinations and share our experiences with you.
Some snipets of our adventures in fiji
If you've missed us on YouTube
Watch the clip!
Paradise Resort
We finally managed to reach Taveuni Island and the most magical achorage - Paradise Resort. It was amazing to show Trace's paremnts one of our favourite spots!
A cultural experience for the old folk!
A cultural experience for the old folk!
We visited the village in Viani Bay to enable Trace's folks to experience the sevusevu process and to meet some very welcoming Fijian people.
The sevusevu process is an amazing and rich experience: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fijian_traditions_and_ceremonies
A cultural experience for the old folk!
A cultural experience for the old folk!
We visited the village in Viani Bay to enable Trace's folks to experience the sevusevu process and to meet some very welcoming Fijian people.
The sevusevu process is an amazing and rich experience: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fijian_traditions_and_ceremonies
There's always a boat problem
Viani Bay - Nessi Fisher's Island
We had a water leak into one the sail-drives (gearbox) and we needed to get this fixed. Only one yard in Fiji that can haul a catamaran. They have a monopoly and they exploit that!
Viani Bay - Nessi Fisher's Island
Viani Bay - Nessi Fisher's Island
We made friends with so many people in 2021, we had to go back to say hi!
Highlights from vanuatu
Port Resolution
Tanna - the mysterious Island
Tanna - the mysterious Island
Following in Captian Cook's footsteps - we made landfall in Vanuatu on Tanna Island and more specifically Port Resolution.
This place is a time warp! It really is one of the most culturally diverse and ancient civilisations we've seen - ever!
Tanna - the mysterious Island
Tanna - the mysterious Island
Tanna - the mysterious Island
Tanna is largely unaffected by the modern world. The island is so remote that tourists are few and far between, this coupled with a determination to retain their "Kustom" has resulted in an island that assualts the senses!
Volcanoes, Canibalism, Cults, Dark Rituals and 30 different dialects has created a place like no other -it's dark!
The People
Tanna - the mysterious Island
Architecture!
The people of Tanna were reserved. Some were very traditional and others educated, not sure how this came to be?! Life is very basic and we were privilged to see people going about their daily lives without the western influences we expect to see!
Architecture!
Havanah Harbour - Efate
Architecture!
With no access to modern building materials in Port Resultion, the tried and tested will have to suffice!
Port Vila
Havanah Harbour - Efate
Havanah Harbour - Efate
The capital was home to us for a couplke of weeks as we sheltered from some weather, provisioned and made plans for the next part of our journey!
Havanah Harbour - Efate
Havanah Harbour - Efate
Havanah Harbour - Efate
Lelepa Island and Havanah Harbour were simply outstanmding - we met some amazinfg cruisers and explored and amazing part of this wild country!
About Sailing Balto
Our Story
An ordinary family of 5 that discovered the adventure of sailing whilst living in the City of Sails, Auckland, New Zealand. The wanderlust bit hard after buying a 26ft sailing boat to "wet our feet" and for the last 10 years or so, we've dreamed about making a sailing adventure happen.
We've decided to live life NOW as you never know what the future holds! Making the decision was the easy part, now we're in the thick of making it happen which is proving to be more taxing! We'll keep the website updated as best we can, we'll run some social media channels too and we may even share our adventures with you on YouTube.
Turning the dream into a reality has been a journey in itself - casting the lines from a land life is no easy feat! Our Patreon page will give you the opportunity to chat to us about what we've learnt along the way - hopefully our lessons can help you...
Perhaps we can give you some inspiration to do something similar!
What we're up to right now!?
We’re sitting in Port Denerau Fiji waiting for spare parts from NZ ( and a guest too) - both should sorted by the 22nd May !!
Where to?
We have no idea! We have resorted to saying "head north and then turn left!" Whilst we do have a couple of routes in mind, being flexible is half the fun. It's part of the mindset change we need to have after living such structured lives. We'll let the wind take us north and west and keep on going until we are no longer having fun or the money runs out!
Balto & Crew
Our Boat, Balto
Balto is a 2016 Leopard 44 Catamaran. We have lived aboard for the last 18 months at Bayswater Marina, Auckland. She'll be our home, our safety and our passage maker for the next few years!
The Crew - Skip
I'm Brendan and perhaps I could be blamed for this hair-balled idea! I am also the skipper of Balto (not TJ the dog - although he'd love to be).
I have been sailing a while although I started with windsurfers and only got in yachts about 12 years ago. I thought, how different can it be?
I love everything about it and have clocked up about 15,000 nm offshore over the last 5 years and have spent about 2 years living onboard a yacht somewhere in the Pacific.
The Crew - 1st mate
The Crew - wannabe skip
The Crew - wannabe skip
I'm Tracy and I am the heart and soul of the operation. I’m not the worlds’ greatest sailor but I love the lifestyle it offers. I love exploring new places, meeting new people and experiencing different cultures. For me, it's all about the people.
The Crew - wannabe skip
The Crew - wannabe skip
The Crew - wannabe skip
Hey, I'm Liam. I’m the only sensible person aboard. I reckon I’m the best sailor in our crew and definitely the best spear fisherman.
