Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do.  So throw off the bowlines.  Sail away from the safe harbor.  Catch the trade winds in your sails.  Explore.  Dream.  Discover.   -- Mark Twain

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Manu Kai Ocean Adventures' 2012/2013 series of passages through the South Pacific and back will provide participants with plenty of great sailing, lots of learning opportunities and the unique experience of arriving by sail in some very exotic locales.  All of these destinations were chosen based on Harley and Jennifer's experience - they represent gems of the South Pacific, unique destinations that are rewarding in terms of both the journey to get there and the culture and beauty that await. For those looking to go beyond the adventure of it all and build on their sailing skills and knowledge, there will be the special challenges of weather, navigation and pilotage among the islands, reefs and lagoons of the South Pacific.  

Departure dates are for the most part fixed, although departures on those passages to and from New Zealand are more likely to have weather delays. There is also a possibility of mechanical delay, but this is rare and Kailani's schedule is set to allow time between legs for maintenance and repairs.   Arrival dates are estimated and chosen to provide sufficient time for passage in all but the most rare of weather. The captain reserves the right to change the route, destination or landfall as deemed necessary to insure the safety of the crew and boat.  Please plan to arrive in the departure port at least 24 hours prior to noon on the scheduled departure date to allow for acclimation and for your checked baggage to catch up.

There are several niceties of South Pacific travel ranging from French Polynesian visa requirements to finding a flight out of Neiafu. Contact us if you need more information on any aspect of getting to or from any of Kailani's ports of call.

To sign up for our 2012/2013 passages, please submit an application, and we will be in touch shortly thereafter.

Distance:    3,400 nm, 22 days 

Dates:    May 15, 2012 to June 5, 2012

Cost:    $5,590

Berths:    4   Remaining Available:  3

This passage takes place just before the advent of hurricane season in the Eastern Pacific and after the conclusion of the cyclone season in the South Pacific.  The variables and the ITCZ lie between our port of departure and the south east trade winds with the north east trades often putting in only a fleeting appearance at this time of year. Rangiroa is the second largest coral atoll in the world and is home to one of the most outstanding pass dives in all of the South Pacific. Rangiroa has air connections with Papeete's international airport.

Distance:    1,300 nm, 10 days 

Dates:    August 6, 2012 to August 16, 2012

Cost:   $4,360

Berths:    4

Raiatea is one of the Society Islands and is served by both air and ferry from Papeete.  With numerous anchorages and good access to provisions, Raiatea is an excellent starting point for this leg. We expect primarily classic trade wind sailing, although there can be areas of winter thunderstorms with embedded squalls.  Our ultimate destination is Neiafu in the Vava’u group of islands in the Kingdom of Tonga.  Depending on our progress we may call at Palmerston Island, the southermost of the Cook Islands, en route. Neiafu is connected to Nuku’alofa, the capital of Tonga, by Chathams Pacific Airlines or by inter island ferry.

Distance:   1,050 nm, 10 days with stopover at S. Minerva

Dates:   November 5, 2012 to November 14, 2012

Cost:   $4,360

Berths:    4   Remaining Available:  3

This route from Tonga to New Zealand is sailed by dozens of boats each year as they seek to avoid the southern hemisphere cyclone season.  The leg is short, barely a thousand miles on the rhumb line, but weather windows can come and go this time of year, and picking your departure date ahead of time is not always possible.  For this reason we have allowed ten days for the passage. Time permitting we plan to stop over at either North or South Minerva Reef.  These are magical mid ocean atolls where there is no land and barely any exposed coral at high tide, and cruising sailboats often wait out weather in their protected lagoons on their way to or from New Zealand.

Distance:   2,100 nm, 14 days 

Dates:   May 4, 2013 to May 18, 2013

Cost:   $5,075

Berths:    4   Remaining Available:  3

Late fall in the antipodes has all the cruising sailors discussing the weather with the idea of picking a weather window for the trip back north to the tropics.  Everyone is ready to leave Opua at the first sign that they can escape the grasp of the variables and their late season storms. It is not uncommon to see a dozen or more boats all leaving together on short notice.  Once back in the trades we can expect a fast ride for the last 1,500 nm to Tahiti. Mooring stern to on the busy embarcadero of Papeete among cruising boats from all over the world should provide an interesting counterpoint to the previous days at sea on the largely empty ocean. 

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Distance:   4,200 nm, 23 days 

Dates:   May 25, 2013 to June 17, 2013

Cost:   $5,075

Berths:    4   Remaining Available:  2

This passage to Kailani’s home port is a leg where we can expect strong trades on both sides of the ITCZ followed by the variables and then the cold westerlies above latitude 40 as we reach off toward the Golden Gate and San Francisco Bay.  At between 4,200 and 4,600 nm, depending on the position of the North Pacific high, this is the longest of our 2012-2013 passages and we expect to be underway for at least three weeks.  We should experience all points of sail during the passage and would expect to encounter at least one gale in the high latitudes. We plan to arrive under the Golden Gate Bridge in plenty of time to enjoy a summer of America’s Cup racing events.