Blog

We’re currently underway from Saipan, bound for Japan. Our initial plan had been to make landfall in Hiroshima, but as is often the case at sea, the weather had other ideas. After studying the forecasts, we made the decision to alter course for Miyazaki instead. The change carried a twofold benefit: it shortened our passage and spared us from transiting the Inland Sea of Japan during the night, a notoriously tricky area when visibility is...

06 October, 2025 /

Starr’s Equatorial Crossing Point - From our illustrious Crew member Mark Logan - Captain of Puanani (Pretty Flower) - Beneteau Oceanis 393 - Marks personal boat he has owned for 22 years.   [caption id="attachment_4448" align="aligncenter" width="937"]                                                                                ...

05 October, 2025 /

000.29S, 160.55E This was written by our new crewmember Bo, another friend from Hawaii and is on his maiden crossing on MV Starr between Fiji and Japan with a refueling layover planned for Saipan in the Commonwealth of Northern Marianas Islands (CNMI). On 13 Sep fellow Hawaiian and Starr veteran Mark and I hopped a one-hour ferry from Denarau Island marina and joined Starr on 13 Sept at Muscat Cove on Mololo Island.   Our crew compliment of...

26 September, 2025 /

 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 away. [caption id="attachment_4389"...

28 August, 2025 /

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 be...

28 August, 2025 /

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 miles...

25 August, 2025 /

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. [caption id="attachment_4301" align="aligncenter" width="1024"]                ...

26 July, 2025 /

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. [caption id="attachment_4277" align="alignnone" width="759"] Yasawa to Savusavu via Yadua[/caption] Passage to Fulaga Our journey to Fulaga (also known as Fulanga/Vulaga) began with an overnight stop at Yadua...

12 July, 2025 /

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 is, but this brackish pool...

02 June, 2025 /

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 water....

31 May, 2025 /