Welcome to the site of the Australian yacht Maranatha.
Maranatha is planning to leave for the 2017 cruise to the Louisiades in June 2017.
She is a Bruce Roberts design Mauritius 43′ steel cutter rigged sloop, owned by Phil & Pam Bailey working seasonally in the Louisiades Archipelago, south east of PNG. The crew provides ministry support to the National Pastors and churches in the area.
This is our second vessel. The first was the same design but ketch rigged. This original vessel was built by Phil and Pam on the NSW Central Coast. She was lost in the 2013 January floods in Bundaberg, having been swept out to sea from the Burnett River. She was then pounded with surf, lying on her side on the beach at Burnett Heads. Although no welds broke and no water entered the vessel, the insurance company eventually deemed it beyond economical repair and paid it out. Subsequently a replacement vessel of the same design was bought from an Australian and sailed home from Turkey during 2014 and 2015. The original name of the “new” Maranatha was Silver Heals 2. This voyage is recorded on the blog on this site.
Resources for yachties:
We sail regularly in these waters and consequently have extensive local knowledge and valuable information. We can provide waypoints for passages between Townsville Australia and the Louisiades. We list bearings and approaches to many anchorages. We have knowledge of the current situation with clearing customs, piracy, trading, where to get supplies, cultural considerations and much more. If you are in the area please contact us.
Swap n Trade:
The skipper is a licence electrician and can proved services for AC, DC and installation of electronic equipment. Like most yachties we are always interested in swapping skills, services, information, supplies or tall stories.
Where are the Louisiades?
Open Google Earth, search Papua New Guinea. The Lousiades archipelago are the group of islands in a line from SE tip of PNG and the southern end of the Solomon Islands.
Phil Bailey
I’m a retired Australian Customs Narcotics Investigator. I’m a licenced NSW Electrical Contractor.
I spent 16 years building Maranatha in our back yard on our property at Dooralong on the NSW Central Coast about an hour north of Sydney. She was launched in May 1991.
We have been sailing to the Louisiades since 2002. In 2012 we completed our 11th trip. Due to the loss of the vessel, mentioned above and detailed in the blog, we have not had the opportunity to return since 2012. However the new boat is now loaded up and we hope to leave for the Louisiades towards the end of May 2016. It is our vision to continue this for the foreseeable future.
Pam Bailey
One of my boys told me I was “getting set in my ways”. I said: “Come on! I’ve had a major change in my “old age”. From a “normal” life as a Teacher, a Mum and Grandma, I’ve now become “The Admiral”, a full time live aboard yachtie braving ocean crossings to sail with Phil to the Louisiades.
It wasn’t an easy transition. The book “Three Grannies Go to Sea” tells my side of why I didn’t want to go sailing and how I came to grips with it. I wrote it (along with two other ladies) to show women facing the dilemma’s I did, what the cruising life is really like from an ordinary womans viewpoint .. something not often addressed in sailing literature.
Bay Journal review here
Bruce Roberts review here
My heart is in the Louisiades. I love the people. They are so appreciative of all that we do .. whether providing transport, teaching or giving resources. We have formed close friendships over the years and it is always a wrench leaving there.
My heart is also in Australia with my family – our three children and their spouses with 7 grandchildren.
Many thanks to all who pray for us and support our ministry in many ways.
Site administered & regularly updated by http://www.weddingstills.com.au
Bless you I have been searching the web to find upto date information on state of Misima today. What sustainability level is there,whate development of business has happened.
I was with my (adopted family) Liba Ismail, his wife Norah & children, prior mine closure. I now need to know what they & the Island as a whole require, to aid their sustainable future. I think it would be great if I could talk with you people.
Hi Pam and Phil
Yesterday I was in the Tuggerah Post office paying a bill. I was standing next to a lady with a very large box. She mentioned the box was filled with goodies for you as you were going to PNG in your boat. I told her my wife and I had been teaching in PNG for 13 years and four years in the Solomon Islands. I gave her a hand painted magnet I had painted on a piece of wood.
Her name is Maree. I paid my bill and left. last night she rang me and we talked for about 30 minutes. She told me of the work you are doing and I said it was great for you to do this for the people of PNG. They are beautiful people. We throughly enjoyed our time in the islands.
We spent 8 years on the island of Mussau, at Boliu SDA School north west of Kavieng with about 100 miles of ocean to cross. Then we were transfered to Rumba SDA school in Bougainville for three years and later sent to Madana SDA school in Papua for two years. Our four years in Honiara were at Betikama SDA High School.
I was paid to teach but preached, did medical work, after 3 weeks training at Nonga Hospital in Rabaul, Betty had one hour’s training to deliver babies. She delivered many including twins. She never lost a baby but one mother who came into our clinc too late. Also built schools and churches, made copra, was in charge of gardens as the schools were all boarding ones, boys and girls. and taught school and was in charge of 15 village schools as well. It was hard work but the joy of seeing the children learning and eventually training for important jobs both in the church and in the Govt. You have to be a jack of all trades in the Islands.
God bless you as you sail and God will bless and reward you for your efforts.
Milton McFarlane
Hello, People had mentioned you as an excellent source of information about cruising the Louisiades. I read that you planned to depart in May 2016 this year. Did you do so?
Best regards, Barbara Cole
SV Complexity