1993

On the 20th of june 1993 the MONSOON got a new owner / captain Jan Cornelis van Roekel
from Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
Monsoon had at that moment 15 years of age but was hardly used since her construction
and launching in New Zealand in 1978.
We show you some pictures of MONSOON under new construction, click here!
Monsoon begun a new life under the regime of her new captain.
She got outfitted in Newport Beach California USA during the 2nd half of 1993.
She needed a lot of new systems and equipment, sailing hardware, paint and engine overhaul
(more info on the work done in USA)
We decided to do a Pacific crossing to finish the job in New Zealand. And so we did.See work done in NZ. sailing yacht Monsoon sailing pacific ocean sailing yacht Monsoon sailing pacific ocean sailing yacht Monsoon sailing pacific ocean sailing yacht Monsoon sailing pacific ocean sailing yacht Monsoon sailing pacific ocean sailing yacht Monsoon sailing pacific ocean sailing yacht Monsoon sailing pacific ocean sailing yacht Monsoon sailing pacific ocean sailing yacht Monsoon sailing pacific ocean sailing yacht Monsoon sailing pacific ocean sailing yacht Monsoon sailing pacific ocean sailing yacht Monsoon sailing pacific ocean sailing yacht Monsoon sailing pacific ocean sailing yacht Monsoon sailing pacific ocean sailing yacht Monsoon sailing pacific ocean sailing yacht Monsoon sailing pacific ocean sailing yacht Monsoon sailing pacific ocean

Photo above in Newport Beach-Cal-USA,
and right we overhaul our main engine Detroit 6-71
July 1993

1994


Skipper had his maiden voyage sailing to New Zealand. Monsoon sailed via the following major ports from Newport beach CAL to Auckland NZ:

San Diego, USA
Acapulco, Mexico
Puerto Ayora, Galapagos Islands, Equador
Easter Island, Chile
Pitcairn Island (Bounty Mutineers still live here)
Tubuai in French Polynesia
Rarotonga
Tonga
Auckland, New Zealand

The stone statues on Rapa Nui are called Moais.

Cruising around Isla Pascua
more Rapa Nui memories
Approaching Pitcairn Island, spring 1994

A significant proof of the offshore abilities of Monsoon was made during the Pacific Fastnet storm, coming from Tonga, about 500 nm north-east of Auckland New Zealand in early June 1994. Monsoon was there with the others, 3 of them that did not survive the storm. We have been very confident and comfortable during the days that we encountered this meteorological bomb. We motor sailed 60 degrees upwind with only staysail and reefed mainsail.
Got on the Kiwi six o'clock TV News after arriving in New Zealand.

1995

In this year we learned a lot about boat building. Check as well the pages with the haul out and maintenance info. When ready with the work, we sailed around in Hauraki golf, to the Barrier Islands and to Bay of Islands and in December 1995 we left NZ with our new boat (right) and all her new equipment to sail back to Aruba via the Southern Pacific, Easter Island, Cocos and Panama.(photo here below).

Pacific sunset