About our vessel Wildlife

Welcome to the live-aboard sailing catamaran experience in the outback of Tonga.

Wildlife is a high performance blue water sailing catamaran. She is a 16.2m Schionning Waterline built of state-of-the-art materials - which means she is fast, safe, stable and comfortable. This enables us to travel through the very remote parts of Tonga with all the comforts of home and be self-reliant. Purchased by Tris and Dave in 2012 for the specific purpose of live-aboard charters in Tonga. 

Wildlife is powered by brand new 35hp Lombadini Diesel engines in each hull. This pushes her along at a good speed of 7knts, however it is not under motor that Wildlife excels. When the sails go up, she effortlessly sails at 11 to 20knts! Wildlife has recently been upgraded to run on lithium batteries and with her solar panel array increased, she runs completely electric - with no generator making her a very environmentally friendly way to travel. Fresh water is made by a desalinator that runs off one of the main engines. This provides enough drinking and shower water for all onboard and we never need to rely on finding a water source. We do encourage the conservative use of water and power, a normal necessity in our modern world. There is one shared large bathroom and toilet, conveniently located so it can be accessed from the cock pit. This enables access to the toilet when you have been in the water, with no need to change to get down stairs. She is a simple yacht with bright, clean spaces and runs very efficiently. We love living on-board and we love the adventures we have together.

Wildlife on-board accommodation and facilities

There are 3 roomy double cabins, each with its own large opening hatch providing natural light and fresh air. The beds are set up as king double but a divider can be added for single share occupancy. Being on the ocean 24/7 has definite advantages for the water addict, and the best star gazing from your pillow!

The large saloon is the indoor living area. Here you will find a comfortable couch area with 2 small tables . A perfect area to chill out and still see the ocean views. The Galley is also located in this space, it is the heart of live-aboard life. 

The cockpit is where everything happens! This is the outdoor entertaining area where all meals are served and most people love to hang in the fresh ocean air. Watch the crew raise and lower sails and navigate. The cockpit is also the action hub, where we get ready for adventures, leading down to the transom steps and into the water. The transom steps allow for safe and easy access to and from the water. 

The deck area provides a perfect vantage place to watch your friends, check the conditions and assess the options or just lay on the nets and feel the rhythm of the Pacific Ocean. Keep a watch for marine life and gaze seaward as islands slide by. There is plenty of space to relax and enjoy the views. It is a very exclusive way to visit Tonga and  experience a multitude of uncrowded watersport locations.

Wildlife crew and food 

Wildlife crew are very sea savvy, they will help you get on the water safely and ensure that you are fed well. If you need it they will be right there with the rescue craft. Our rescue craft Squid is a 4 meter all-carbon OC tender with a Suzuki 4 stroke 20hp outboard and is always at the ready.

Dave is Australian-born and got his first foamy surfboard at 6, surfing competently by the age of nine. At 19, a great love for wave sailing (windsurfing) developed and he excelled at the sport, going on to join the world pro-tour. Dave claimed 3 Australian National Titles and lived many years in the windsurfing paradise of Maui, Hawaii, where he trained and competed. Nowadays, splitting time between surfing, kitesurfing, windsurfing, sup foiling, standup paddle boarding, free diving and catamaran sailing he is a true ocean-man. He is an amazing skipper with a raw knowledge of the elements, a modern day seafarer with over 250,000 nautical miles at the helm. From skippering and owning a multitude of different vessels he has gained a broad knowledge of boat performance and navigation, not to mention how to problem solve and fix things in the remote wilds under all circumstances. If it’s watersport adventures you desire, you are in good hands!

Aboard Wildlife, we take our food seriously! We strive to provide fresh, home-made meals using locally sourced ingredients to maintain a minimal global foot print. We can accommodate all dietary requirements and enjoy serving healthy balanced meals. We provide a set menu, with a variety of tasty dishes carefully planned for your enjoyment and sustenance and we catch all our own fish by sustainable means.