Exodus
Departed Nanumea yesterday afternoon, and so far we sailed really fast in the wrong direction and then motorsailed slowly in the right direction. Currently motorsailing and hoping for a little more wind today.
Arrived at Nanumea yesterday morning, but stood off the pass until later in the afternoon waiting more favorable tidal conditions. There was a decent sized long period swell from the south making the pass entrance a bit challenging. The lagoon is quite small and the locals have been up all night playing music. Can't wait to go ashore this morning and find out what it's all about.
Hi friends,
Avg: 3.8knts
24hr: 92nm
We sailed most of the day yesterday, not always in the right direction, but at least we were sailing. We are motoring again now, and expect to arrive at Nanumea mid morning.
Avg: 4.6knts
24hr: 111.3nm
Still motoring, but now it's into a headwind. When it was calm yesterday we stopped to clean the hull and props to improve our MPG. The boys caught 2 yellowfin tuna so we are enjoying sashimi and tuna steaks.
On passage from Funafuti to Nanumea in Tuvalu. Motoring in calm conditions.
Avg: 3.4knts
24hr: 82.1nm
Arrived in Funafuti, Tuvalu yesterday afternoon. Had to motor the last 8 hours to get here as the wind shifted NE and then died.
Avg: 6knts
24hr: 143.2nm
On passage from Rotuma to Tuvalu. Sailing upwind is never fun, but it could be a lot worse!
Just departed Rotuma, bound for Funafuti, Tuvalu
Avg: 3.9knts
24hr: 93.2nm
Arrived at Rotuma just at sunset yesterday, and we all enjoyed a full night's sleep at anchor. There is a huge ground swell coming into the anchorage here, so it's not ideal, but still much better than spending the night hove to.
Avg: 7.3knts
24hr: 174nm
Rabi
On passage from Rabi Island in Fiji to Rotuma. Departed yesterday afternoon and had a pleasant night of downwind sailing.
We have enjoyed our time here at Albert Cove, but we are preparing to depart for Rotuma this afternoon.
Anchored at Albert Cove on the northwest side of Rabi Island. Beautiful.
Anchored off the village of Somosomo on Taveuni in order to reprovision our fresh fruit/veg supply. We ended up having a fast sail up from Koro yesterday with 20 kts of wind from ESE-SE. Intending to head up to Rabi later today.
Just left Koro Island, headed for Taveuni.
There's a small sandspit here at Koro Island that dries at low tide, and yesterday we played bocce ball there. Good times.
Sailed from Savusavu to Koro Island yesterday. Currently on a mooring in Dere Bay. Had a nice walk to the village yesterday afternoon for sevusevu and hope to do some spear fishing and snorkeling today. Tim dove for lobsters last night, but saw only very small ones.
Arrived in Savusavu yesterday with very poor visibility, but we are happy to be here. After 6 weeks since our last provision, the fresh market never looked sweeter.
Motored in very light winds yesterday down to Namena island yesterday afternoon. It's a marine reserve so we'll enjoy some snorkeling and diving today in these light wind conditions. Of course, Tim is disappointed that there's no spearfishing.
Moved down to coconut point yesterday. Making our way around to Savusavu.
We left Yadua yesterday and crossed over to the west side of Vanua Levu at Bua Bay. As far as we can tell there's nothing really to see or do here, but it's a nice big, protected, flat calm anchorage, which is a welcome change.
Yesterday was father's day in Fiji, and we enjoyed church service in the village and then a large lunch with the chief's clan.
We moved around to the eastern side of Yadua and are now anchored off of the tiny islet of Motuba. This anchorage is far less protected, but it's closer to the village.
Still anchored at Cucuvou Harbor at Yadua (Fiji). We moved across to the south side of the bay yesterday for better shelter from the SE winds that have filled in. Had a very nice but long hike in the drizzly rain to the village to do sevusvu yesterday.
We took advantage of light winds yesterday to motor east from Blue Lagoon (Yasawas) to Yadua. The boys had a great day fishing on the way
We are anchored in Musket Cove, and wow, it's like we are on a different planet. Our friends will take the ferry over to the mainland today in order to catch their flight home, so it was interesting to show them the resort side of Fiji after being in Gau and Yanuca.
Avg: 5.5knts
24hr: 133.1nm
En route from Yanuca to Musket Cove area. Under sail with just a very heavily reefed genoa waiting for daylight.
Anchored at Yanuca (small island inside the reef at Beqa). Nice snorkeling here in the anchorage.
En route from Gau to Beqa. It's been a nice, quiet, slow, downwind sail.
Arrived in Gau yesterday morning and currently anchored in Herald Bay. Our friends are visiting from the US so they experienced their first sevusevu and grog drinking yesterday.
Arrived in Suva yesterday afternoon. It's a bit of a shock to be back in a city but we are happy to be here.
Day before yesterday we moved to Namara Island (north of Kadavu) and it's a great spot with a beach for the kids to play on. Yesterday the guys hit the spearfishing jackpot and came back with 7 fish, 4 of which they gave to the village at Dravuni, so they made some friends.
Yesterday, the guys were not impressed with the snorkeling in Naigoro pass, especially when compared to Fulaga, but the walk over the hill to the village to the north was a delightful walk. At times, with the cool temperatures and the pine trees it felt like we were in New Zealand! We will likely move anchorages this morning if the visibility is good enough to move around.
Anchored off the village near the Naigoro pass at Kadavu. We entered the pass yesterday morning just a little after low slack water and the pass was flat calm, even with the 20 kt SE winds that were blowing, and we had about 1 kt of current flowing in. Our anchor location is totally unprotected from wind, but there isn't much fetch, so it is still comfortable. Our sevusevu at the village yesterday was pleasant and we were able to buy some taro leaves and bananas.
En route from Matuku to Kadavu with just 12 miles to go.
Still at Matuku, and we enjoyed a wonderful afternoon in the village yesterday for our sevusevu and then a kava party. The anchorage here is not very big, and we now have 5 boats here. Late yesterday the wind picked up to 20+kts from the S and one boat dragged and all 5 boats reanchored to find more space between our sterns and the coral.
Arrived at Matuku yesterday morning. It's a spectacular anchorage, reminiscent of The Marquesas. We caught 2 skipjack tuna en route and had a big sushi feast with our friends last night.
Avg: 4.7knts
24hr: 111.7nm
Departed Fulaga yesterday morning, and currently we are approaching Matuku. Just waiting for the sun to come up. It was a wonderful downwind passage, if only they could all be like this.
Getting ready to leave for Matuku this morning. Yesterday we went for a hike around the island, and forged our own trail, but them some locals showed us the trail up to a beautiful lookout point. Supposedly, you can get cell phone reception up there, but none of us had our phones with us to try.
Still anchored near the village in Fulaga, but planning to leave for Matuku tomorrow. Had a nice farewell kava party with our host family yesterday.
Still anchored near the village in Fulaga. Enjoyed a nice day in the village yesterday with a huge feast, a volleyball tournament, and a lovely church service. This was all in honor of an MYF (Methodist Youth of Fiji) Youth Rally with participation from all 3 villages here in Fulaga.
Still in Fulaga, but reanchored near the village again for better protection from wind and fetch AND to attend the youth rally at the village today, which is supposed to include a volleyball tournament.
Still in Fulaga, but reanchored near the pass again for easier access to spearfishing and snorkeling. The boys are worn out from so much beach play and sleepovers.
Thank you for the updated
Still in Fulaga at the sandspit. Went for an amazing pass snorkle yesterday on a rising tide.
Still in Fulaga.
Still in Fulaga. Yesterday, we moved to anchor west of the pass, but this spot is less protected and a bit rolly at hight tide.
Still in Fulaga, but we moved near the village yesterday for Friday night Kava night.
Still in Fulaga enjoying the beautiful sand spit beach, even with the gray and windy weather.
Still at kid boat corner in Fulaga. Had a wonderful bonfire and beach potluck last night.
Still at kid boat corner in Fulaga. Last night the kids from all 5 boats had a camp-out on the beach and had a great time.
We had a beautiful day in the village yesterday and then the kids spent the rest of the day at the beach.
Anchored at the east end of the lagoon at Fulaga near a beautiful white sand beach and a sand spit that emerges as the tide drops.
Anchored near the pass at Fulaga in Southern Lau in Fiji. Beautiful day of snorkeling yesterday. Loving this place. 7 other boats anchored near by, and at least 1 more near the village.
Approaching Fulaga in Southern Lau Group in Fiji. It was an upwind battle to get here, but we think it will be well worth it. Currently motoring.
Arrived in Savusavu yesterday morning.
Avg: 5.2knts
24hr: 125nm
It really is East this time. Motored all night on a sea of glass. Should arrive in Savusavu about 8am.
Avg: 6.8knts
24hr: 162.2nm
Beautiful night sailing in calm conditions.
In yesterday's report I mistakenly wrote our longitude as east. We are certainly west. Had a great spinnaker run yesterday but with east wind shift and stronger winds we've had a bumpy bouncy night.
Avg: 6.4knts
24hr: 153.1nm
In yesterday's report I mistakenly wrote our longitude as east. We are certainly west. Had a great spinnaker run yesterday but with east wind shift and stronger winds we've had a bumpy bouncy night.
Outbound North Minerva. Inbound Savusavu. Departed yesterday around 2pm and had a pleasant, if slow, sail last night.
reporting for the group at N Minerva
Moved from South to North Minerva yesterday afternoon. It was quite a bouncy night at anchor last night.
Arrived at South Minerva yesterday afternoon. Very rolly at high tide, but nice and flat at low tide. No spearfishing success yesterday. Brenden shot a trevally, but in his own words "it wasn't a great shot" and it got off the spear. Maybe better luck today.
Avg: 6.7knts
24hr: 159.9nm
Motorsailing all night on flat seas. 50 miles to go to south minerva, should arrive this afternoon.
Avg: 6.7knts
24hr: 160.5nm
Sailed most of the day yesterday and all night on a beautiful beam reach.
Avg: 6.2knts
24hr: 149.7nm
Avg: 5.4knts
24hr: 129.8nm
Motored all night with very light wind.
Avg: 6.6knts
24hr: 158.2nm
Outbound Opua, inbound Minerva. Motorsailing again after two pleasant days of sailing.
Avg: 5.6knts
24hr: 134.9nm
Outbound Opua, NZ. Inbound Minerva Reef. Had a pleasant night of sailing last night.
Had a squally, variable night, and now moving slowly along. All is well on board.
Bumpy, fast night. Genoa sheet traveller keeps slipping, so we are having trouble pointing high enough to stay on rhumb line. Crossed 180 deg longitude.
Planning to leave North Minerva for Opua later today.
Arrived at N. Minerva Monday afternoon. Possible Thursday departure for Opua.
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