Tag: sailing

  • Heading North

    It was time to head back toward Savusavu, where we would be catching our flight for a visit home to Petersburg, Alaska. Calder and I had gone forward to change from our Code Zero to our asymmetrical spinnaker when he saw a screw rolling around in the middle of our bowsprit. He reached forward to…

  • Vanua Balavu: Susui, Little Harbour, & Mbavatu Harbour

    Off to the island of Venua Balavu! The winds weren’t consistent and we made many sail changes between our asymmetrical spinnaker, Code Zero, and main sail with a touch of motoring until we entered the southern pass of Venua Balavu. We arrived to Susui village just after sunset, so glad for satellite imagery showing the…

  • Yagasa & Namuka-i-Lau

    Yagasa is a small group of four uninhabited islets in Fiji’s remote Lau Group that share a common lagoon. The main islet, Yangasa Levu, rises to about 86 meters and houses a colony of various sea birds, namely boobies. Though there are no permanent settlements, the islands are occasionally visited by local fishermen. We wanted…

  • Ogea: Snorkeling Delights, a Village on the Edge, and a Gift from the Sea

    Up earlier this morning to catch the high slack tide leaving the lagoon of Fulaga to head to the next island of Ogea, only a 10-mile trip today, motoring on mellow seas with little wind. The pass into Ogea is wide and straight forward and we meandered to an anchorage off the uninhabited Ogea Driki.…

  • Fulaga, Lau Group: Part 2

    We continue to find our time in remote Fulaga (in Fiji’s Lau Group) immensely enjoyable. The village organized a feast for the cruisers for a donation of $50 FJD per person (about $23 USD), including a kava ceremony, a pig, and numerous local foods from mud crabs to octopus. Our host family’s Lani made us…

  • Fulaga, Lau Group: Part 1

    Fiji is spread out over quite a large area of ocean and, with limited time to spend here, we are trying to cover the highlights. We decided to head to the most remote location first, as we enjoy the mix of quiet peaceful nature along with cultural experiences, and the Lau Group of islands fits…

  • BULA! (Our first week in Fiji)

    Our first impressions of Fiji – welcoming friendly people in a lush, beautiful landscape! Tied up to the Customs Dock, we were visited first by the woman from the Ministry of Health, where she ensured we were not bringing in any “quarantainable disease,” presented us with our “Certificate of Pratique,” and advised us to lower…

  • Day 8: Passage & Arrival to Fiji

    The consistency of winds on this passage has been remarkable; steady 20-27 knots, have not changed out our sails at all, just changing the amount of reefing. The passage itself is a notorious one due to various high and low pressure systems, as well as where those systems interact with these trade winds. The goal…

  • Day 7: Passage from NZ to Fiji

    Conditions remain the same, slightly forward of the beam seas and winds, making for a chunky passage. We average 155-175 nm days. Our average speed is about 7 knots. We tend to slow the boat down at night for comfort against these waves (holding her back by reefing both the main and genoa), then let…

  • Day 6: Passage from NZ to Fiji

    It’s challenging to write this morning, as we buck up and down, side to side. Most passages we are able to go forward and check on the boat, perhaps sit on the side and enjoy a sunset. We have not been able to leave the cockpit for this entire passage due to the sea conditions.…