Anchored in Savusavu, Fiji

Coordinates: 16 46.65 S 179 19.731 E
Bearing: Anchored
Boat Speed: Anchored
Wind Direction: South East
Wind Strength: 20-33 knots
Sea state: Quite rough

Crew health: Excellent

Fish caught: Sea too rough to fish!

Other points of interest:

We had a great sail through the Lau group last evening into the Koro Sea, the latter part in darkness, with a following, brisk 25 knot wind but flattish seas. It was an exceptional night, clear and starry. The wind was unusually consistent, 20 - 25 knots from the south east, we did not even need to adjust the self steering once. The poled out staysail alone was enough for us to maintain a speed over 6 knots for hour after hour.

This morning the wind increased and was often over 30 knots, there were steep breaking seas bearing us towards a lee shore, the problem being we had only one chance to find the pass into Savusavu Bay, otherwise we would have been scuppered. I pad to the rescue, we swooped through the pass directly on target under only a triple reefed mainsail. We are now comfortably anchored in the delightful harbour of Savusavu where we were immediately assisted to our mooring by the same Fijian guy who had befriended us 3 years ago. He even remembered which mooring we had been on last visit and re allocated us to the same one and then organised all the customs, immigration formalities for us! we have hosted officials from health, biosecurity, customs and immigration and they have all been amazingly jolly and welcoming.

We are now relaxing, feasting on a bowl of taro chips purchased in Tonga and a well earned beer! We look forward to a good nights sleep after a challenging and boisterous 78 hour passage! We will update further news just before we leave Savusavu in about 5 or 6 days.

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