TSUNAMI ALERT

JUST A QUICK UPDATE, WE HAVE NOT BEEN AFFECTED BY THE EARTHQUAKE SOUTH OF SAMOA, WE WERE AT THE READY TO TAKE ACTION IF NEEDED BUT ALL QUIET HERE THANKFULLY, NOT SO IN SAMOA, IT MUST BE CHAOS.

Happy Anniversary to Us (28/09/09)

On the 27th of September 2008 we pulled out of the dock in Emeryville. The dark morning was windless; we waved back to Stan and Mary on the dock as we pulled in the fenders and lines and headed out towards the shadowy outline of the Golden Gate Bridge.
Now 10574 miles under the keel, and almost across the Pacific.

Some more photos

Our Austrian friends birthday party.

Vuda point marina Fiji.

Little boy beach bonfire wood collectors.

Beach bonfire big boys making fire.

Sugar train, taking cane to factory Lautoka Fiji

Trucks bringing cane from fields.

Bula from Fiji

Bula everyone! That's hello in Fijian, and we must say it a million times a day to the friendly folk here.
Currently we are moored in Vuda POINT marina. We were gling to pull the boat out of the water and paint the bottom, but instead we have decided to sail to 2 more islands (Vanuatu and New Caledonia) and paint the boat in New Zealand.
Whenever we go into a marina, which is rare, we are always mega busy washing, cleaning mending etc. so its all go here. We are finding time to relax in the evenings with all our sailing pals. Last night we were introduced to Aussie Rules Football - the big final was on TV in the bar, and all the Aussies were wild, so now we are hooked on it too.

Lautoka Fiji (22/09/09)

Arrived on West coast a few days ago. Left rainy Suva in a haze of clouds; had light southerly windsand clear skies for overnight trip to the west coast of Viti Levu. This changed very quickly as the sun came up and we approached the entrance to the reef. Huge clouds, squalls and buckets of rain descended. We had to feel our way in relying on instruments, fortunately its a huge deep pass. The rain continued to POUR, it was like a tropical monsoon. We cowered in the pilot house whilst we motored inside the reef and towards Lautoka.
We anchored in the downpour, and as soon as we had the hook down, and "cuppa tea" in hand, roaring winds blew through up to 50 knots. The anchorage became like open ocean, and we rolled around waiting for the anchor to drag, which it didn't, thankfully.
It lashed down all night and we could hear weary voiced people on the radio bashing into 50 knot winds, we were glad to be snuggled up inside.
Next day the sun was out and the place took on a new lease of life. We went into Vuda point marina and took a space. The marina is just a big round basin where you tie up to the side all facing the centre. Its tricky to get in your narrow space, and you throw 2 bowlines to the helpers, then you crank the lines to pull yourself into the centre of your spot.
We went to check in the office and found we were supposed to take ourselves and the boat around the corner to the actual port of Lautoka and re-checkin even though we have a cruising permit for the whole of Fiji, and we were told we would be fined if we didn't. We decided to enjoy the marina for the week-end and in vestigate the boatyard, where we will haul out next week, then go to Lautoka on Monday and SAY we've just arrived from Suva. We came round quite quickly so its plausible timewise.
The Fiji Government are giving out fines all over the place (maybe to make up for lost NZ and Oz aid).
So now we are parked by the Port and are legally checked in with no fines. Its an easy dingy ride to Lautoka, so we are getting jobs done and getting quotes etc. whilst we are here. All is well except Lautoka is the "sugar capital of Fiji" and the sugar plant belches out black smoke all over the boats!

Soggy in Suva

Its hot and humid, and of course we are a bit soggy from all the rain. We have been busy , trying to check in and out of Suva, its all red tape and paperwork, and that is when you can find the officials, anyway we know all the chaps on the gate in the customs dockyard , we've been so many times. Its time consuming but everyone is very friendly. When we have not been filling in boat paperwork, we've been filling in all our New Zealand work permit papers and  taking trips to the New Zealand immigration office , we know a lot of people there too !!

Now we've done all our shopping & form filling etc, and its off to the West coast tomorrow, we will do an overnight trip to Nadi, and hopefully meet up with some pals before we head into the boatyard for a haul and paint job. It supposed to be drier on the West coast, lets hope so. or the painting will be tricky!

photo update Tonga and Fiji

FRUIT & VEG MARKET SUVA FIJI

THIS IS WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU MEET KIWI'S.

TONGAN LADIES IN BEST CLOTHES, THE MATS AROUND THEIR WAISTS MUST BE VERY HOT.

HA'APPI GROUP TONGA.

BEACH BONFIRE TONGA.

TONGAN FEAST, THE PIG WAS FOR THE LOCALS WE GOT CHICKEN!

KAVA DRINKING CEREMONY TONGA.

TONGAN LADY ON WAY TO CHURCH.

Arriving in Suva Fiji (10/09/09)

Had an interesting trip - first no wind, then 20-25 knots for the 2nd day, up to 30+ last day. We went so fast under staysail alone (tiny triangle of sail at the front of boat) we had to heave to (stall boat into a holding pattern) amd wait for daylight before entering the port.
Fiji is under military rule at the moment so tensions are a bit high. They have instigated a new rule that all foreign vessels must fax or email their intention to enter Fijian waters at least 48 hours ahead. We obtained all the forms, and we faxed and emailed; both bounced back as undeliverable so we called on the phone - just a blank answer machine so we left a message. So then we were not sure they knew we were coming and its a big $10,000 fine for non-compliance, so we sent an email to the Yacht Club and Marina in Suva asking for help - could they notify the authorities for us, so we are hoping this has been done! I also got on the ham radio and asked one of the controllers to fax our form again to customs which he did. So we'll see what happens when we get there! Anyway its been good practice ready for heavy weather sailing on route to New Zealand.

Slow Boat to Fiji (08/09/09)

Position 19 degrees 54W, 177 degrees 24W.
Managed to sail about 40 miles yesterday,now wind has died so motor sailing. We expected 20-25 knots from the forecast, but that must be another weather forecasting myth. Luckily we filled up with duty free fuel inTonga, but we were hoping it would last us to New Zealand, but I think we'll have to use it now.
Anyway the calm seas and sun are nice. We've been having nothing but rough passages prior to this so we'll just kick back in the cockpit and read, keeping an eye out for whales, tankers and other yachties.

Med moored in Nuku'alofa

Breezed in to the harbour on Monday and were met by our Kiwi friends on "Gucci" who offered to tie our stern line to the wharf whilst we "Med moored" stern to wharf.

Had a roughish passage from Ha'paii to Nuku'alofa, 25- 30 knots on a close reach, but no worries we practiced our heavy weather techniques, and all was well.

Not so for another boat. When we arrived we heard a Mayday relay from the Tongan authorities, the skipper from a yacht had fallen overboard, and rumour has it his crew were not too familiar with sailing etc, and the Man over board drill wasn't very successful, anyway he eventually set off the EPIRB (emergency beacon) but so far the skipper has not been found!!!

Apart from that sobering news, we are having a lovely time, we cycle down into town , shopping at the market, exploring and meeting the locals, unlike Vava"u this part of Tonga is very" Tongan" and not too touristy which we are loving.

Off to Fiji Monday weather permitting.