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!
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