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Lesiatheva Point

by steve, on May 29th, 2011 (Fiji, Troutbridge)

We had quite a busy morning collecting tanks, provisioning, refueling the dinghy and sorting out taxis for next Wednesday when we’re expecting friends to visit. By 11am we were done and ready to leave Savusavu. As much fun as it’s been we need a break. Our main goal is to get to Fawn Harbour early next week but that’s too far to reach with good light starting at Savusavu in the middle of the day. So we ambitiously set off for Lesiatheva Point just 4nm away where we knew there would be an anchorage and possibly free internet. We found both.

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We’re actually anchored off the Jean-Michel Cousteau Fiji Islands Resort which looks pretty cool but out of our price bracket. It makes a very nice back drop to our location.

Once we’d settled in we went snorkeling nearby. It was not spectacular but it was great to get wet again. The last time we were in the sea was way back in Kelefesia last October. The water was warm and there was coral and fish to see but it was a little murky. After our swim we took the kayak out together for the first time and paddled around the edge of the resort. The exercise was good and we can see ourselves doing this more often.

After that it was a matter of just relaxing the afternoon and evening away. We had pretty decent weather through the afternoon even though it looked like the heavens were pouring on Savusavu just a short distance away. Helen cooked up a great curry which we were going to eat outside except the rain finally caught us so we sat inside. We also took in a movie.

We’ve decided to hang around here one more day. We do have internet which is good some of the time. Mainly we just want time to really decompress after our passage and the business of Savusavu. Tomorrow morning we’ll leave at dawn for Fawn Harbour aiming to arrive early afternoon when the light is good for our passage through the reef.

Speaking of passages through reefs we heard some terrible new from our friend Peter on Troutbridge. He ran up onto a reef while entering Suva. Best to read his blog for the detail. Boating dreams sometimes come to a rapid and shocking end/hiatus and we feel for Peter. He came up through the same mess of sea and weather as we did. However, Dignity is a solid boat and carries us safely through such extremes even if not comfortably when the going is rough.

Category: Fiji, Troutbridge | Here is my comment

Goodbye, Hello

by steve, on May 9th, 2011 (Blue Penguin, Callisto, Kilkea II, New Zealand, Paleides, Troutbridge)

On Sunday we got to say goodbye to some friends and hello to friends we’ve recently shared last and final farewells.

The goodbyes went to Imagine, Passages and Boree who were among a number of boats who made the decision to head north yesterday.  When I’d looked at my sources of weather information all I saw was two days of motoring followed by winds on the nose.  The problem is there is more than one source for the weather and certainly more than one brain looking and interpreting them.  We all have different needs, boats and preferences and all this adds up to a decision to stay or go.  A bit of the radio chatter as the boats left made it sound like they were riding off into a rough ride.  I hope, for their sake, they’re not.  But sooner or later we all go.

Paul made his planned return to Auckland.  We walked with him to the bus stop and waited with him.  Once he’d left we wandered around the hilltop roads and made our way down to the coast path that connects Pahia to Opua.  We soon ran into David and Marian from Kilkea and stopped to chat with them.  Sooner after that we ran into the Blue Penguins who we’d recently said our final, final last goodbyes to as they were headed to New Caledonia.  They were going our way so we walked with them back to Opua.  Ben, like me, is fascinated with the whole mentality of the departure decision and wants to write something up on it.

In the evening we had David and Katie from Troutbridge, Kay and Fergus from Paleides (another recent last, final, never again farewell) and Mike and Ann from Callisto over for curry and a few drops of wine.  It ended up being a late one for all and, as ever, a good time was had by all.  And guess what the recurring theme was last night.

The weather.

So what’s it looking like for us now.

The Thursday/Friday opportunity still stands and is now favouring a Thursday afternoon departure.  There’s a trough/front coming over and we simply take off right behind it where we can expect northwesterlies or even westerly winds for a few days.  I’ve morbidly played around with a possible departure tomorrow (Tuesday) riding the northeasterlies up to the north of New Zealand and then sail the following northerlies eastward.  We’d then have to take the coming front out at sea.  I would probably lose favours with the Admiral if I chose that path.

Fiji-itus should be a recognized disease.  Sooner or later the prospect of another day in Opua basin crushes the spirit and the pull of the islands overcomes every other need of mind and body.  I suspect we saw an outbreak yesterday.  But I can feel it in my fingers (they’re cold).  I may be going down with it too.

Category: Blue Penguin, Callisto, Kilkea II, New Zealand, Paleides, Troutbridge | Here is my comment
 
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