# 30c ETA Bundaberg!

We will depart Port Vila tomorrow (Sunday 24th Oct) for Port Bundaberg Marina, Bundaberg. ETA 1st or 2nd November!

# 30b Leaving Port Vila fo HOME!

We have cleared out ready for our 8-9 day passage to Bundaberg. We hope to leave on Sunday. ETA Bundaberg 2nd/3rd November.

# 30a Arrive Port Vila, Vanuatu

We cleared out with customs in Lautoka in pouring rain late Wednesday afternoon (13th Oct). The following morning the decks were covered in ash from the sugar refinery. At 0830 we set off for the 535nm passage to Port Vila still in pouring rain and with light wind. We cleared the Molo Passage into open water about 1300hrs and then the wind picked up to 15-20kn form the SE. We enjoyed some good fast sailing and made 142nm in the next 24hrs.

The skies gradually cleared and the rain storms became less frequent. By the end of the following day (Sat) the winds were dying and moving more to the east (from dead astern). We rolled along and eventually had to put on the iron topsail (engine). The winds dropped to about 5kn and we motored the last two days in calm seas to Port Vila arriving Monday 0945hrs. We cleared in.

We are very impressed by Port Vila. It is very pretty and the locals are very friendly. It does remind us how close we are to Oz with many Aussie tourist in the city. The supermarkets carry a much bigger range of products than Fiji and even VB (Victoria Bitter) is on sale.

We hope to continue home to Oz on Sunday or Monday after some bad weather clears through. It has been flat calm since we arrived.

# 29i Departing Fiji (2)

The weather is looking better so we'll check out of Fiji today (Wednesday local time) and set off for Port Vila, Vanuatu, tomorrow morning. ETA Monday 18th October.

# 29h Departing Fiji

The weather looks like it "may" be OK to depart Fiji on Thursday. We will sail to Port Vila, Vanuatu, and then to Bundaberg, Oz. The passage to Port Vila is about 535nm (4.5 days). The passage from Port Vila to Bundaberg is 1025nm (8 - 9 days).

# 29g Happy Birthday

Happy Bithday Nani! xxxx

# 29f Vuda Point Marina, Fiji

It is Friday 8th October, 2010. We are now berthed in the marina at Vuda Point. The weather is looking dubious to say the least. We were to leave for Port Vila or Tanna,Vanuatu today but a weather trough is hanging overhead. This is bringing no wind and the odd heavy thunderstorm. In the next 3 -4 days we are expecting 25 - 35 kn winds and big seas. We are not moving!

# 29e Lautoka, Fiji

Early Tuesday 5th October we weighed anchor and set sail for Momi Bay about 55nm to the west. There was almost no wind until 1030. The wind steadily increased to 20 - 25 kn occasionally touching 30 kn from the SE. This was a fast sail and we sailed through the Navula Pass at over 7 knots with winds of just under 30 knots. We had three strikes on our lure but no fish landed. Narid caught nice mahi mahi.

As we approached Momi Bay we dropped the mainsail and as we went to drop anchor. A local man sped up to us in his boat. He wanted Karva for us to anchor there and was none too friendly. We (and Narid) decided we would rather anchor anywhere else so we sailed out of the bay. The problem was we were loosing daylight and there are lots of reefs that you need to see. We decided to head for Yakuilau (Nadi Bay). We dropped anchor there just after dark. Had a nice large run & Coke and then a good sleep.

The following morning (6th) we sailed the short distance to the port of Lautoka to clear in. We then went ashore to the town and the market. Over night so much ash from the sugar cane refinery fell on the boat that we decided to head for the marina at Vadu Point.

# 29d Vananui, Fiji

At 1300 Monday, 4th October, we set sail for the small bay in between the reefs at Vananui. There was very little wind so we motor sailed to the anchorage arriving at 1630. Narid (BEL) was with us and two other boats were already at anchor in the bay.

# 29c Mbennga, Fiji

We weighed anchor at Suva on Sunday morning 3rd October. We set off for the 25nm trip to Vaga Bay, Mbennga (Beqa) Island. This was nice easy sail to and though the surrounding lagoon. We anchored near the village of Naiseueeu.

On Monday morning we went ashore and visited the chief. We gave him some Karva as is the traditional way. Two of the villagers took us for hike along a track so that we could see the views. They then climbed a coconut tree to get us coconuts to dink and eat.

# 29b Suva - Picton Castle

Late Thursday we bumped into an unexpected acquaintance - Taia from Palmerston Island! Taia's father was our host when we visited Palmerston at the end of August. I had asked Taia if she would like to leave the island and she firmly said no, so we were surprised to bump into her in Suva. A square rig sailing ship called the Picton Castle has visited the island the day after we left. Taia was offered a position on the boat as crew and accepted!

We were invited on board the Picton Castle on Friday 1st October and given a tour of the vessel. It was good to meet Taia again.

# 29a Suva, Fiji

We arrived at Suva, Fiji on Thursday, 30th September, after a good 4 day passage from Tonga. The first night was very rough with confused seas and then it steadily improved. We sailed through the Oneata Passage (Lau Group) in light winds early Wednesday morning and we crossed the International Dateline at 2125 that evening. We are now on the eastern side of the world.


We dropped anchor in Suva harbour at 1500 Thursday and cleared in (we thought). Next day we had to visit customs to complete a form, then we had to get a cruising permit, then pay for the health check on the boat. This pretty well took up the whole day!



The local market was amazing and the biggest we'd seen. Nani bought 7 mud crabs for A$25! Suva is a very busy city and all local produce and eating out is fairly non expensive.