Cruising Fiji

So we are now expert at reading the reefs and navigating around these islands thanks to a local called Curley who gave us a very informative briefing last week in Savusavu. Several crews went along to Curley's houseboat anchored further down the river from the Copra Shed Marina where we were moored and we received good information about where to go and where to avoid along with some useful charlets and waypoints. We left Savusavu on Monday 25 June and anchored near the Cousteau resort that evening just inside Savusavu Bay ready for an early start on Tuesday. Tuesday we upped anchor at daybreak around 6.30am and along with Piligrim headed off to Viti Levu island following the waypoints given to us by Curley. Two other boats Sophie and Peatsmoke left Savusavu Tuesday morning and were a couple of hours behind us. We reached the first anchorage off Makogai Island around 2pm and dropped anchor with Piligrim. Makogai is an old leper colony and they have giant clams and turtles there. Peat Smoke came into the anchorage around 4pm and dropped their hook alongside.Dmitry on Piligrim had caught two Mahi Mahi fish along the way so we all ate fish cooked on our BBQ by Peter with salads and sides provided by Natalia (Piligrim) and Caroline(Peat Smoke). A very enjoyable night was had by all and we were still in bed by 8pm!! The other boat that left Savusavu with us was Sophie and Harold had decided to go a different route. Harold is German and very independent he did not go to Curley's seminar so David (Peat Smoke) advised him about the waypoints and wished him luck. Harold and Kristel(Sophie) are the oldest rally participants in their mid sixties. The following day Peat Smoke left very early before 7am as they wanted to get to the Marina early as they had a night in a hotel to look forward to so chose to skip a stop and go further in one day. Trompeta and Piligrim left around 10am and headed off motor sailing to the next anchorage off Naigani Island. Again we arrived about 2pm and both boats dropped anchor in the bay. Peter was not feeling too good so we had a light dinner and an early night. The following day we were weaving our way around the reefs on the North East coast of Viti Levu and arrived at our destination a little bay called Nananu-i-cake again about 2pm and dropped anchor alongside Piligrim. Dmitry had caught a Tuna fish this time and invited us aboard Piligrim to share his Tuna on the BBQ. There was one other boat in the anchorage with a single handed New Zealander called Shane onboard and he was also invited to dinner. Another very enjoyable night and Dmitry ferried us to and fro in his dinghy which meant Peter and I did not even have to inflate our dinghy which is all stowed on board now. Friday we upped anchor at 8.30am and motor sailed through the reefs on the North Coats of Viti Levu to Vatia Wharf to a little anchorage just past the wharf. Unfortunately another boat arrived just before sunset and decided to drop their hook so close to us we had to share our space! Anyway we turned the generator on and played loud classical music so I am sure they got the message!! They left at sunrise this morning. Today we have arrived in Saweni Bay just outside Lautoka a town where they still have an active Sugar Cane factory which is puffing a plume of smoke out but luckily the wind is blowing it away from our anchorage. Dmitry and Natalia are having dinner with us on Trompeta and Peter has set the BBQ up to cook some steak for a change from fish!! Tomorrow we are booked into Denarau Marina for two nights so we can wash the boat off and get fuel and provisions before moving along to Musket Cove on 3 July ready for the rally rendezvous.