| 26/06/2013 - 12/07/2013 »» page 3/3 «« | ...continued from the previous page | 18. day - 13/07/2013 - , SavusavuOur logbook shows that it took 13 days from NZ to Fiji and we arrived on the 13 July. Sailors are generally superstitious as an example they do not like to set sails on a Friday (we set sails on Friday to Minerva). However, this time we recorded 12+1 days in our paper logbook. Our online blog is prepared from the paper one, where we log our position almost hourly on a long journey. We do not like to rely on the electronics (the GPS system could go any time).
At sunrise the south, south-easterly wind arived so we raised the sails. There was a bit of trafic among the islands and we could hear the small talks from the local boats. It was on channel 16. In the morning we found our first flying fish on our deck. At 6 am we turned towards the entrance of Savusavu. We saw vast of clouds hanging front of us. Based on the weather forecast the South Pacific Convergence Zone will arrive at Fiji during the weekend. Either it is following us or we brought it from Minerva. Nevertheless the superstition may work (setting sails on Friday or arriving on the 13 th). At 8 am someone was shouting in the VHF: Good Morning Savusavu! The boats left the channel were headed to the east using the southerly wind. We entered the Savusavu channel and saw a huge sword fish chasing its prey. After 13 days sailing we arrived at a different world with bushes and palm trees. We called the Copra Shed marina and they immediately organized our bouy and entry to the country. We arrived out of the working hours (on Saturday), but for an extra fee we could still check in.
We watched Savusavu from the boat during clearance. We saw a picturesque little town surrounded by tall hills. There are coloured houses among the green palm trees. The birds were particularly loud. But Saturday is the day for the weekly market and there were many a number of people on the streets.
The Marina organised our clearance. It was very impressive. They have sent out a motor boat to navigate and tie us to a bouy. The same boat brought the health officer and customs officer. Everything was so easy and the officials were amazingly friendly. We could now approach the land and replace the yellow flag to the Fijian flag. We met the biosecurity on shore to organize the papers and that was all. We can stay for 4 months in Fiji (this can be extended).
We close this part of the blog with our arrival. We will soon continue our blog with Fiji.
One last note. We shared our huge tuna with other sailors, as we could not eat so much.
| | | Clouds all around | Fiji with clouds | Ship from the channel | | | | Ship from the channel | Cabin is ready | Oh no! | | | | Grey clouds again | Fiji island with bushes | From Rotor | | | | Towards the marina | Grey clouds | Arrival | | | | Sent from the marina | Savusavu | Savusavu | | | | Savusavu | Savusavu | Savusavu | | | | Savusavu | Savusavu | Health officer | | | | Customs officer | Hill | Capsised boat | | | | Back on the water | Savusavu | Boats | | | | The yellow flag can go | Raising the Fijian flag | Papaya | | | | This does not look as good as a papaya | How to eat this? | Rotor, Savusavu | | | | | | |
| | | |
|