Oct 12, 2015

Oct 12, 2015  Across the top of Viti Levu

Up and going after a good night’s sleep.  This time we are prepared for the wind when we turn the corner.  There is a really big wind predicted for the rest of the week so the plan is to get across the top of this island and anchor at the other side to wait out the blow. 

As expected, the wind was blowing 25 knots right on the nose.  Because we were going through very narrow passes among the reef we could not tack enough to make any difference   The short chop and strong swells meant that we were often only moving at 1.5-2 knots, even with the engine cranked up.  Luckily the engine worked perfectly, quite a workout for it’s first trip.  The sun was out most of the time and it was actually a nice day, the kind Alan loves.   I mostly hung out in the cabin to keep warm and out of the wind.  About midday we were overtaken by a much larger sailboat, Rewa, that we knew from Vuda  They had sails up and raced right by us. 50,000 pounds makes a difference. We weigh just half that. 

The last 2 miles were the worst.   The wind was getting stronger and stronger and the anchorage was starting to look like it was not going to be much protection from all this wind, let alone what is predicted for the next few days.  We could see Rewa ahead.  They actually sailed on passed the anchorage we were headed for but then turned back.  We talked to them on the radio later and learned that they had intended to go farther but decided it was too windy, even for them.  Finally, finally, creeping along at less that a knot we made it into the lea of the small island, Yanutha, just south of the well known backpacker dive spot, Nananu-i-Ra.  It does not look like much of an island on the chart but we snuggled up next to the mangroves and dropped anchor in 25 feet of lovely, calm water.   We will spend the night here, talk to Rewa again, check the weather and asses our options tomorrow.