Savusavu - a few days turns into a few weeks

We did not mean to go to Savusavu but we kept tagging along with Exodus as they headed east even though we were supposed to be heading back to the Nadi area.  However, a few days in Savusavu was tempting - a chance for fresh provisions and maybe even dinner out.  Several weeks later we were still there - no bad thing as Savusavu is one of our favourite towns.

Exodus loading up with stores while Fluenta checks out the staysail

Trickle sailing into the mist.

The compass we had overhauled in NZ lasted about a month so here we are topping up the fluid with lamp oil

There are so many good, affordable restaurants in Savusavu.  This one is our favourite: Tastes of Hidden Paradise

Victoria working out the details of the dress she designed.

Benjamin and I off paddleboarding.

Johnathan showing great patience sharing his lego with Benjamin

Benjamin helping build the blog ...

Maleki's awesome sauces that he sells on the street in Fiji Water bottles.

Trickle's appendages get some care and attention by her crew

Benjamin and I safety boating for the "big" kids in Trickle.  Benjamin looks unsure about the whole process.

Johnathan playing rugby on Fiji Day

and more maintenance - preventative this time: checking all the autopilot connections and greasing the steering cables and pulleys.

Ahmed, the tailor, fixing our dingy chaps so they actually fit.  Ahmed is highly recommended, unlike the lady we first hired in Savusavu

Benjamin setting up the generator for us

and, of course, helping me fix it.

My parents arrive !  Sundowners with my parents, Exodus and True Blue V.  Fluenta docked in the background,

Pre-departure photos before Exodus heads north.

Pre-departure photos before Exodus heads north.

Pre-departure photos before Exodus heads north.

A still morning in Savusavu after TD02 passes by.

Birthdays x 3

September and October is birthday season for the Fluenta crew as three of the five crew have birthdays then.

We celebrated Liz's birthday in Namena Marine Reserve with Exodus and True Blue V.  A few days later it was Victoria's turn and by then we were in Savusavu so Hotspur could attend as well.  For Johnathan though, we needed to do something different.  Exodus was scheduled to leave before his birthday we set up an early surprise birthday before they left: dingy surfing, playing Minecraft on Exodus and then a surprise party onboard Fluenta.

Not everyone wants to make and decorate their own cake

Lots of kids to share her birthday with - unlike last year,

Liz's birthday

Johnathan dingy surfing in Savusavu 

Alex showing us how it is done,

And the surprise party !

Passage to Paradise (Well, Paradise Resort anyway)

We enjoyed our time in Savusavu but it was time to get moving again.  My parents live in Taveuni for part of the year so we had an opportunity to see them and "deliver" them from Savusavu to Taveuni.  Thankfully the messy weather from the South Pacific Convergence Zone sorted itself out and the Tropical Depression went away and fizzled so it was off to sea again but in the calmest conditions we have seen in Fiji.

Stop one about 46 nm out of Savusavu was Paradise Resort on the southern tip of Taveuni.  It is very pretty facility and the staff are very friendly.  Very yacht friendly too.  It was fun to visit as well as we were here eight years ago visiting my parents well before any notion of heading out on a boat.

Arrival in Paradise

A parking spot by the pool please.

No spearfishing here.

Sunset

A nice dinner by the water with my parents

and of course, the kids keep reading.

Driving the bus the next day up the Somosomo Strait

My parents looking for the anchorage.

While Johnathan reads ... (yes, I am rather behind in my varnishing ...)

And Victoria does crocheting.  

Passage Preps - Up the Mast in Savusavu

Part of our pre-passage SOP is the rigging check up the mast.  Also a good excuse to take some pictures.  While I was up there I also replaced one of our spinnaker halyard blocks and fixed the windex that the red-footed boobies bent.

Looking to the east further into the bay

The view to the west from the Copra Shed Marina.  Can you see Exodus in the distance ?

Watch out below !  You can see our little fleet with Trickle, the RHIB ("Torrent"), our kayak. and the SUP.

"F" for Fluenta in SOLAS reflective tape.

Fuelling in Exotic Locations

Of course, cruising is more than margaritas on the beach at sunset (Mexico seems like a long time ago ...)  We are actually tied to a dock for the first time since leaving New Zealand in May to sort out some logistics before the passage back to New Zealand.

Normally we do not use a lot of fuel but our amble through the Yasawas to Savasavu was against the trade winds and our buddy boat had a schedule so we used rather a bit more fuel than usual ...  Being at the dock made the usual routine of ferrying our three jerry cans by dingy and then by foot to the petrol station and back (repeat as necessary) easier than normal.

Here we are loading the fuel.  Victoria helped by tying on a line so I could easily lift the 25L containers (from the fuel company) to the deck and Johnathan did yeoman service as we hand pumped 300L through our Racor funnel filter.

Yoyaging with Kids and Yachting World

Occasionally we receive questions from families that are looking to head out cruising.  One of the families that provided the most guidance for us as we started was Jamie and Behan on Totem.  They, along with two other cruisers, have now published a book - Voyaging with Kids - that is getting great reviews.  Liz was asked to contribute a few sidebars on baby related issues such as diapers and breastfeeding.  The book is available here and it published by Lin and Larry Pardey,

In other news ... our friend Jess from SY Adamaster has been published prolifically in a wide range of sailing publications.  You can see Liz quoted in Jess's recent article in Yachting World.

Bua Bay and Coconut Point and More Maintenance in Exotic Locations

On our way to Savusavu we broke up the trip by having short stops in Bua Bay and Coconut Point.

Bua Bay was nice and relaxing after our somewhat tenuous anchorage on the east side of Yadua.  Great protection from the sea, shallow, no reefs and tons of swing room.  Minor downside ... no access beyond the mangroves so this was just a spot to let the winds calm down a bit before heading further south.

Coconut Point was also a short stop on the way after a few hours in classic wind against tide unpleasantness..  Not as much room to anchor but still solid in the more settled conditions.  Coconut Point has an important ferry terminal so it was a bit busy and noisy with the comings and goings.

Bua Bay - Not as pretty as Yadua but I slept better

Great holding in thick mud - Johnathan cleaning the anchor chain.

Bua Bay to Coconut Point - Classic wind against tide conditions straight into wind between the reefs

Meanwhile Benjamin doesn't care about the seas.  He has the iPad.

Arrived Coconut Point - time for a swim

Benjamin's playground

Of course we went spearfishing ... Tim got a coral trout.  

We are anchored just downwind from the ferry dock so a tad noisy

Time for maintenance - Victoria whipping lines.

Of course we needed a jackline between Exodus and Fluenta.

Not fair says Benjamin

More maintenance in exotic locations - dyneema chafe guards for the lifelines

Liz repairing our dodger while Benjamin tests the electronics.

More walu !

Great filleting by Victoria

Creative location for chin-ups

Snapper