Resolute

Once the VIP wives/guests/family of Resolute departed last Wednesday, (Boo Hoo!) it was quite a wait for the right weather window to appear, so that we could safely up anchor and get going ourselves. Wet and windy and about 40 boats squeezing into the marina, doing what landlocked sailors do best - hold up the yacht club bar.

Ken had been based in Savusavu for 3 weeks all up so we were more than ready, but twiddle our thumbs for 4 days we did. Tough, I know. But these are the trials of cruising,I suppose. Not that I can compile a litany of trials as yet, as thumb twiddling comes easy to us, but we eventually made a run for it yesterday, arriving safely to the island of Makogai about 6 hours later. We are in fact heading slowly towards Nadi to collect the kids in a couple of weeks. Lots of stop offs on the way. All still new and exciting.

Up until 1969, Makogai operated as a leper colony and I've heard several yachties talk of it as an interesting island from this perspective but we were too pooped to really check it out. After a rather limp ceremony with the village chief offering him our gifts of kava root and tins of corned beef, we did the 'skedaddle' and retired back to boat. A few other boats snuck into this cute little anchorage as well but we only bothered to meet up with Sea Falk whose skipper Geoff hailed from Mt Colah of all places. chat chat chat we did and finally called it a day.

Right now we are soaking up the ambience of this picture perfect island of Naigani, about 4 hrs sail from Makogai, and the sun is setting as I scribble. If I had to go home tomorrow I wld think I have had the ultimate holiday. It is starkly beautiful. Rugged and hilly with white sandy beaches, swaying palm trees and we are absolutely alone if you don't count the funny little resort about 3 bays around. (Photo shows me yacking to Ily the Manager early in the afternoon). Dinner tonight is some defrosted reheated pasta and salmon. I hear Animals heart sink. Not flash but perfect under the circumstances. A celebratory bottle of wine is in order cos we seem to have stumbled upon a gem. Over and out!!