There continues to be a dearth of wind today, forcing us to motor-sail to the next anchorage along the north coast of Viti Levu. The landscape is mountainous with lush vegetation on the windward side of the hills but only dry grass and shrubs on the arid, leeward side. There are a few villages here and there along the coast highway and sugar plantations inland. The snorkeling visibility is not good here as there are many rivers bringing silt into the bays and lagoons. There is a large cruise ship anchored a couple of miles from us so we must be approaching the tourist region of Fiji.

A word about the political situation: Fiji has had its troubles in recent times because of a power struggle between the two main ethnic groups which each make up about 50% of the population, They are the native Fijians on the one hand, and the East Indians on the other, who were brought here hundreds of years ago by the British to work on the sugar plantations. The strife seems to be concentrated in the capital of Suva and appears to have little effect on foreigners. When I ask local people about the situation they reply that it does not involve them and that they have become used to the coups d' etat. It does not seem to be stifling real estate and resort development.

This morning I finally caught a fish, a 10 lb. wahoo which makes succulent table fare. We had chilled sashimi on rice with wasabi, pickled ginger and soy sauce for lunch and grilled fish steaks marinated in teriyaki sauce for dinner. There is enough for three more meals.

All else is well onboard. Tomorrow we head to the port of Lautoka, the second largest city in Fiji.