10/25/2007, Mana Island, Fiji
Sand Dollar weighed anchor this afternoon with the overhauled anchor winch. To my delight, it ran like a sewing machine and easily lifted the weight off the bottom and dropped the chain into the locker without jamming. What a pleasure!
We made the nine mile trip to Mana Island motor sailing because the passage was among many reefs and some small islands. In fact, we passed Castaway Island, close by where Tom Hanks was filmed in the movie by the same name. Most of the islands here of any size have at least one resort and many have several. The climate is dry during the winter so Kiwis and Ausies flock here to get their fill of beach life. Mana Island has one large moderately expensive resort and three backpacker type resorts. Tonight we will have dinner at one of these resorts for $3.50. Guess which one.
All else is well onboard. There are two other boats in the anchorage which is well-protected with very little swell entering the lagoon.
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10/24/2007, Musket Cove, Fiji
The anchorage at Musket Cove serves as a staging area for boats heading to New Zealand, New Caledonia, and Australia. Talk at the Island Bar centers around one topic: weather windows. Everyone is looking for the ideal time to make their passage to avoid getting caught in a "squash zone", where a high pressure meets a low pressure and winds kick up to gale force for a couple of days. There is also the threat of an early season cyclone but this risk is minimal. The consensus is to wait for about a 1020 mb high just beginning to cross from Australia to NZ and head out hoping the trailing low is minimal. Despite all the planning and research it is really a crap shoot. You take what you get.
All else is well onboard. Today we may head to another island.
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10/23/2007, Musket Cove, Fiji
Sand Dollar finally escaped from the marina after completing repairs to the anchor winch. We left at noon and arrived at Musket Cove Resort around 3 PM. The anchor went down in 60 ft. over sand in the neighborhood of some 20 other boats, most of which I do not know. The resort is upscale and has a small marina for very large boats. The restaurant prices are exorbitant. We will hang here for a couple of days and check out the snorkeling and fishing before venturing to some other outlying islands.
All else is well onboard.
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10/22/2007, Vuda Point Marina, Fiji
The anchor winch was reinstalled today and seems to be operating properly but I will only know for sure when I am in 60 ft. of water trying to bring home the anchor and chain. The mechanic did a poor job of the installation and required lots of supervision by both me and his boss. Several steps had to be repeated and the whole process took twice as long as it should have. Such is often the case when having boat work done in undeveloped countries where standards are much different than back home. Ultimately, the price is about the same.
All else is well onboard. We hope to leave here tomorrow.
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10/21/2007, Vuda Point Marina, Fiji
I don't know what the temperature is but it is getting uncomfortably hot. There has been no wind for the past week and the marina is like a sauna. More and more boats are departing for the cool weather of New Zealand but many are being slowed by adverse wind. Sailors experienced with this passage tend to depart later than most of the fleet to take advantage of more favorable winds but then there is the risk of an early cyclone. This risk, however, is extremely small.
All else is well onboard. Sand Dollar is still awaiting repairs to the anchor winch. Maybe we will be able to leave here tomorrow.
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10/19/2007, Vuda Point Marina, Fiji
Radio transmission has been poor as is typical in marinas where there are lots of tall masts and shore-side structures which cause interference. These reports may be late or altogether missing on some days. The wifi service at the marina has been very disappointing in that it is unreliable and extremely slow when working. I have found it necessary to take the bus to town and connect at internet cafes which are plentiful and cheap.
Sand Dollar is undergoing repairs to the anchor winch system which has been almost useless the past three weeks because of the chain becoming jammed in the apparatus. I have had to weigh anchor by hand which is o.k. in shallow water but when I have to lift 85 lbs. of chain and anchor off the bottom in 50 feet of water I get a little sweaty. The repair job is on hold until some simple little $2 retainer clips can be purchased. They may have to be flown in from NZ. Trapped again in paradise!
All else is well onboard.
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