On passage for Savusavu, Fiji
02 September 2014 | 18 04.65'S:176 41.98'W, at sea W of Tonga
Colin
After some light provisioning and R&R in Neiafu, Tonga, we set sail for Savusavu, Fiji about 400 miles to the west. On this passage there is a cluster of unmarked reefs and islands called the Lau Group which form a kind of barrier along the eastern side of the Fijian archipelego. In order to arrive and negotiate these reefs in daylight we have had to carefully monitor and maintain our speed for the first 2 days of the passage. Fortunately, we are enjoying a nice weather window with 10-12 kts TWS from astern and a very modest following sea. In these conditions we are maintaining a comfortable 5-6 knots sailing under spinnaker alone during the day and motorsailing at night. We are currently on track to raise the Lau Group at dawn tomorrow. This gives us the best part of the day to navigate the reefs and get into the inner Koro Sea. From there it's another 100 miles overnight up to Savusavu. So far, so good - all's well aboard Bangorang!