Paradise Taveuni
24 June 2015
Colin
With the winds still up and a front forecast in a few days we reassessed our strategy and decided to head for the Paradise Resort on the south end of Taveuni island. This place had a reputation to be yacht friendly and would give us an advantageous jumping off spot for the Lau group if/when the wind veered south behind the front. With both motors now running strong, we powered out of Nasua Bay and into 20 kts of wind, which eased to about 12 kts and a lovely reach as we turned south for Paradise resort. Paradise was crowded with ICA and ARC Rally boats when we got there, but most were leaving that afternoon, so we anchored temporarily then grabbed a brand new mooring when they started leaving.
The Paradise Taveuni Resort is a beautiful waterfront resort with all the amenities. We were welcomed to use the facilities and enjoyed several excellent meals there. The staff are super friendly and work hard to learn everyone's name. The resort also arranged a land tour for us which included sightseeing around the island, a waterfall hike and a visit to the doctor to have my stitches removed. Taveuni is called the Garden Isle and is very lush and tropical with many waterfalls. Our hike did not disappoint, it was beautiful. On the way back we stopped at the "private" doctor to remove my stitches, but he was out. He also appeared to share an office with the vet since there were several sick dogs laying on mats around the doorway and kids fanning them with palm fronds. We decided I might be better off at the hospital. While the hospital was "rustic" the doctor and nurse that removed my stitches and assessed the wound were efficient, competent and kind. I was treated and given a 5 day course of antibiotic, extra dressings and supplies all for no charge. And I was in and out in 30 minutes.
The next night we were planning to leave Paradise about midnight for an overnight sail to the Lau islands. Unfortunately, Murphy had other plans for us... About 9 PM we were watching a movie when our anchor drift alarm went off (I'd left it on accidently). Looking around I realized we were adrift from the mooring and floating down the coast only about a boat length from the rocks! While Wendy got the engines fired up, I pulled up the mooring which seemed intact and terminated in a big loop of chain. I assume that had been wrapped around a rock or coral head and simply worked itself free.
We decided this was a message to get out of Dodge so we headed out around the south tip of Taveuni to make for the Lau. As we got further around the headland the winds on our nose kept building as did the seas and it started to rain. After about an hour of bashing the winds were sustained 30+ kts and the seas were over 2 meters and steep. I again gave the command: "F!@# this!", the Admiral agreed and we went back to anchor off Paradise in the dark and rain. By morning our weather window had closed and we needed a new plan. We reluctantly decided to abandon the Lau and sail south for Suva and Kandavu by way of Koro Island. So we returned the failed mooring to the Paradise Staff and set sail for Koro.
Added some new photos in folder titled: Fiji 2