Note: Transmitting this test blog did not work! I am having trouble with the cable from the computer to the radio. If you don't see regular updates from us at sea Do Not Panic! We are fine. But we may not be able to use our email at sea this time. Bummer. FYI - I am sending this one in via onshore internet while I still can. Before we take off tomorrow morning I wanted to do a test blog to make sure all systems are go. Here's an update. We've been in Fiji just over four months. Cyclone season is starting soon so it's time to sail back to New Zealand. We checked out of Fiji at Lautoka yesterday and then made our way here. We were supposed to leave the country immediately so we're bending the rules at bit. Momi Bay is a small bay that is just inside the pass that leads out to the open ocean. It will be the last reef pass that 'Buena Vista' has to go through, thank god. Fiji is full of reefs and navigational hazards. We've enjoyed our time here but I gotta say it's not the most relaxing cruising grounds we've experienced. I think I'll feel a sense of relief to get back out to the open ocean again. Nothing to hit out there! So, tomorrow morning we'll head out through the pass and sail almost due south. Our mates on 'La Fiesta', 'Charisma', and 'Always Saturday' will head out with us. Opua, New Zealand is about 1,080 nautical miles from here. 'Buena Vista' makes an average of 120 miles a day so the passage should take 9 days. We like to take it easy out there. We've discovered with experience that the more we push ourselves and our boat, the better the chance of breaking something. And frankly it's just too expensive to risk breaking equipment. We'll leave with 15-20 knots of wind from the ESE and that wind should stay with us for three or four days. Then we expect to pass through a trough associated with rain and maybe some confused seas (hopefully no lightning, scary). Once through that area the winds will be light - maybe we'll get to fly our spinnaker for the last time! We'll probably have light winds the last few days so may even have to motor sail into Opua. Easy Peezy! So follow along if you like and please leave a comment...we get to see your comments right away and we really like to hear from you.