Our 2nd attempt for Fiji

Our second attempt at leaving New Zealand happened on May 13th when we received a hurry up and get out of here from our weather router. Our first day out was really windy and rough but we were glad to be underway. The morning of the second day a squall with really high winds caught us with our pants down (and our sails up). We had what is called a knock down. The mast spreaders never touched the water but the top life lines were underwater. We figured we went over 80 degrees. The boat righted it self pretty quickly. Worst squall we have ever been in. Gisela was down below and the rest of us were in the cockpit. We all managed to hang on and thankfully, no one was hurt. We just had a mess with the coffee on the stove going everywhere. The next day or so was great, except now we needed to change directions and sail away from Fiji to get behind a low weather system that was coming across in front of us. We had 9 boats leave about the same as we did so we have been keeping in radio contact twice a day. Five of the boats we know and are friends of ours. Steve and Wendy on the sailboat Elusive started taking on water and couldn't find out where it was coming in from. They sounded frantic on the radio. Another boat, Scarlett OHara, was only a few miles away, but we were 15 miles away when we heard the call for help. We got there as quickly as we could but by the time we arrived they had just abandoned ship and were safely aboard Scarlett. Elusive's decks were awash. We were too late to help with anything but they were glad we were close for moral support. We were in shock for quite awhile as the last thing we saw of Elusive was her mast sticking up. We feel so bad for them. One of the other boats has lost their auto pilot and they are having to hand steer in the rough seas and are getting blisters on their fingers. Scarlett O'Hara now needs some mainsail repairs. Another boat has alternator problems. We lead the rag tag group of now only 8 boats to Fiji. There was another front looming but we and all the other boats made it into port before it hit us with a lot of wind and rain. We arrive in Lautoka at 1:30pm on 5/22. We were a little concerned about our check in because of a recent coup in Fiji and we weren't sure what to expect from customs. All went well, and even better then expected. They didn't take any of the food we had on board and just told us to eat what we had within a few weeks and not to take anything to shore. Fine with us! Early that evening, Scarlett O'Hara arrives and Jaime has already told customs that there are three more people on board the boat that are not on the crew list. He explains what has happened to Elusive and customs is very sympathetic and they agree to stay late and check them in that night. Their check in is a breeze as well, just a little more paper work because of a missing boat. The next day, Steve, Wendy and their son check in to a local Hotel and get some much needed rest. The next day, we go into town and check out the local produce market as we are low on fresh fruits and veggies. We have lunch with Jim on Gecko who we haven't seen since Tonga and then stop by the Waterfront Hotel to see how Steve and Wendy are doing. They had just gotten back from shopping for much needed clothes and seemed to be doing great but admitted to having some ups and downs emotionally. Yet they are grateful to be alive and everything that went down with the boat can all be replaced at some point. We head back to the boat and Eric steps up onto the transom. I see a snake and scream at Eric to watch out. It is a poisonous black and white stripe snake about 1 and a half ft long. Eric manages not to step on it and we watch it slither away into the water.

The following day we were going to leave and go to Musket Cove, a popular cruiser hang out on Malolo Island but the weather turns bad and we end up staying on the boat. As the wind begans to build, a large tour boat starts to drag their anchor. It gets dangerously close to us and we decide to pick up our anchor and move. In the process of picking up our anchor the boat swings and almost hits us but we make it away safely and reset the anchor. After we get it reset, we are told that a large container ship is coming in and we have to move again. So we move across the bay to another island to wait out the storm away from all the other boats. Scarlett O'Hara's not so lucky as their anchor is directly beneath the large boat and they can't pick their anchor up. They call the port authorities and eventually get someone to come and move the large boat. In the mean time while they were waiting we had given them one of our large fenders so they could at least bouy off their chain and anchor and leave it behind and get it later if the boat were to get too close to them. Thankfully they didn't have to do that. We have had way too much excitement the last few weeks and are all looking forward to getting into the island life and relaxing. Where are those umbrella drinks anyway?