We left Denarau Marina yesterday, just after finishing up the last of our chores, and we are heading north for what is called "The Futuna Run." What is The Futuna Run? It is what we long visiting cruisers in Fiji call the trip north.

Upon entry into Fiji, all vessels are given an 18 month visa. Tanga has been here for 14 months now and we decided to it is time to take her out of the country. Futuna is the closest country to Fiji; it is about a 40+ hour run from the farthest north city in Fiji to check out of to the southernmost city in Futuna to clear in to.

When we arrive in Futuna, we will be clearing in the country and clearing out of the country at the same time. The customs and immigration officers in Futuma are used to cruisers doing this, so we plan on entering and leaving in the same day. Why would we leave so soon from another country? Well, the anchorage on the southern end of Futuna offers no protection from the weather or swells, so it is best to get in and out as quickly as possible.

On the way, we plan on day hopping from one anchorage to the next, and just enjoying the new areas of Fiji that we have never seen. Right now, there is no reason to rush as we make our way up to the city of Savu Savu, on the northern island of Vanua Levu. This is where we will wait out a good long weather window and clear out of Fiji. We spent last night in a bay called Saweni Bay. It is just north of Vuda Marina and just south of the city of Lautoka. The anchorage is protected from the swell; we were surrounded by palm trees and mangrove trees, and anchored in 20 feet of water.

Today, we left Saweni Bay and headed 35 miles to another bay called Big D___ Bay. No, it was not our perverted minds that named this bay, it was someone else and we just follow along. This bay appears to be named correctly based on what it looks like on our chart plotter. Update: Tom caught a big Wahoo today, while we were on our way to Big D___ Bay, which he will make blackened fish tonight for dinner.

Since we are moving around to areas we do not know, we really have no idea if we will have internet access. Let�'s just assume we will not, however, we will try to update the website along the way.

Posted via satellite phone