Late October 2022
Onward to Viti Levu

We are reluctantly making our way back to the main island, Viti Levu, in order to get set up for cyclone season at Vuda. It is difficult not to dawdle and enjoy the excellent conditions out here just now in the between season.

We stopped a couple days at Leleuvia Resort to make a break on the long run to the capitol of Suva. They were on a skeleton crew of four working to get the island into shape for tourist by December. Thatching for the roofs was due the week we stopped and they had already begun cleanup and airing of the burre's. We hailed them to be sure we were welcome to anchor in their gorgeous shallow bay which is full of coral nurseries and an easy safe snorkel playground for their guests. Interestingly, this resort which looks so very traditionally constructed has steel structural elements hidden in the thatching that meets and may exceed the newest cyclone standards. It was built by the same people that built the Red Bull 7-star island resort at Laucala.

The long downwind run, with spinnaker up all day, into Suva has become one of my favorite sails. John has been salivating over the instagram menu for the new food truck which operates down by the Parliament and government offices at Albert Park. We also had lunch at Grand Pacific Hotel where for the first time we had to show our vaccine cards and they actually validated them with the new Fiji First software before allowing entry. We finally got to eat at Eden up by Embassy Row now that covid cases have dropped drastically. Eden has a sophisticated menu with traditional Fijian items done upscale and deliciously alongside British and good old prime rib. So basically we ate our way around Suva while provisioning and checking on immigration paperwork.

So we are back in civilization and will make several short jaunts around Viti Levu back to Denarau and Vuda Marina hopefully before a cyclone announces itself.