Position: Savusavu, Fiji
We promised ourselves a shot of tequilla after we cleared customs. Yippeee!
Squall blowing past our new backyard in Savusavu
"Ahhhhh, Fiji"
The seas are calm, the winds are gone. We are safely tied to a mooring ball in Savusavu. We have all had showers and smell much better. The boat is not totally put back together but getting there. We have made it to Fiji! Thirteen days of the toughest sailing we have seen to date. But we are here! We listened to the evening net on Blue Rodeo and heard our friends who are only about a third the way here checking in. How great to not be out there anymore! Our supportive thoughts go their way. Huge thanks again to Lisa who made the trip with us. Still don’t get why she decided to do this but it sure made it fun for all of us. She is a very talented sailor and beautiful person. We love you, Lisa. Thanks for the trip. Glad we could make your big birthday memorable! Our last morning was incredibly eventful but I am just too tired to explain it all. More to come!!
From Bob: We also paid a price on this passage. We broke the head (I have a kit with the proper part and that’s tomorrow’s project), both bilge pumps failed and this morning we found water up to the floorboards (yikes!) and used the dinghy pump and a bucket to get it down and the engine is smoking badly and blowing diesel out the exhaust and almost didn’t get us into the mooring. Oh, and the alternator bracket broke. We were smelling burning rubber (the vee-belt) and didn’t quite know that problem, but the engine smoke had our attention as we were trying to get in past the reef. Wow. I’ve never had so much stuff break in one trip. I’ll tell more detail about what’s is already fixed and what we’re planning to fix.
For now-sleep. Well, we’re actually retelling each other about the trip and drinking wine first. But we’re only going to last a little while longer now.
hi guys, land at last. what a voyage. have a couple of charisma’s and you’ll be good to go again. hope all your problems get fixed,great following your blogs. say hi to anne & mark. have a good un. hasta
Ouch! What a passage but you all have dug deep as they say and come through. Do enjoy what Savusavu and Vanau Levi has to offer, particularly the diving. Hope to catch up with you soon. Sadly,we;re still in Opua but hope we’ll be leaving next week. With best wishes from a rather chilly NZ. Carol & Jon
YEAH!! so glad you made it! cant wait to hear all the stories! Kate misses you! So do I! 3 and1/2 days of school left! Went for fantastic ride with Lucy on Friday…slow but 33 miles and almost 3000 vertical feet! Think its time to replace the chain…when I stand on hills there is an odd clicking sound. The odometer is reading 1094 miles. and I changed the battery on it 7 months ago! The around Tahoe ride is Sunday. xxoo Joan
Glad you are in and tied to the ball.
Will be watching to see all the stories. Hugs to John and Lisa for us.
Congratulations on a safe arrival!
Yay! It sounded like a hairy trip! So glad you are safely in the islands of Fiji! Ann – do you still like sailing??
Of course 13 days sounds like your lucky number!! So glad you made it! Rest 🙂
Glad to hear you have finally made it out of the craziness! Can’t wait to see pictures of the journey and of Fiji! Hopefully you have some time to get some up before I leave the country on Friday!
Dang dude. I thought you guys had made that sucker bullet proof. Almost sounds like you were limping in on a wing and a prayer. And there was no flak!
Glad you found a safe harbor. I presume that they are big enough to help you deal with whatever boat ills you have. Get lots of rest. Get reorganized. Then I guess its back to boat work. But since all work and no play makes Bob, not to mention Ann, a dull boy, I hope you find some relaxing, soul rejuvenating activities as well.
The adventure continues….
Congratulations on making landfall! What a journey and you’re quite the trio of sailors!
Enjoy your time in Fiji and celebrating Lisa’s birthday.
Warm regards to you all!