03-10-15
Saturday
1000
Depart Port Maurelle, Vava'u, Tonga
Engine
1724.4 hours
The
winds were 10 to 12 knots (T) SE once out of the lee of the islands.
Noon
1200 UTC +13 hours
Wind
10 – 12 knots (T) SE
Lat:
18 37.95 S, Lon: 174 07.80 W
COG:
290 deg M, SOG: 5 knots
Engine:
1725.7 hours
7
miles since leaving Port Maurelle.
Nice
down wind sailing with full main and poled out jib.
1700
Beer o clock.
Winds
easing toward the east
Pretty
pink and red sunset.
The
wind dropped below 10 knots (true) before midnight.
The
sails banged, the sheets and halyards creaked as Sadiqi wobbled
westward in rough seas at 2 to 3 knots SOG.
04-10-15
Sunday
I
was woken before dawn by the Cross Track alarm on the GPS.
The
sails were backed - Poled out jib and main held by the preventer.
Sadiqi was going slowly backwards.
The
nasty confused seas slapped at Sadiqi from nearly all directions.
Noon
1200 UTC +13 hours
Wind
10 – 12 knots (T) SSE
Lat:
17 55.55 S, Lon: 175 30.97 W
COG:
280 deg M, SOG: 4.5 knots
Engine:
1725.7 hours
89
miles since noon previous day.
Wind
steadily increasing – a much more comfortable sail.
By
mid afternoon the winds were up to 14 knots, swinging toward the
south. Sadiqi was romping along with the wind on the beam at up to 7
knots speed over the ground (SOG) in a half knot favourable current.
1700
- Beer o clock UTC +13
Change
time zone to UTC +12 hours
1700
Beer o clock UTC +12 :)
05-10-15
Monday
Noon
1200 UTC +12 hours
Wind
16 – 20 knots (T) SE
Lat:
17 16.62 S, Lon: 178 00.36 W
COG:
280 deg M, SOG: 5.5 knots
Engine:
1725.7 hours
147.5
miles since noon previous day.
Sadiqi
rolling along.
1500
Wind 18 to 22 knots (T) SE
 |
| Fiery sunset over Fiji |
1700
Beer o clock was forfeit due to heavy weather and the prospect of a
long night avoiding the many reefs and islands on the east side of
the Fiji archipelago.
1930
Sadiqi gingerly entered the fringing reefs of the Fiji archipelago –
120 miles to clear in at Savusavu.
The
winds over night were mainly 18 to 22 knots with periods up to 25
knots. The seas were a little milder once inside the reefs.
I
managed to snatch 20 minutes sleep every now and again, having set
the GPS cross track error to half a mile. Most of the reefs that
Sadiqi weaved and passed through were at least several miles apart.
It was still disconcerting trusting only the charts and chart plotter
on a dark night. Fortunately the C-Map charts were accurate.
06-10-15
Tuesday
The
shortcut through the reefs cut 80 miles or nearly a day off the
voyage. I was relieved to see the sun in the morning, all be it a
little overcast.
I
continued to push Sadiqi hard with single reefed main and yankee jib.
Smithy the windpilot seemed to cope with the strong winds and big
following seas. I noticed the windpilot was sticking on some points –
another clean up and lube was required after arrived in port. I was
hoping to arrive in the Savusavu, Fiji anchorage before 1630 to avoid
expensive overtime charges on clearing into Fiji.
Crossed
meridian 180 just before noon.
Noon
1200 UTC +12 hours
Wind
10 – 26 knots (T) ESE
Lat:
16 55.57 S, Lon: 179 32.99 E
COG:
277 deg M, SOG: 6.5 knots
Engine:
1725.7 hours
141.8
miles since noon previous day.
Rolling
along in boisterous seas.
After
entering Suvasuva bay I contacted the Copra Shed marina to contact
the relevant foreign vessel clearance services.
1605
Arrived Savusavu, Fiji – clearance dock.
Engine:
1726.4 hours
