Fiji To Vanuatu

Good bye Fiji

Wednesday, August 16 at Port Denarau I did all the clearance requirements. I had hoped to leave before midday the same day. However, the officials only arrived after midday. I prepared Sadiqi for an early start the following morning - packing up the dinghy, awnings and stowing Roxy the anchor. I did not want to risk going through the pass in the reefs at mid afternoon when the winds where at their strongest. I’d done this twice before and it was not a pleasant experience.

Sadiqi departed the Port Denarau anchorage at 0700 and exited the Wilkes pass, near Namoto island, at 0940. We were flushed out doing 7 knots with the outgoing tide. Third time lucky – the exit through the pass was relatively easy.

Namotu Island

The first 24 hours of the passage were rough from the confused seas in the lee of the Fiji Islands. The wind was a fairly steady 18 to 22 knots east south east. It was brisk broad reach sailing with full main and headsail.

On Saturday night the  wind steadily decreased, by sunrise it was 10-12 knots ESE. It was very pleasant trade wind sailing. Big Bertha the asymmetrical spinnaker was hoisted. The seas were flat enough that Sadiqi ghosted along at a respectable 4 knots in less than 10 knot SE wind - blisFiji To Vanuatusful sailing. There was also a favourable current. In the evening the winds dropped below 10 knots. I ran the engine until just before midnight when the wind picked up to 10 knots. Not much but enough to maintain 4 knots speed over the ground.

On Sunday morning I hoisted Big Bertha again. The Wind was 8 to 10 knots ESE. Sadiqi ghosted along at nearly 4 knots.
The wind decreased during the afternoon. I attempted to keep what little wind there was on the beam. It was slow progress westward.
Slow pleasant sailing overnight with mainsail only. Winds 8 to 10 knots E, boat speed 2 knots.

Sailing into the sunset with Big Bertha.

On Monday the engine rattled away again to make progress in light winds, against a half knot current
Monday night proved challenging as a frontal system

was heading eastwards. I had seen this forecast system so prepared for it. A prodigious amount of rain fell before the front passed. Smithy the windvane slowly steered Sadiqi south as the winds shifted and increased from north, through west to the south. At around 0200 Tuesday I tacked to head back to Port Vila, Vanuatu.

I dropped anchor at the Port Vila, Vanuatu quarantine buoy and 0800 (UTC +11 hours). The customs and Biosecurity soon arrived by boat and cleared Sadiqi in. All vegetables and fresh food was confiscated by Biosecurity.

I contacted Yachting World marina on the availability of a mooring. There was none available. I was offered instead a berth in the marina. Sadiqi was soon tied stern to the wall by the friendly efficient Yachting World staff; Moses, Timmo and Willie. I can’t say I felt at all comfortable tied up alongside some large very expensive yachts. It was like being in a fish bowl with all the people walking past. Access to Sadiqi was walking a shaky plank - not ideal. I slept heavily not having had much sleep the night before nearing the coast and with the storm conditions. The following day several mooring became available and I was relieved to be moved onto one. 

Yachting World Berth. Sadiqi dwarfed by her neighbour.