Monday 8^th June 2009 – Musket Cove, Fiji.

29 degrees C with the clearest of cobalt skies and the gentlest of SE breeze. Just enough to cool the decks under the Antigua awning. Splash Tango is sitting on a swing mooring off the entrance to Musket Cove Resort and the 4 dollar bar (which was the 2 dollar bar and probably will be the 5 dollar bar before the end of the season).

Robbie and Katrina arrived up last Friday evening (5^th June) and, with Mat, are here for the next three weeks.

We left a very cold Auckland at midday 21^st May with Don Jack, Chris Labb and Mat Sparrow as crew. The forecast locked as though we would have lightish SW winds for the first few days then thongs would get more lively about half way as we hit a low moving across south of Fiji. It was good to be away though as winter had struck with a vengeance in NZ. Very cold wet and bleak with snow to low levels in the south. When the wind came from the south, you could hear Shackleton’s dogs!

Day 2 dawned with us off the Bay of Islands having been farewelled by the glow of Cape Brett light just over the horizon in the early hours. The sou’ westerly was cold but only about 15 knots, so we hoisted our beautiful new MPS kite bought off Duet just after Christmas. Had a great sail all day and were buzzed by the Orion just before midday so I will have to see if I can get a copy of the photo they doubtless took when we get back.

Don’t be deceived though. We didn’t get the thermals off ‘til day 4. this shot was taken day 5.

The wind was disappointing though as it came and went (mostly went) for the next few days with 24 hour runs between 165 and 175 nm. And frustratingly long periods of motor-sailing. We thought we would have some more lively sailing as we caught up to the low passing across ahead of us – all going to plan (when does it ever?) we would skirt around the sou’ west quadrant and carry the wind on our starboard quarter until we hit the trades. But no, we had 18 hours when we were well into clocking a 200 mile plus day (159 in 18 hrs) then the wind died again and we could only manage 189 for the 24. That turned out to be our best.

Day 6 was not a good day. The following is an extract from an email home which just about says it all :

Breeze slowly abated during the night so we were motor sailing from 2am. By 0700 it had filled in again to 15 apparent from the SW so we decided to hoist the kite again and sit back for a sensational day sailing. by 0715 we had the kite hoisted and set and by 0745 I had my dive mask and fins on at the bottom of the keel extracting said kite from various underwater appendages. The halyard came adrift from the winch and it wasn’t secured in the jammer. The whole thing disappeared into the water creating an amazing sense of de ja vue from the Galapagos passage. Eventually retrieved it but I hope they have a good sail repair loft in Denerau. Can't begin to describe how I feel so there's no point trying. The other downside (though hardly worth mentioning by comparison) is that it virtually blows our chances of a daytime arrival at the reef. However if the leading lights are working it won't be a problem, I've been through it often enough. If they're not we'll just stand off 'til daylight.

Well we now have the headsail poled out 220nm to go, 25 degrees, sunshine and fair breeze, so we'll just get over it and get on.

Ciao for now. S.T.

We were by now however, catching fish and in fact, frequently. We caught 4 Mahi Mahi for the passage and a Waloo steaming between Lautoka and Musket after we cleared in.

Don and Mat hold up one of three Mahi Mahi caught on the passage. Plus we bagged a Waloo inside the reef after we had cleared in.

Don with the second of 4.

Chris contemplates the horizon.

So the last 36 hours were frustratingly light with out the kite, and we wound up burning a bit of diesel to get us through the lulls. We made it through the Navula passage at 2100hrs the following day giving us a passage time of 7 days 9 hours and an average days run of 163nm. Anchored in Saweni Bay for a well earned rum at 2300hrs, ready to clear customs at Lautoka in the morning. Another passage safely under the keel.

Chris takes an afternoon position shot.

Mat proved an enthusiastic student in the traditional art of navigation and was putting us within ½ mile of the GPS.

Oh well, one more for the record.