Johnny R is back

[John B]

lets hope he blesses us with a some stories about his trip to Fiji, the boat and the bulb bow and etc.

[John R - Kitenui]

Fiji - 1200 nm in a 34 footer. 184 n miles in the first 24hr run. Total journey in less than 8 days. But what's to say? Nothing to see except water and sky. One fishing boat and a ship on the first night, up around Cape Brett, then no more boats 'til an Asian squid or tuna boat crossed our track a day before Fiji.Out in the middle there were hardly any seabirds even. We did encounter one very large fish which flashed a huge slender sickle shaped fin as it rolled by the bow of the boat and I was lucky enough to catch a glimpse of the tail of a large marlin as it dived away from us
The wind was from the West when we left and was blowing steadily. By the second night we were on a Genoa poled out flat run, and then it gradually swung to the East for the rest of the journey until we were on a tight reach, approaching Navula Passage into Lautoka. After 3 days of Easterly winds averaging 20 kts, with the occasional squall to 35-40, the seas built to about 5m and were topped with a very boisterous chop. Being quite flat in hull section the boat bounced around quite significantly giving us a couple of days where it was quite difficult to move around the boat without banging into or onto some fixture. Preparing meals was a bit of a hazard.
With 3 people on the boat we did 3 hour watches. This worked very well as the watches shifted as to time of night that each person was on and meant a rotation of times. ie the person who did the 7pm-10 pm watch then did the 4am to 7 watch and saw the sun rise.Then they were nominally on the 1pm to 4 (during the day it was slightly more relaxed as most of the time all hands were up and coherent) then the 10 to 1am etc again seeing the sunrise on the fourth day.

The hard dodger on the boat has good hand grips all around which are absolutely invaluable.

One of the few sea birds-- Mr Albert Ross


Not a lot out there except sea and sky




After 7days 18 hrs of bouncing around the flat water of Lautoka Port was a most welcome relief
Just on sunset we sailed around the corner looking for the marina at Denereaux (sp?) but we stumbled into a most gorgeous place called Vuda Pt (Pronounced with an "n", ie Voonda) of which I have some more photos later

[The Bigfella]

Good stuff...

[John B]

Glad to hear everything went well John. look forward to the next batch of pics
Any discussion on the benefits or not of that bulb?

[JimD]

Yes, more pics, please

[John R - Kitenui]

was I believe an old quarry site for coral used for road and airport construction during WWll. Along came a kiwi 20 years ago, dug a channel through the reef and voila! a perfect yacht basin. Yachts are tied bow to shore with a ring of moorings for stern lines.
There are small platforms attached to the basin wall and the staff guide and assist you to moor 2 bows to each platform. Water and electricity is provided at each landing





If you arrive at lunch time and there is no one around to direct you to a berth there is a large yellow mooring buoy in the centre you can hang to until help arrives



There are of course the usual facilities. Bar right on the point overlooking the entrance Restaurant just behind etc etc


You dont want to have too many at the bar and go wandering around in the dark as the grounds are full of pits dug into the coral rock


It's amusing to see all these boats buried in the lawn



One boat which did take my eye was 'Speranza'


Approx 43' of beauty

Does anyone know the history, design or anything about this beauty?

[The Bigfella]

http://www.amsa.gov.au/Shipping_Regi...ps/Page_54.asp


SPERANZA
85055312.041981YachtSydney Registered

[The Bigfella]

to make a bit more sense of that - she was completed in 1981, 12.04m (seems a bit short of 43'), registered with a home port of Sydney. Could be a different boat though.

- I did a bit more digging - and I'd bet on it being a Cheoy Lee Offshore 40. There was a 1966 one of this name looking to set off on a circumnav. in 2001 from California.

[John B]

Hurricane pits.
Speranza looks pretty all right, Got a bit of a Rhodes look to her.

Neat pics thanks John... keep em coming

[Jase]

hurricane pits under those huge trees, hahaha..... yes sir, we saved your boat from falling over in her cradle, but there was a small accident with the huge tree above her.

[John B]

They do look like fairly old trees though don't they.

This the place Johnno?

[John R - Kitenui]

Trees weren't particularly substantial. More like overgrown bushes rather than massive oaks and they would give a lot of protection from the sun.
I could well be wrong about the 43' I just thought she was slightly bigger than Kitenui (41') But then the only time I have been walking around Kitenui at that level was on planks and trestles and one does have a slightly different perspective. The sheerline had an Arthur Robb look to my eye.

[John B]

I was thinking Robb too, but the cabin didn't seem right for one of his. and, I decided the lines were a bit fine for Robb.

[John R - Kitenui]

Yep That's the spot John

[brian.cunningham]

Burying it actually not that bad an idea.

less of a change of a knockdown in a strong wind.

[John B]

Yeah, thats the plan.. the summer is hurricane season and winter is cruising. I don't know the dates accurately but there's a flood of cruising boats heading here from the islands about oct nov for our summer and to be out of that place , then they all head back to the islands june? on when its more stable. I suppose digging the pit and placing the boat in it is a way of 'summerising' the boat to leave it there.

[brad9798]

Awesome stuff ... How'd that Carolina Skiff get down there?

[John B]

Carolina skiff? which one is that Brad?

[brad9798]

See the bottome of the pic!



I kind of had my tongue in my cheek ...

[John B]

ohhh.

an aquaintance of mine had quite the little business selling a roto moulded power dory into Fiji. A bit of a hit apparently. Especially when it did LOL.

[John B]

Did you get any idea of cost of berthing and or hardstand storage John?

[The Bigfella]

Did you get any idea of cost of berthing and or hardstand storage John?

Methinks JohnB is planning a trip..........

[John B]

naahhh, have you seen the reefs up there around Fiji.. I'd be a nervous wreck. Good to do it on someone elses boat though

[John R - Kitenui]

Cost - Robin asked the question and I think it was about $100nz per month but I'm not sure if that included haulage and re-launch. Certyainly a lot cheaper than a NZ marina berth. The overnight charge there was only $17Fiji
Yep There sure are a lot of reefs around! We gained some great advice and information from the owner of this Marco Polo.I'm sure you recognise her



Jack Hargreaves has been sailing "Matari" up to Fiji every year for the last 20 years 1/dont implicitly trust C-Map in this area as it is not always correct 2/ never sail without visuals. best visibility is from 10am til 4pm when the sun is lower there can be too much reflection from the surface 3/ here have a copy of my routes for your laptop They are all tried and true. You will notice they go over places where C-Map shows reefs. C-Map is not correct at those points.
After just a couple of days of moving around the area we were refering to them as 'Jacks Tracks' and finding them to be indispensible.
Certainly is a great idea to do it on someone elses boat first
Just prior to taking this photo there was a Compass H28 moored at the other end of the jetty. She had come up on a freighter 6 or 7 years previously and was stored in the ground at Vuda Pt every summer and the owner flew up each year and went sailing. He had paid import duty and she was registered as a Fijian boat so he could go anywhere in Fijian waters
This is a photo of the crew of 'Slice of Lemon' and the official in Lautoka who approved our permit to visit the Yasawa archipelago

[John B]

Takes a while to get it, but when it comes its good ain't it.

Thanks John, I'll spend the weekend dreaming up more questions. ( you answered a few of todays without me asking)
The instabilty up there must be starting to hurt the economy eh.

[Robbie 2]

naahhh, have you seen the reefs up there around Fiji.. I'd be a nervous wreck. Good to do it on someone elses boat though

I've always thought that I would one day love to do a trip like that (on someone elses boat) then fly home.Maybe one day I will.

[John B]

Well Robbie, Dave P did it in his navigator....... or at least, he did the fiji bit anyway.

[Robbie 2]

Well Robbie, Dave P did it in his navigator....... or at least, he did the fiji bit anyway.

Many more years ago then I care to remember I was offered a trip up to Fiji on a friends boat (36 footer)....I wasn't a sailor then or now...(a skill I will be learning after my Navigator is finished)...
He knew this and said my position on board would be COOK with watch keeping duties during the day only(allowing the others to rest)...he and 2 others would share night time watches.
If the crew were well fed he would consider that a happy crew and a reasonable deal.
I couldn't get the time off work(wrong time of the year) and therefore didn't go.
They took 9 days I think, in perfect weather...calm seas and gentle following winds...full main and genoa the whole way.
I have always regretted this lost opportunity.
This friend took a few people on trips like that and had interesting stories to relate as a result.
He said that surprisingly, a couple of experienced coastal yachties he took, were totally out of their comfort zone once out of sight of land and couldn't get off fast enough at Fiji. Said "NEVER AGAIN"but still happy doing gulf or coastal sailing.
Any way maybe one day!!!
Regards
Robbie

[John R - Kitenui]

Instability ; you would never know it walking around the streets. I heard on the news the other days that occupancy rates are down from a normal of 75% to 14%, so the economy must be suffering. The Market in Lautoka was bustling when we visited to buy some Kava root as courtesy gifts for the chiefs of the areas visited and anchorages used.


The difference in color of deep water and shallow water over a reef is easily discernible. Unfortunately I neglected to get a photo from the boat but the two I'm oosting will give you a good idea.
This one is actually from Vanuatu and shows the reef in Pt Vila which extends from the island of Iririki back to the island close to the main dock area.


This is a shot from the beach at Blue Lagoon (named for the movie ) You can see quite clearly where the reef stops.
The other interesting thing about this shot is that of the four boats at anchor the three to the left are all from the same marina in Auckland. The other was from Canada


Even with the reefs the waters around this area would be ideal for a shoal draft boat such as a navigator, very similar to cruising the gulf but as the water is deeper no sharp short chop; so keep those dreams rolling Robbie

[John Bertenshaw]

Your yellow Townson just arrived back into westhaven about 2 hours ago John.