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Tuesday, September 22, 2009

Year Two
Date: 23/9/2009 17:00
Weather: Steamy
Location: Saweni Bay (17 38.438' S, 177 23.572' E)
Author: Peter and Kylie

The weather recently has been rather weird and unpredictable. The usual south easterly trade winds have not shown themselves lately. Instead we have had either dead calm or raging storm (maybe that is a slight exaggeration but not far off). We have seen more rain in the last few weeks then we have in total over the two years of cruising. The perfect weather we had been experiencing came to an abrupt end when our guests arrived.

Alan and Linda Mara, Kylies mum and dad arrived a week ago today. Their short holiday with us has already flown by, they departed early this morning. We feel one week is just not enough. A minimum of two is what we would suggest in the future. One week aboard the boat is just rush, rush, rush. Arriving late in the day and spending a steamy night in Vuda Point Marina the weather gods decided to give Linda a baptism of fire as we made the 30 nm dash the following day. Although the conditions started out fine by the time midday came around, the wind and showers set in. Alan enjoyed the fast sailing conditions and was surprised Jura can go 8+ knots under headsail only. We recorded winds later that day up to 40knots.

The highlight of the day was earlier in the morning when we actually landed a huge wahoo. It was so large that we felt guilty as we knew allot of it would go to waste so the decision was made to return it to the sea.
wahoooooooo

We visited some new anchorages but mostly those we have previously spoken about. It wasn't all bad weather for their stay, we had two glorious days at Blue Lagoon. Alan thoroughly enjoyed the snorkeling whilst Kylie was surprised that her mum went swimming.

Alan and Kylie

finding nemo

Our kyaking adventure around the island

Linda and Alan kayaking

We have introduced another few people to the game of Mexican Train Dominoes and it has proved to be very popular. So we highly recommend you purchase a set of double twelve dominoes with the mexican train starter.

On a side note, it became apparent that we have both become tanned over the last weeks. Kylie was proud that she was browner then her mother for the first time in her life.

somewhere

Blue Lagoon

Jura in Blue Lagoon

Yesterday after a very long drift in little wind we resorted to the motor to get us back to Vuda Point. Peter has been trying to empty our fuel tank of the dirty diesel we got in Tonga, this happened a little sooner then expected with the main tank running out of fuel 10 nm short of our destination. Luckily we carry a spare a twenty litres in a jerry can otherwise we would have been at the mercy of the currents.

We are now preparing the boat for departure and looking for a weather window to make the jump to New Caledonia.

The crew from Twin Image and the Maras

Sugar cane trucks line the road into Lautoka

the best bus we have been on