Passage to Fiji

Today is Mon, July 20, and we are enjoying a good sail to Fiji. So far we have only used the foresail with moderate following winds and seas. There was supposed to be no wind Sun, but by going a slightly different route we had enough wind for all but 6 hours of motoring. By then, the batteries needed charging anyway. We really miss the hydrogenerator for power on long trips when we use the autopilot and there is no sun overnight. We've been hand steering in the daytime. We have only seen 2 boats but they were large and close, fishing and a cruise ship. The AIS is only working out a few miles but lights and radar tell you something.

You could do this trip in 3 days if you started early am and had good winds. But in Tonga you have to check out at the dock so didn't get away until 11am. We couldn't enter the outlying reefs after dark or arrive at Savusavu in the dark so are aiming for Tues am. That has meant reefing down and travelling slowly. We are travelling through the islands today so it is more scenic than the ocean passages.

Fiji has 332 islands covering 274,000 square miles if you count the water. That is why it is taking a day and a half just to get to the first check in spot. Here we leave Polynesia and enter Melanesia. The word means "black islands". The native peoples came from SE Asia-a very long time ago. But half the population is Fijian Indian, the descendants of indentured slaves brought in to work the sugar cane fields. There is some unrest between the groups as the Indians run most of the businesses. The time zone is UTC plus 12, the same as NZ. That puts us close to a third of the way around the world from our start.

On the Canadian homefront, Rob's dad, Norm had a 90th birthday bash last weekend in Wpg. I hear it was a great event. Mike and Dave's crew flew out from our family. Looking forward to some pictures when we get internet again. Unfortunately, his mom, Nora, had another small stroke this week so is not doing as well. Wish we were closer!

A few parting thoughts on Tonga. The economy is based on foreign aid and Tongans sending cash home after moving to other countries. Expats seem to run all the businesses. We noticed another customer in a restaurant wearing a Wpg Blue Bombers tshirt. Of course, we introduced ourselves, with Rob wearing his Banff tshirt. The couple have moved to Neiafu and had just purchased a local restaurant that they hope to improve and make a living from. We wish them luck but I hear the success rate is not that good.

We have met some cruisers that we have crossed paths with in previous ports. Especially the young Norwegian couple from Milla that we have seen in 5 locations since Feb. They have sold their boat here to Kjell, another Norwegian who represented the BPO for us here .Also went to brunch with a single hander from Italy who anchored next to us in the San Blas in Jan. The king was to visit this week so missed that.

We will miss waking up to the sound of church singing and bands on shore. And the relaxed pace of life.