Arrived Savu Savu Fiji - 21 June 2022

Bula Bula, the welcome as Mele took our mooring lines for the buoy at Copra Shed Marina Savu Savu 13.30 today - 10 days and 5 hours after leaving Bora Bora.

So we lost Monday; as we crossed the international dateline and I think Sunday night we will put in the same category.... we were having a perfect sail in northerly winds of about 10-15knots all afternoon, then the wind dropped and we put the engine on for a couple of hours. As the sun was setting we saw some sploshes, dolphins welcoming us to Fiji. On the bow I wasn't sure if they were dolphins or small whales. The colouring was super dark, with a round head and a curved skinny dorsal fin - will have to check online later. They rode the bow briefly and then went off into the night.

I went off watch, the wind picked up and Andrew had a fun sail through til midnight when the wind dropped and a storm cell approached from the west; it turned out to be the trough that we had been hoping we wouldn't have to cross. We furled the genoa and we were back under engine. With the squall the wind backed to the West and increased to almost 30 knots of aparant wind right on the nose. It really was pretty yuck or a few hours and we had little option but to change direction and seek protection from a nearby island. In the lee of the island, the sea smoothed and the wind eased. I slept ;-)

As the sun came up we saw the beautiful Taveuni Island, sunshine and a glassy sea, wow so beautiful. We gingerly approached the tip of the island about 8am and to our relief the wind had gone and we could motor across the bay to Savu Savu - about 40 miles. It was glassy, so we took the opportunity to run the water maker, wash the boat and do a load of laundry in the washing machine. Nothing like arriving in port organised and clean.

We haven't been ashore yet, but we have passed health testing and the immigration and customs officials will be on board soon. There's two marina's here; the other marina has two boats on buoys clearing in this afternoon too but the engine on their boat tender isn't working, so we have seen them rowing the officials around, it could be some time.

We are super excited to be here and get off exploring, I can already see hot springs bubbling in the creek where we are moored, the health officials also told us where to get the best curries - love from Fiji.

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