a family journey at sea and a rite of passage...: Fiji

The passage to Fiji took three days as we crossed the international date line into the eastern hemisphere. Travis caught a Mahi Mahi and we saw a large pod of short-finned pilot whales around the yacht. The sea state improved when we passed the Lau group of islands and we arrived in Savusavu on the island of Vanua Levu in the north. Our first job was to careen Moana Roa at low tide to service the props. In town we enjoyed the markets, the Indian curries, a local bus trip to a waterfall, the yacht club and junior sailing. It was then time to explore the islands in company with yachts Tashi Delek (UK) and Suduoeste (NZ). Snorkelling at the Namena reefs was excellent followed by a fantastic few days at Makogai Island, a former leper colony and shoat (sheep that look like goats!) station. As is custom in Fiji we presented some Yangona roots for a Sevusevu ceremony to the village elders in the absence of the chief and we were welcomed into the life of the village. The Yangona is the root of a pepper tree used to make the intoxicating kava for the ceremony. Travis had his 15th birthday while we sailed from the north to Viti Levu in the south a day after Fiji's first post-coup election. We celebrated the night before with a progressive dinner between the three yachts. Here are some recent pics...