Cyclone Season

The warm, humid summer season is now beginning in Fiji. This means lots of rain, warm temperatures, and high humidity. These are the conditions that lead to the formation of cyclones. The second last cyclone to hit Fiji was Winston in February 2016. It was classified as a category 5 cyclone and reached wind speeds of 265 km/h. Across the country, 900,000 people were left without power, and 43 people lost their lives. On December 17, 2020, Cyclone Yasa reached the Fiji Islands. Yasa was the strongest cyclone ever observed in the South Pacific. It reached wind speeds of up to 345 km/h. This tropical storm also caused significant damage amounting to millions of dollars.

Cyclone

From an insurance perspective, staying in a cyclone zone is risky for us sailors, as most insurance companies exclude liability for stays between latitudes 10° and 30°. Alternatively, you have to take out extra insurance to cover the risk, which is extremely expensive. That's why we decided to sail to New Zealand. We have therefore spent the last few days intensively preparing for the trip. An important entry requirement for New Zealand is the cleanliness of the hull. New Zealand requires proof that the hull has been cleaned before entering New Zealand waters. The cleaning must have been carried out no more than 10 days before departure. In addition, provisions must be well planned. Food, especially pork products, is not allowed. Insects or any other creatures are prohibited anyway. So we are clearing the decks to make a good impression when clearing customs and thus avoid any problems.

Rainy season, Fiji

Once again, it's time to say goodbye. The Tuvalu, with whom we have now spent almost a whole year, is staying in Fiji and will be buried in a hole in the ground at Vuda Marina. This option is not available for a catamaran. We do a few more things together, including dinner at the Lomani Island Resort, which is also located on Malolo Lailai. The Flametree Restaurant has a lovely atmosphere, and the food is excellent. A dance performance rounds off the evening. Our farewell dinner almost fell through because the first heavy rains of the year started on our last evening. But the weather was kind to us, and we made it ashore and back to the boat relatively dry. In between, we enjoyed a buffet of Indian delicacies. The next day, the Tuvalu and the Odysseus head for Vuda Marina. Musket Cove is barely recognizable. When we first arrived here, there were over 100 boats at anchor or moored. The dinghy dock was hopelessly overcrowded at all hours of the day. Now there are only a few boats left, and we were the only ones moored at the dinghy dock today. 

Deserted beaches in the off-season, Fiji

Nevertheless, all bars and restaurants are open. After all, the resort guests still need to be entertained. So there is still live music in the Island Bar on Sundays. The grill sizzles with juicy steaks, and there is more than enough to drink. Our last week here in Musket Cove has begun. On Monday, we will sail to Denerau and then clear customs out of Fiji. If everything goes according to plan, we will set off for New Zealand on November 15, weather permitting. In the midst of our preparations, we receive the news that the Kivavera lost its mast on the voyage from Tahiti to the Marquesas. Of course, this is not good news, especially when you are about to embark on such a long voyage as we are planning. A lot goes through your mind at times like this. Fortunately, no one was injured, and the Kivavera was able to return to Papeete. We wish the crew all the best and hope that everything can be repaired quickly. 

Evening atmosphere at Musket Cove, Fiji

For us, this means that we will take another close look to make sure that everything is in order. There will still be a residual risk, but we are aware of that. With this in mind, we wish everyone, as always, fair winds and keep a stiff upper lip.