Well we made it through day number one!

Long line at Customs and Immigration with all the boats wanting to leave on this “weather window”. Everyone talking in line about strategies and why this is a good time to leave. I’m not convinced lots of non favorable conditions and a dead line at the end made for some tough decisions but decided to go with the heard. Leaving Fiji in a conga line or the autobahn was pretty crazy we counted 20+ boats in a line all motoring out of the wind shadow looking to start sailing.

Normally I like to start these longer passages early in the day, to have a full day of nice sunlight and getting “sea legs” or used to the motion of the boat in the day light before darkness settles in. There are no street lights to guide your way at night, and we are in a “new moon” phase so the moon doesn’t eve show up to help light the way. It’s also overcast and grey so no stars – not really a champagne sailing kinda day but off we go.

We get out the pass around 2pm and barely before dark have the full force of the wind that was lurking behind the shadow of the big FIji island. Then the seas that go with 20knots of wind also showed up. Bouncy but fast night. Not that comfortable. Even started with only half of the sail, 2 reefs. Eventually raised some more, but the a bit later dropped it back down.

At the start there were lots of boats around, but as the night grew on everyone was taking their own path and speed, and then there were no boat lights on the horizon before day break. Some were still on AIS, radio tracking. With all the bouncing around our AIS antenna had enough of trying to hold on any longer and jumped ship. We saw him hanging from a wire contemplating his fate, but there was nothing we could do to change his mind. Eventually he let go of the coax and bailed on us. He held in there for 26000 miles at the top of the mast since Costa Rica, I can only imagine he was getting a little tired of all those waves we have bounce through. So no we are not seeing the boat even electronically or worse yet, not broadcasting our position to nearby boats so they can see us. Something to address at the first camp site along the way, meaning New Zealand.

All well onboard. Christine is well medicated and not showing signs of being green or wanting to talk to the fish. She even got her some pulled pork tacos to start the journey off right. 1100 miles as the crow flies on this journey down south into much colder weather.

I was asked if I was gong to wear socks.. “Socks??” I asked, and he replied “it’s like mittens but for your toes”. Wonder if they work with Flip-Flops?

Investigation into why Mr Spinnaker would jump ship in the middle of the night revealed that he had help. Not exactly sure of who his accomplice was but the evidence points to the shackle. The wayward crew member waited just the exact moment to escape the shackle that bound him to our service. After pulling him back on board and a full check over all is back in place for the next time his service is required. If he tries the same trick again, he will also have to deal with a dyneema lashing that is the backup in case that becomes unscrewed again.

It’s not a normal marine shackle and I assume its bent a bit as it took some good leverage to get the nut closed so I would be surprised if it ever comes apart again, but just in case the stronger than steel dyneema lashing is there as a backup.

Today was not a spectacular day. It was gray and overcast with rain squalls all day long and they are continuing into the night again. We are just running the jib and making decent progress at a comfortable ride. Actually with the high winds and high waves we have been surfing quite fast a lot today. Max surf at 11.7 and all day average of 6 knots with just a foresail.

Enough to get us to Fiji, we saw some of the outer island when we still had 120 miles to go. The rain and dark clouds made spotting them a bit of a challenge. None the less we have 90 or so miles left to the anchorage. Where a beer and customs/immigration and a long nap on less bouncy boat will be in order. Most likely in that order.

Tonights project, use up the last of the fresh veggies before we have to turn them in, cabbage will be coleslaw, cucumbers will be marinated, apples will be eaten, tomatoes will be salsa. Might have to turn in a onion or two. Limes …hmmm…. Margaritas? That would be awesome, but sure the customs and immigration would appreciate slurring of the vocabulary.

A pretty sweet passage, 12 days – We left Saturday around noon will arrive Thursday around noon – but its actually a Friday because we crossed the date line. We are now in the future. Looks the same but only newer. This is one day longer than our Easter Island to Gambier, French Polynesia but a bazillion times smoother passage and easier more comfortable passage. Christine did amazing. No sign or hint of seasickness that comes from sailing over night, might be getting used to it? Or just highly medicated on this extra long trip.

I will try and remember to post an arrival notice, but with beer and sleep being the priority I hope I don’t forget like I normally do.