“We’re sailing…”

After six months in New Zealand, Persephone and crew are once again cruising and are currently anchored in Suva Harbor, Fiji. Our stay in NZ was exceptional and it was difficult to say good bye to our Kiwi friends, but winter was coming on and we were longing for the warmth of the tropics.

Before leaving we squeezed in a three day land trip to the picturesque Coromandel Peninsula. Then we made a last minute decision to haul the boat and repaint the bottom. We spent six days on the hard at Dockland 5 boat yard and enjoyed the close community of boaters that were also preparing to head north. We can’t recommend Dockland 5 highly enough; great work and greater attitudes.

A favorable weather window started shaping up so we sold the camper and left the Town Basin Marina where Brian and Sharron have been wonderful hosts. We spent the night in Marsden Cove where we fueled up and checked out of the country. We were one of about 32 boats departing that Saturday from Marsden and Opua, literally a flock of boaters heading north for the winter.

We set sail as a weather ridge moved through giving us a big push north up into the southeast trade winds. We quickly settled into our offshore watch routine for what looked like an ideal cruise. But after five days we were met with rain and high winds that stayed with us for the remainder of the trip. We entered Suva Harbor at midnight in the rain seven-and-a-half days after leaving Marsden Cove. We took hot showers and slept like the dead.

Suva has changed quite a bit since our last visit 25 years ago, but the Royal Suva Yacht Club is still as wonderful and welcoming as it was then. Cruisers from around the world congregate at the bar each evening swapping sea stories while downing Fiji Bitter.

We have re-provisioned and are preparing to head out to the outer islands tomorrow where we will spend our days visiting remote villages, diving, and working on our tans which seem to have vanished. We will post when possible.

Coromandel Peninsula

Coromandel Peninsula

Coromandel Peninsula

Adam tends the BBQ at a Dockland get together

Washdown at Dockland 5 boatyard.

Sharron waves as we depart Town Basin Marina

The Headlands leaving Marsden Cove

Catching some sleep off watch

Hash browns for breakfast

We dodged the occasional rain squall

Tail end of a weather system that pushed us north

We were heavily reefed for the last couple of days at sea

The Yacht Club is “home” to many a sailor.

Guard at the Fijian Presidential Palace

We anchored next to the Picton Castle in Suva Harbor