Getting Restless in Savusavu

April 4, 2015

We are still sitting on our mooring ball off the Copra Shed Marina in Savusavu, Fiji, waiting out cyclone season and contemplating our next move. As much as we enjoy Fiji it is time to think about moving on. We have revamped our itinerary for the next season (surprise! surprise!) and have signed up for the ICA’s Indonesia Rally that begins in Cairns, Australia, in July and travels through Indonesia ending in Singapore. We would typically avoid any large gathering of boats, but we have a number of friends that have signed up and the Rally handles the red tape of checking into the various Indonesia provinces. Our daughter Jennifer will likely join us for part of the Indonesia run.

Later this month we will be joined by our friend and neighbor Alan from California. We will enjoy a few days sailing around Fiji before heading south to Vanuatu. We have signed up with Sea Mercy to take relief supplies to the outer islands of Vanuatu that were devastated last month by cyclone Pam. If that falls through we may skip Vanuatu and head directly to New Caledonia.

Life in Savusavu has been relaxing yet filled with boat projects. We find time to take day trips which have included lunch and snorkeling at our friend Olivia’s property, a hike to Olivia’s waterfall, the three-day Fijian women’s trade fair, and a dive trip to our favorite Namena. We have been treated to two wonderful meals aboard Persephone; Mili taught Sandie and Michell (S/V Enchantment) how to cook curry and Ben from the Remote Resort cooked us a 44 year wedding anniversary dinner.

Our shipment from the States finally arrived two months late with thirteen boxes of projects and brand new anchor chain. Brian is busy removing the rust stains caused by our old anchor chain. The big news is that our generator is working! Our mechanic Sam has replaced the rings that were stuck due to saltwater intrusion. We have added a larger water-lift muffler and a check valve to the exhaust system to avoid similar problems in the future, or so we hope.

It has been a slow cyclone year except for Pam that skirted down the west side of Fiji dumping lots of rain with moderate winds in the 30kt range. We yachties took it seriously and diligently prepared our boats for the havoc that never came. Unfortunately, Pam made a direct hit on Vanuatu with record setting winds and death tolls. We hope to be able to help the outer islands that have lost almost everything.

We have fallen into a comfortable routine at the end of each day where we shower and go into the yacht club for cards, comradery, and usually dinner. The sunsets are amazing and we have a wonderful view of Persephone from the bar’s deck. Two boats have bridge players and we are enjoying afternoon and evening bridge parties. We have made many friends here and feel like the small town of Savusavu and its cruising community has really been home to us. But we are cruisers and the urge to move on grows with the changing weather. We plan to leave Savusavu next week and do a slow run to Port Denarau where we will pick up Alan.