Currently anchored at Nananu I Cake at 17:19.14S 178:13.26E

 

It would appear that the brain surgery on the Genset went well as we now have a dry bilge so very happy on board.

 

Mal joined us at Savusavu on the 21st where we did a bit of provisioning and had a fantastic meal at the Surf and Turf restaurant that we had heard great reports about and were definitely not disappointed.  On the 22nd June we departed the marina and headed down to the Cousteau Resort for a few days to do a bit of snorkelling and also go out for a meal as we have heard it is a great night plus Mark still owes me a birthday dinner.

 

We are finding it a little sad when we depart from places now as we are not sure if and when we will get back as Mustang Sally will be heading back to Australia at the end of this sailing season.

 

The weather during our time at the Cousteau’s anchorage was not so good and had a couple of days of cloudy drizzly weather but didn’t stop us from heading out for a walk or two and doing a couple of snorkelling expeditions.  We also caught up with Blue Summit who are friends of the Whistlers so hoping to catch up with them down the track as they are planning to come across to Australia later this year.

We decided Monday was the day to head down to Makogai Island as the wind was reasonably light and a little more in the East which helps a lot as the first 20NM of the passage is due South to get you around Namena Reef before easing sheets to get to the entrance through the passage into Makogai.  The weather man was pretty much spot on although we did have to do a bit of motor sailing to get us around the reef.

 

We headed into the settlement at Makogai on Tuesday morning and were met by one of the local who gave us the tour of the clam hatchery and the old lepers colony including relics from the old cinema, schools, church and cemetery.  We even got to see the old Lister diesel generator which is still being used to make power for the settlement and clam farm.  There is quite a bit of building going on at the settlement with 7 new homes being built to house the clam hatchery workers...

 

 

 

After a couple of lovely days at Makogai we left the anchorage early on Wednesday morning for the sail back to the main island of Viti Levu. 

We had a rollicking sail across the main channel across Bligh Waters before heading to the inside channel which is quite protected and made for a lovely sail up to Viti Levu Bay.  Unfortunately Mal, who is a keen fisherman, is not having a lot of luck in the fishing department – apart from a few strikes nothing has yet been landed so looks like it will Chicken Curry for dinner tonight.

 

 

After our stop at Viti Levu Bay we headed north for around 10NM to the current anchorage off the island of Nananu I Cake – one of our favourite kite boarding locations.

We arrived on the 28th and were pleased to see both Fusio and Whistler in the anchorage and our kiting.

 

The last two days we have all been out kiting which has been lots of fun.  We had sun downers on Whister on Wednesday evening so that we could all catch up (big thankyou to Margy and Monty).  This morning we took the dinghies over the Ellington Wharf and caught a taxi in to the town of Raki Raki to do some provisioning so that we are able to spend a bit more time here before heading back to Denarau to pick up our next guest – Miss Amanda.

 

 

All the forecasts and models have been advising that we are to have strong winds through to about Tuesday and looking like they are spot on.  The wind really started to kick in mid morning and it is blowing a treat now.  We are heading our again for sun downers again this evening despite the windy conditions but think we will be taking spray jackets as sure it is going to be a wet trip!!