[password] caesar

[position] 18 47.096s 179 48.999e

[status] 1700 hrs 30 May 2018. Had a good day sailing in the fabled S. Pacific trade winds. We officially entered Fiji waters at 0830 when I alerted Leilani in the traditional sailors' style for eons of time. I called out in a hardy voice with the wind in my face and pointing NW: Laaaaand Hoooo. It was Matuku Island. Leilani bounded up to the cockpit, took a look, and went back below into her bunk to sleep. Pretty eventful. I had our course set to take Matuku on the port side, and slide up to Moala on our starboard side, and then come up towards Savusavu Bay. About half way to Moala the trade winds decided to thwart our plan by taking a 30 degree hike clockwise to the S. We had to come up into the wind thus heading directly at Moala. As I write, we have turned on the motor to go westward to miss the island. Pretty inconsiderate of the wind, and pretty inconsiderate of Fiji placing Moala right in our way. It has been a beautiful sunny day, clear skies, and we look forward to a gloriously bright full moon tonight.

As the dolphin swims (if there were any more dolphins) we have 125nm to go. We're not going to make it to Savusavu in time for regular check-in into the country tomorrow. Refusing to pay (like we did last year) off-hours overtime of more than F$500 instead of less than half that amount for regular check-in, we're going to anchor off Cousteau Resort tomorrow night, and go in Friday morning - like we just arrived. The Resort is about 5nm away from Savusavu town where check-in occurrs.

[weather] Today had SE winds 10-14kts, SE 2mtr swell, 5% cloud cover, 1010 on the Bar, COG 350T, SOG 6kts. Based on latest grib it looks like this will continue through the night - I hope.

Sealife sightings:
Dolphins = 0
Flying Fish = 2 sighted by Leilani

Cheers
John & Leilani

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