Since we arrived in Fiji two weeks ago we have had pretty steady, strong winds. Today the wind died away! We motor sailed all the way today in very light variable winds and flat calm seas. The whole northern coast of Viti Levu is dry and brown. Many fires burning and several large areas of scorched land. The whole of Malake Island has been burned to a crisp. Last night we anchored near Mt Tuindreke and during the night huge flames we leaping high into the sky at the head of the bay. A vast area of vegetation was on fire. Everywhere you look you see large columns of smoke rising from mountainsides. The passage through the reef system looks scary when you see it on the chart, but there is plenty of room between the large patches of reef and the channel is at least 14m deep all the way. Plain sailing! It shows up pretty well on Google Earth if you want to take a look check out the area: 17 21.907S 178 15.905E is the eastern start of the passage and then we navigated out way between the northern shore and inside the banks of reef to 17 35.154S 177 25.609E which brings us out on the western side of the island. We are now anchored in the same bay where we ended our Fiji journey last year. After crewing from NZ to Fiji on the yacht "Champagne" last year we had a few days at a resort here before flying home. At that time we were still looking for the right yacht and still hoping our plans for offshore cruising would all come together. Now we are back here and our dream has come true! We still have to pinch ourselves now and then to make sure it is real. Will stock up on provisions tomorrow at Denarau before exploring the western isles.