[password] WhistlerCFN
[position] 24 48S 179 59w
[speed] 6.5 Kts
[heading] 000T
[weather] 40% cc, Bar 1016.6, wind 14-18 kts SE, E 1.5 m swell
[status] We decided not to stop at Minerva Reef and altered course to Savusavu. If we stopped, we could not determine when we might have another good window ahead for sailing north to Fiji. It was also likely we would be all alone there. So we decided to cease the opportunity to continue to Savusavu in what should be good sailing conditions. We have sailed for 5 days and have only picked up 3 large commercial ships on our AIS, all more than 17 miles at their closest point of approach. Last night, a boat appeared headed on a collision course with us. I woke Monty and after a quick run around the cockpit, he decided it was serious so he went back to put his shorts on! We determined the boat was moving at about 4.5 knots. We could only get the MMSI number on our AIS. I tried repeatedly to hail the vessel on the VHF but there was no answer. Once the boat name appeared on our AIS, I hailed it again. The skipper finally responded, saying only "Chinese". I asked if he was fishing, no answer. Then I asked if he was trawling to which he responded, "trawling". That meant we had to avoid his stern by up to a mile or more. I said, "We are a sailing vessel", but he did not respond. After studying his heading, we turned to starboard to try to avoid him but he then turned to port, so we were still on a collision course. We started the engines and turned the boat hard to port, having to jibe our full main and genoa in 20 knots of wind. After a few miles we got back on our northerly course and sailing again, with the fishing boat passing 2 miles to our starboard. I went to bed with the adrenalin still pumping. In addition we had several squalls to negotiate with moments of calm followed by down-drafts of 25 knots. At one point we hit 15.7 knots (SOG). Having a few more squalls this am but, otherwise, very good sailing conditions though a bit bumpy with waves on the beam. Good news from our sister boats in Minerva Reef. They are both setting sail today for Savusavu. So it looks like we will have a reunion there. All is well on board but we could both use more sleep.
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