arrived and settling in. probably wondering why they came to this weather!

Went through Navula Passage at sunrise Wednesday, after heaving to in the lee of Viti Levu for a couple hours to await daylight. Spent most of the day waiting for and dealing with friendly Customs sorts, (total costs now $492 Fiji), and getting situated in a very full marina. Just now, 1845 NZDT, able to report status. Had very bad Tuesday night, with wind steady 30 gusting 40++, and 3-5+ meter confused seas regularly breaking down onto the boat as we quartered or went across the waves. Our fully enclosed center cockpit was regularly inundated. Down to reefed mizzen and quadruple reefed working genoa, still doing 8 kts on a 39 foot waterline, almost hull speed. Boat stood up well to gusts, no real problem there. We have significant clean up and repair work to do as a result of water damage from last night's waves, which found their way into places they really should not have been. On balance, a really uncomfortable, at times bordering on dangerous passage, due to sea conditions for the second half of the trip, after 3 1/2 days of motoring at the start. This was exacerbated by a steering failure in 3-4 meter breaking seas at sunset on day 4, which required an emergency heaving to so the boat was not left broadside to the breaking waves while the problem was investigated. The boat had to be left hove to for 1 1/2 days, even though the steering problem was diagnosed and repaired within a couple hours of heaving to. Overnight, sea conditions became so severe that the next day any deck work was unacceptably dangerous, precluding raising the quickly doused and hence messy sails and resuming our passage and requiring that we bear motion so violent that the only comfortable (and safe) place was in bed, until conditions settled enough after the second day and night to allow us to continue on our way. However, it all has already begun to fade to memory, and we hope to retain the positive parts of the passage and let the rest slip into the past, with lessons learned. This is the last of our reports on our passage from New Zealand to Fiji. I have not been successful in raising Taupo Marine Radio the past two days, and would appreciate GHR informing them we have arrived safely.

all is well on board. very fast, bouncy night, expect more of same until in fiji tomorrow. 165nm to go.

all Ok on board

got under way about 9:30 Sunday morning. all systems seem ok.

Hove to but at least moving in the right direction. This report from Maritme Radio

hove to, riding well. steering failure last evening, hove to for repair. problem found, solved, we think, but will not know until under way. some deck work necessary from hurried sail dousing and heaving to,seas too rough at moment to attempt. we are not in danger. no assistance is required. need winds and seas to settle before we can safely raise main and make sure works. probably will remain hove to today, based on yesterday's spot saildocs forecast. will know more after spot forecast this morning. all is well, if not especially comfortable. no worries.

wind shift about 0530, waiting for wind to fill and settle down in a direction. Once wind fills, we can shut off the faithful engine. May have to sail a bit east of route to keep wind on one side of tansom. all is well on board.

motoring still, no wind in sight. conditions comfortable, all is well on board. have been in favorable for about 12 hrs, moving right along. socks off yesterday, hooray. beef wellington dinner great, thank you Gloria.

still motoring in quiet conditions. all is well aboard. mainsail up as stabilizer. warm in cockpit yesterday, less cold last night, comfortable below.

left Marsden Cove in first wind lull of the day, about 1830. now motoring in light winds from aft. had a good first night after choppy exit seas. all is well on board.

decided to let forecast intense cold front go by overnight Sunday, and depart Monday after the excitement is over. Probably will leave sometime after noon

setting yit email on sailmail, checking it out with this report

preparing to depart NZ, finally, tomorrow, 4 Oct, for Fiji