Ocean Echo 1: New Zealand to Fiji

Dear friends.

I managed to organize my old and new blog sites. All of the older blog posts (pages) have been transferred from Wordpress to current site - Blogger/Blogspot.
New Layout and Template of Ocean Echo 1 blog have been better organized. Archive of all posts (pages) and list of YouTube videos are included on main screen (page).
Pictures can be magnified/enlarged if interested. Older pictures (2010 to June 2013) will be still opened via Wordpress. Newer pictures (September 2013 and later) will open via Blogger - Picasa. Pictures at blog - Blogger can be magnified/enlarged by opening them in a new tab or window (right click on the picture and select your choice) at main blog's screen (page) or at Picasa.
YouTube videos are available in 2 options. Top of the "YouTube 10 short videos" field offers opening the videos in SAME browser tab/window and you need to go back to see the main screen (page) again. Lower part of the "YouTube 10 short videos" field allows you to open videos in NEW browser tab/window.
Back to Top button has been added to the bottom of main screen (page).

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Passage from Opua, New Zealand to South Minerva Reef and Fiji has been slow, but comfortable. Many boats were waiting for a weather window to depart from NZ. Weather has been quite unsettled and unpredictable. Eventually, when we left NZ a new Low pressure system drifted down from tropics towards Vanuatu and Fiji. I was still helping out with weather - grib file reports on Southern Cross SSB (Single Side Band) net during the passage time. This Low pressure system kept us all quite uneasy, because it could easily develop into Tropical Low or late Cyclone. It ended up passing East of our passage tracks, pushing 60-70 kts (120-140 km/h) winds.
South Minerva reef does not have as good protection at high tide as North Minerva reef. Coral reefs seem to be nicer in S. Minerva. Minerva reefs are usual stopover for the passage. This allows to wait for an other weather window for next leg to Fiji or Tonga.
I am currently anchored at Savusavu, Vanua Levu island, Fiji. My visa will be expiring at the end of September, so it will be time to move again. My visit of Fiji islands has been very enjoyable, but busy. It is a large area to explore. Fiji has many coral reefs and some tricky passages to deal with. Google Earth is essential help for navigation in these waters. Any kinds of electronic charts still have a huge position accuracy disagreements in some areas. Sailing Fiji waters single handed can be complicated at night, because the reefs and islands are fairly close together. There is no time to have a longer nap (sleep), because we need to watch the "road".
Savusavu was my first port of entry. After arrival we need to wait a few days for Fijian islands cruising permit. Permit now includes the Lau islands group, which were not included in the past. It is a major deal for us to be able to visit beautiful Lau islands. They are in remote Eastern part of Fiji, which requires hard sail against the trade winds for 2-3 days. Next blog will have more details and a lot of good pictures from Lau islands.
First trip from Savusavu was to explore Viti Levu (largest island). I have visited Suva (capital, largest city), Levuka, Lautoka, Denerau, Musket Cove, Mamanucas, Yasawas. Areas of Denerau, Musket Cove, Mamanucas, Yasawas are full of tourist resorts. Denerau is main hub for tourism, because it is close to Nadi International airport. All major resort companies are located at Denerau area. Sea water and quality of reefs are fairly poor in Denerau area, because of the river run-offs. Best way to enjoy Fiji on fly-in holiday is at their beautiful islands. Port of Denerau is commercial center for tour boats, islands resorts ferries (shuttle boats) and super yachts (mega yachts).
Kandavu and Ono islands were very nice to visit. People seem to be very friendly there. I have also visited Taveuni island and Viani Bay, which are not too far from Savusavu.
I have been catching plenty of larger Mahi Mahi fish on offshore passages. However, they are too big for one man crew, so I let them go back. Common and Spinner Dolphins visited couple of times in Fijian waters. Fijian reefs do not have too many fish around anymore. Only very small species. Sea birds in some areas.
Fiji's main population is made up by 2 ethnic groups, domestic Fijians and Indian Fijians (originating from India). Official languages are Fijian and English. English is now most used language in public communications, not Fijian.
I am enjoying visiting Fiji. At first, I was a little confused about extreme differences in this country. After seeing majority of the islands in Fiji - I can assure anyone, that there are some very beautiful areas here and a lot of nice people.

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Current address for my blog is: http://oceanecho1.blogspot.com/

(The old blog's address - http://oceanecho1.wordpress.com/)

Please, excuse my poor writing skills and grammar. Google translate does good job converting text to other languages.
I hope, that you will find something interesting in this blog.

Enjoy the blog. Jara (JJ) Holcman s/v Ocean Echo 1

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