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Fiji Islands - June 2011 |
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After waiting 21 days for a break from northerly winds we set sail from Nelson on the 18th of May 2011. Our crew of 14 composition by nationality were: 3-Yanks, Evan, Megan & Dan, 3-Swedes, Anton, Jonas & Eric, 2-Germans Franzi & Ulf, 2-Brits, Dai & Shelly, Belgian Jay, French Canadian Kim-Danielle (AKA Kanuk), Frenchwoman Kim and Kiwi Lachlan. Our weather window, as the yachties like to call it, was fresh on the heels of a sou-westerly gale. Thirty-five knots and a 4-metre sea is the sort of weather suited for Alvei, especially when it is pushing us in the right direction. Three days later we were out in the Tasman Sea, 180 miles nor-west of Auckland. We were headed by a moderate nor-easter. This turned into a northerly gale. The thing to do in this sort of situation is to tack off shore, heave-to and wait for a wind shift. (This manoeuvre may be used for sailing as well as a variety of social dilemmas.) By the time the wind backed to the west and died away we had been blown around in an elliptical circle some 70 miles in diameter. After the gale died away our tall German lad asked me to call a helicopter to take him back to land. I explained that since it was not a medical emergency, the cost of a helicopter would be in the area of $2000 dollars an hour and to count on a 4 hour round trip. He decided to stay for a while. Another 3 days we were over the top of Three Kings Islands sailing close hauled into a fresh sou-easter. At 31 degrees south we were again headed by a nor-easter. The wind turned into a northerly force-8 gale with 6 metre seas. By this time most of the crew was used to the weather. No other choice but to heave to and ride it out. One evening on watch I happened to glance forward to see a wave, with a nearly vertical face, towering over the galley. If a person had been standing on deck next to the galley they could have leaned out and touched the face of the wave. It was high enough to peak half way to the lower yard. If it had broken it would have dumped tons of water on the galley. But as it was, Alvei heeled over and rose up over the top of the wave. I just love it when she does that. And again we were blown around in an elliptical circle with a 60-mile east-west axis. (This same weather pattern would happen twice more before we found the trade winds. Only the next two times were light head winds.) The next two weeks were calms and light headwinds. We used the motor for 4 days. During this time, one of the crew, who had been on medication for a bi-polar disorder, began showing signs of schizophrenic delusions and paranoia. After a chat with him I learned he had altered his medication schedule then stopped taking his meds altogether. There were concerns that he might hurt himself or other members of the crew by his erratic behaviour. He was taken off watch and placed under 24-hour guard. Our registered nurse, Kim-Danielle, got him back on his meds and somewhat stabilized. We finally found the trade winds at 20 degrees south as we entered the Fijian Lau Group. Then motor sailed the last 3 days to Savusavu on Vanua Levu. Our voyage north to the tropics was a 37-day passage with 3 gales and 17 days of headwinds totalling 2003 nautical miles. We ran the engine 268 hours, which was more than twice the normal amount for this kind of passage. Our divers got to check out the reefs at the Cousteau Marine Reserve. Everyone found themselves a favourite pub/restaurant and a place to do e-mails. Joining the crew in Savusavu was PNG Pete, departing was Daniel, Lachi, Eric, Antone, Jonas and Ulf. There were a few more crew waiting for us in Suva. We will be sailing to Suva in a couple of days. Evan
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