September update

Time for a little update from the South Pacific where we have been cruising Tonga and Fiji since you heard from us the last time. In Niue we had some really rough weather and a lot of boats had big problems riding off the gale. Luckily we didn't have any other damages than a torn mainsail and some sleepless nigths.

On the passage to Tonga we had changing winds all the time – me miss the tradewinds this year – but we got there in time to see all the humpback whales coming up from the south to stay in the warmer water with their calves. One of our last days in Tonga we went snorkling with them and that was one of the most exciting expiriences we've ever had in our lifetime – lying just five meters from those great beautiful animals with the perfect whales tail beneath us.

After a few weeks in Tonga we sailed to Fiji – a three day sail – and arrived in Suva for provisioning. Sailing along the southern coralcoast we had more rough weater, but that didn't stop us from diving and enjoying the beaches and local hospitality.

Sailing up the northern coast of Viti Levu we had too little wind and too much current. But we caught a sailfish on the way to the anchorage in beautiful hilly Savusavu where we spent a week spearfishing and seeing good friends and meeting new nice people.

After all that we longed for better weater and some nice daycruising. But to get that we had to take a rough sail from an anchorage near Savusavu at 3 in the morning through a narrow passage in 25 knots of wind. We were very happy when the sun got up and the weater got better as we sailed closer to the Yasawa Group. Here and in the Mamanuca Group we got what we longed for – sunny coastal cruising and swimming with great manta rays, beautiful diving and more great spearfishing.

We are now in Musket Cove spending a few days here before we make the sail to Vanuatu and New Caledonia.

Cheers from Jesper, Torben, Linn and Camille at s/y Close Encounters