If you’ve participated in the Musket Cove Regatta this year, check out our article in this month’s Ahoy magazine on the Downunder Rally page! You might be on the pics
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2023
16
Oct
2023
16
Oct
Exchanging gifts
In Fiji it’s traditional to bring a gift when you visit another island/village, not just for foreigners, but also for locals. You present this sevusevu (usually a bundle of kava) and the chief speaks a prayer and welcomes you as a member of the village. In the traditional islands of the Lau group you then get a host family and it’s a very nice cultural… Continue reading »
2023
15
Oct
Holidays in wonderland
The weather is still rather cool, but we’re using the sunny days here in Fulaga to go snorkeling in the fabulous pass and explore the wonderland of mushrooms islands by kayak. After an extended time of health issues and work projects it’s good to be out and about again… Fulaga is a raised atoll, so what used to be the outer reef and coral heads… Continue reading »
2023
09
Oct
Trip to Fulaga
We still have lots of things to organise and to do in Matuku, but the material for the tabu buoys has not arrived yet, so we have time for a little trip to another, pretty island in the Lau group. We have left in the afternoon with perfect conditions to sail due east and should arrive tomorrow morning in Fulaga. 95 nm to go, southerly… Continue reading »
2023
05
Oct
Colder than usual
It has been blowing hard for weeks now with only short interruptions with a squash zone on top of a high above New Zealand bringing accelerated trade winds to the area of Fiji. We’re glad about the cold weather and don’t mind wearing socks and hoodies for a while longer, as the cool breeze keeps the temperature of the water down as well. The Eastern… Continue reading »
2023
01
Oct
Revisiting places
It was great to come back to “our island” Matuku, see familiar faces everywhere and get a wonderfully warm welcome from our hosts Jiko and Penina and their daughters. We have met Ratu Niu, the chief of the main village, as well and had a long, interesting talk about environmental issues with him. Today we were invited for a spectacular Sunday lunch with shrimp and… Continue reading »
2023
26
Sep
Sailing eastwards to the Lau
Finally we are underway to the Lau Islands again! The past few days have flown by in a flurry of boat projects, shopping, organising, meeting people, while keeping an eye on the ever-changing weather forecasts… What looked like a nice weather window with NE winds to sail SEwards turned into a nasty front, too short to actually reach our destination. We have postponed our departure… Continue reading »
2023
25
Sep
Spreading the word about sustainable fishing
Tiki is originally from Ono-i-Lau in the the Lau group, lives in Suva and gives her best to help her island with fund raisers and organising things for the islanders. When she heard about our project for sustainable fishing, she contacted us, so we met up yesterday for a chat, brought some of our newly made brochures for her to take to Ono-i-Lau and she… Continue reading »
2023
25
Sep
Update on the Matuku Marine Reserve
The little Island of Matuku in the Lau Group is installing 3 big no-fishing zones around their island to guarantee sustainable fishing in the future. We have been trying to raise support for the project and a big thank you goes to all of you, who have donated for the project so far! This week we’ve been running around in Suva organising things and there’s… Continue reading »
2023
24
Sep
New windlass
When our neighbours in the marina gave away their Muir Cheetah windlass for free (they replaced most gadgets on their newly bought boat) Christian couldn’t resist and grabbed it–after all the Cheetah is the bigger (and younger) sister of our beloved, but elderly Muir Cougar. An upgrade from 1000 W to 1200 W, a newer motor–great! It turned into a major undertaking as we had… Continue reading »
2023
19
Sep
Sailing to Suva
Three days ago we finally had a weather window to start our trip eastwards again. We set out in a stiff breeze from the North with Pitufa rushing downwind in 25 to 30 knots, only to run out of wind once we had rounded the SW cape of Viti Levu with some motoring/motorsailing/drifting to reach the island of Beqa. The following day we used a… Continue reading »
2023
12
Sep
Musket Cove Regatta
The annual regatta event here in Fiji was taking place last week and we were in the middle of it taking photos! 3 races, lots of side events and fun evenings at the Musket Cove Resort Island Bar and Restaurant. As soon as I’ve sorted through all the pics I’ll post a gallery here on the blog
2023
26
Aug
Squids
Most people hear squid and think “Calamari fritti”, but here in Fiji we meet squids when we go snorkeling and these fascinating, colour-changing, curious creatures are so much more than the rubbery rings that are served in restaurants. Quite often they hang out next to the boat, preferably near the anchor chain in line formations, constantly chatting with each other by complicated shifts in colour.… Continue reading »
2023
15
Aug
Passive pollution
Remember the times when smoking was still allowed in restaurants and bars? You’d go in as a non-smoker for a quick drink, cough in the murky-looking air for a while and return home with red eyes, smelly hair and clothes. Those unlucky enough to work in such an environment often had negative effects on their health, so everyone agreed at some point that “passive smoking”… Continue reading »
2023
08
Aug
Winter in Fiji
Fiji lies at 17° south, so it doesn’t get properly cold, but we (tropical islanders that we are) still call June to September winter, get out socks and hoodies and drink lots of tea (to warm up after an outside shower) and mulled wine for sundowners instead of cold beer. Especially while the southeasterly winds are blowing and bring cold air masses from the south… Continue reading »