Bula everyone!!
Catching up and Ocean Sapphire have arrived at Vuda marina, Fiji.
A few fun facts for you all:
Ocean Sapphire
Total number of days sailing 12
Distance sailed 1604 nm = 2970km.
Average boat speed for the duration of the crossing 5.7knots = 10.75km per hour (including 1 day becalmed and one day with crazy storms)
Fastest boat speed 13.2 knots
Slowest boat speed 0 knots.
Total engine hours = 19 hours
Diesel used 122 litres. 76 for engines while motoring down the seaway, sail changes ( turning the boat into the wind) charging the house batteries and heating the hot water. 44 litres for running the generator to charge our house batteries. We use alot more power on an ocean crossing as we have an extra fridge on for fresh food, the autopilot is running 24/7 and the sails shade the solar panels whilst sailing. It’s great to have a generator as an alternative source of charging the batteries.
We can easily divide our crossing into 3 sections.
The first 6 days were some of our best ocean sailing. With small swell and favourable winds we had the code 0 up making good miles. It was very pleasant.
Then the wind died out prior to the expected storm front. We decided to wait, hoping the storm would pass in front of us which as you know it didn’t!
The next day was frustrating as the forecasted wind direction didn’t happen and not many miles were achieved. We did however catch a very tasty Spanish mackerel within 5 minutes of putting a hook in the water.
We then move onto the next stage of the passage.
High wind days - usually at least 25knots meant we made some great distances. Two x 170nm days plus 2 x 167 nm days. Not bad considering everyday we had reefs in the main and headsail to make the sails smaller and put less pressure on the rigging. The swell was 2-2.8 metres so we are ready for the rodeo from the bouncing around. Normally we would have slowed the boat down more to make a more comfortable ride but we needed to beat the forecasted easterly wind change. It arrived as we arrived. A head wind would have made the sailing much harder. Yesterday especially was rather bouncy.
So while we are tired from broken sleep and continuous motion we are elated to arrive. At the moment we are on a quarantine bouy waiting for Border Force to arrive to process us.
Once we are checked in and have received our cruising permit we are free to explore Fiji.