RABI ISLAND FIJI CIRCUMNAVIGATION
We visited the new Banaban Virgin Coconut Oil Factory at Nuku and found it very interesting. Spent a week in Elizabeth Cove where the king tides and coral reef made going ashore not at convenient hours. However, Ketike showed us the spring and that in itself was a safari to remember. At Fatima we attended the Roman Catholic song and dance contest which was absolutely wonderful. And then spent a night at Tabiang anchorage,which was good. The bio-fuel plant was not open when we wanted to visit it. This morning we left with moist air (drizzle) but had a great sail - full on - through the pass and back to Catherine Bay. Our circumnavigation of Ra[m]bi Island has been completed.
RABI ISLAND FIJI
We left from Budd Reef to Ra[m]bi with good trade winds. It was a perfect sail. Good wind from a good direction, comfortable, sunny sky and short sleeve temperature. We even had a bite on our fishing line. (But he got away.) We sailed all the way around the top of the northern reef of Ra[m]bi and then followed the reef closely as we went down to Albert Cove. There are few things as beautiful as a reef on a sunny day, visible from a good angle, with poloroid sunglasses. Albert Cove is the traditional Pacific beauty - white beaches, waving palm trees and turquoise water.
SAILING BUDD REEF
We left for Budd Reef from Ra[m]bi with light winds. The reefs were good visible. But around the bottom-end of Ra[m]bi the bouncing currents and fluctuating winds made sailing a nightmare. In fact, we drifted in circles. We really should have just put the anchor down and waited. But we didn't, trusting that the wind will get firm in strength, which eventually it did. Just as we were out through the reef, a group of dolphins joined the ride across the Rabi Strait. It was hard to windward all the way. The reef at Budd Reef was not visible at all. Once inside, we had a good sail to School Bay, where we anchored for a couple of days. As the wind changed, we anchored in many bays around the islands of Budd Reef. We visited the Yanuca village and saw the meke twice. It was very good.
