Wednesday, September 10, 2014

KORO ISLAND in FIJI


KORO Island is big and high and dominates the Koro Sea in the middle of Fiji. We had an interesting sail to there. Leaving Nasasobu Bay where we visited some local friends was perfect. Weather was calm. It was early in the morning and the forecast for 15knots easterlies. Just what we needed for our sail to Koro which was 48 miles away. Dolphins guided us through the pass and I made a very good movie of them. Soon out of the reef, the wind died away. Horrible seas and swell played havoc with us. I surrendered to seasickness and feeling bad while skipper was the top of madness which the seamans vocab couldn't make better. And then it happened. A gale of a blow. (the terrible swell and sea must have had a reason). 25-30 knots, with the wind abeam, with full sails, and with me down and out - not to interfere, skipper was gaining what time and speed we had lost earlier. An hour before sunset, skipper tacked her into the northwest bay of Koro Island. Another Pacific paradise - where we walked under the fern tree where snakes crawled over each other. We moved with haste away from danger. And everybody we show the film to, is in disbelief.