Passage to Vanuatu

Fiji was the jumping off spot for several boats leaving the ARC. Some for good. Some going to hang out and wait for the next ARC to pick up on the circumnavigation again. Whatever their reasoning they are staying in some spectacular cruising areas. I think we, who are going on, are a bit envious of their being able to spend more time in the Pacific. I know I am. Said goodbye to some really nice folks and good friends from all over the world. Hope to see them all again somewhere out there. There are 25 boats left out of the original 39.

Forecast for the passage said there would be issues. And it was correct. Some boats left a day ahead of schedule to miss some rain. Or rather to be in, and on anchor, for it. We waited till the scheduled departure hoping to sail out the rain and come into some nicer weather. Not wanting to leave Fiji and Musket Cove had something to do with it as well. It was about 50/50 for the boats leaving early or on schedule. Heard some radio chatter from the early departure group. They had some rough seas. So did we. The first day we were all a little green. It had been weeks since we had been on passage and this was a rough one to get back into the groove with. Third day out we saw solid 40 knots and gusts to 55. 10 foot seas. Some ride! For a while we were under bare poles, (meaning no sails), and doing 6 knots. Surf city! One boat reported a peak wind speed reading of 80 knots. They were about 20 miles ahead of us. Must have been some type of microburst or something. We never saw anything close to that but even if we had we would not have had any issue as we had no sails up at that point.

We have a leak in the transom where they glued the cap back on. Looked good from the outside but every time we surf a wave we get a cup or two of water in the stern scoop. Need some quiet seas at an anchorage to dry it out a bit and caulk in a repair. In the mean time the bilge alarm chirps at us once in a while. Good training for everyone to get familiar with that alarm. Its not one you want to disregard.