Another Tropical Depression

Well, it is still the rainy season in the South Pacific, but I’ve been in Fiji 19 days now and we’ve had 3 Tropical Depressions and 1 Tropical Cyclone!  We had planned on leaving Makogai and sail to Savu Savu, about 50 miles north. After getting outside the reef, the wind, seas, and rain told us to go back to the protected harbor.  We later received weather reports over the HF radio saying a strong tropical depression was headed our way.  It was reported to have an elongated spiral, one step away from forming a tropical cyclone.  We put out 125’ of chain and the 75 lb CQR anchor held well on the sand bottom.  During the next 12 hours we filled 8-gallon buckets numerous times with fresh rain water running off the bimini and poured them into the water tanks.  Wind gusts were about 40-50 knots overnight so we paid close attention to our GPS position to make sure we weren’t dragging anchor.  Things finally settled down some at daybreak but the forecast was still for strong winds and showers so we stayed another day at Makogai.

We finally left Makogai and had a nice downwind sail to Savu Savu, 50nm north.  Sailing under a reefed main and genoa, we averaged around 6.5 knots under mostly sunny skies with a few brief squalls.  It’s great being back at the Copra Shed marina.  Unfortunately, many boats were lost here during the cyclone. We were running low on food, so after a much needed shower, we went our for Indian food.