We departed on Monday at 6pm, 15 minutes behind SV Javalot and SV Fanny Fisher and motored out into the evening sky which was cloudy. Motor sailed for about 2 hours and since there was enough wind we hoisted the mainsail and genoa. We have been sailing ever since with 15-25 knot winds on a beam reach. The seas have not been very rough but every now and then a wave would come out of nowhere and splash into the cockpit. Jim got soaked thrice on his watches! You could hear the wave break, the splash of water and the swearing that came after. One wave broke into the cockpit while the generator was running to charge our depleted batteries. It wouldn’t run after that so it’s another thing we’ll have to fix in Fiji. The cushions in the cockpit are soaked with salt water, the footwell has an inch of water in it as it doesn’t drain well when we’re heeling and the driest place to sit is the top of the stairs of the hatch, not too safe when you’re half asleep.

Our bed got wet as we left the window in the foot well open. So Jacintha and I can sleep sideways in it but Jim has to sleep on the sofa in the living room. We’re all tired and cranky and I’m tired of having wet feet!

We’re approaching the first reef system in Fiji in the Lau group and we have to turn north and head to Suva Suva where we’ll check in.

The clouds have disappeared and the sun has risen and it looks like a sunny day so hopefully we’ll be able to dry out a little. But after having a lovely rain wash the boat out with fresh water everything is salty again and with the sun little salt crystals will form all over the boat – I should start my own Pacific sea salt farm!