“SUNDAY ISLAND” FIJI & FIJI TO HOBART – TASMANIA

The past couple of months have flown by! I have not had time to write a blog because of all the fun we have been having!
Sunday Island departed Tonga for Fiji on my birthday 22 August 2024. We sailed on a beam reach all the way, which we did in good time but it was quite uncomfortable for the family. We arrived in Denerau Fiji on25 August and sailed into the harbour just as it started to rain. We anchored in a downpour of rain, but quickly put on our wet weather gear, pumped up the zodiac and headed into Customs to clear in to Fiji. The customs, immigration and biosecurity in Fiji is quite strict and despite the rain, all departments wished to come onboard Sunday Island to have a look around. Despite us assuring we did not have any nuts and honey the bio security department directed all fresh food and eggs removed from the vessel. We applied for a cruising permit for the local island, and we were happy to receive this two days later (sometimes it can take over a week) allowing us to sail to Musket Cove in time for our friends James and Sarah Hall’s wedding.
The wedding was a blast, and so was Musket Cove! A few days later we picked up my sister Gina, her husband Fraser and son Fred and continued to cruise around the local islands. We returned to Musket Cove a few days later before the forecasted big wind, and allowing me to fly back to Australia for a friends wedding in Noosa.

On return from the Noosa wedding we sailed Sunday Island into Musket Cove marina to enjoy the Musket Cove Regatta which was an absolute blast. We rendezvoud with many old friends and also made many new friends. Gina, Fraser & Freddie left us to return home to NZ. Very quickly the week flew by, as did the final weeks of our three year cruise. As you all know, from previous blogs, last year we returned home for a few months for work and put the kids into school. Issy and Max enjoyed school so much that they have been quite enthusiastic about returning. I also secured a new contract starting in November, so we have decided to return home for a few years of work and school, and hopefully with a few “Sunday Island “ adventures in between.

Because of the winds between Fiji and Hobart we decided that it would be best for Emilie, Issy and Max to fly home and I will sail the boat. Sunday Island and I departed Fiji on the 16th of September for a 2400nm sail back to Hobart …. Solo. So here I am already 400nm into my voyage, sailing south of New Caledonia on a shy reach (70*TWA). Sunday Island is sailing beautifully, though healed over, a lot marine life landing on board and quite exciting to say the least! I think by the end of this voyage i will have one leg longer than the other, because we are on a shy reach for the next 2000nm!

I intend to catch up on blogs over the coming months and share some photographs with you all. For now you can track our progress :
CLICK ON THIS LINK
https://cms.winlink.org:444/maps/PositionReports.aspx?callsign=VK7HEW&title=Position%20Reports%20for%20VK7HEW

Issy & Max excited to be home