We spent a lovely week in Funafuti, Tuvalu. But, it was time to make the journey south east towards Fiji.
The forecast showed light winds, rain, and seas between 1-2 meters.
Prior to leaving we filled up on duty free fuel diesel.
Pacific Energy typically fuels 200 liter drums with their large nozzles. These nozzles are too big for our jerry cans. Our solution was to fill a 200 liter drum. And then use a hand pump to transfer the fuel from the drum to our (10) jerry cans.
We transported the (10) jerry cans across the street, down the beach, in the surf to the dinghy, and then on to the boat!
Passage to Fiji
We departed early on a Saturday morning. We spent the first 5 hours motoring across the lagoon, out of the pass, and then down the eastern side of the island.
Day 1: The first 24 hours were really calm. We had really light winds (4-6kts) and could not sail at all. So, we motored for the first 24 hours.
The night brought rain showers and squalls. The days had sunshine and rainbows.
However, Days 2-4 we had just enough wind to raise the main and genoa to full sail. The days were beautiful with full sunshine, blue skies, white puffy clouds and decent conditions.
Yes, we could have used more wind, but with the boat “injured” it was best to have these light winds.
We wanted to go through the Somosomo Straight (between Vanua Levu and Taveuni) during the day. However, we did not arrive until evening. Lucky for us we had tracks and great charts.
We lost the wind completely between the two islands and motored through the narrow channel. We arrived to the Savusavu channel perfect timing around 0800.
- Traveled: Funafuti, Tuvalu to Savusavu, Fiji
- Distance Travelled: 561 nautical miles
- Total Time at Sea: 97 hours (4 days)
- Motoring Time: 37 hours (ouch)
- Average Speed: 5.8 and Max Speed 11kt
Matt and I under passage
The top red arrow is Funafuti, Tuvalu. We passed many tiny atolls and islands in route to Fiji including Niulakaita Island (green arrow). And we re heading to Savusavu, Fiji the black arrow.
Arriving Fiji
Now, the tricky part. We need to maneuver the boat in the very narrow channel to the mooring. We had a local cruiser on stand by with his dinghy and Copra Shed Marina sent their staff to assist as well.
Savusavu, Fiji channel
Matt was able to align the boat with a mooring. However, before we could pick it up a large roll on / roll off tanker asked us to move so they could get past us. He is barreling toward us and there is nothing we can do but try to reverse.
Unfortunately, once Matt reversed we had no way to get back to the mooring.
The marina guy towed us back to the mooring. What a heart stopping event as we are surrounded by channel markers, buoys and boats.
We are here and settled. This will be home for many weeks as we await our boat parts and start on all of the repairs.
Formalities in Fiji
Once we were settled on the mooring, the marina organized the officials.
The Health official arrived first. She checked under our beds, in our bathrooms, inside the fridge and freezer looking for bugs.
We passed.
Immigration, Customs, and Biosecurity were next. A short 30-minutes later and we were officially cleared into the country!
Fiji Officials Clearing us into the Country
A boat full of school kids passed by and shouted “Bula.” It was the perfect welcome to this amazing country!
Our blog posts run 8-10 weeks behind actual live events. We were under passage toward the end of April 2025.
We celebrate the bombing of Funafuti, Tuvalu – check it out!