Pumice. We left Tonga after nearly two weeks waiting for weather. As we approached Fiji, more and more areas of pumice appeared. Errupting underwater volcanoes were the cause of the pumice. We tried not to use the engine when there was pumice around, because we worried that it would get sucked into the engine and damage it.

On the way to Fiji two sections of our roller furler came apart, eventually rubbing through the jib and causing a tear. Our main goal in Fiji became fixing this sail.

Savu Savu Harbor, our first landfall in Fiji

This is the anchorage where we ran aground on a submerged reef as we looked for a spot to anchor. Luckily, our boat wasn't damaged. We stopped here overnight on our way to Lautoka, the nearest city with a sailmaker. We anchored next to this container ship, the only other boat there. That night, the wind picked up to 25 knots and it blew that way for about a week. Because the wind between islands can get funneled to much greater speeds, we stayed in another nearby anchorage waiting for that weather to pass.

Finally made it to Lautoka. We are in Vuda Point Marina, a hurricane hole, because of an early hurricane that was headed towards Fiji. It dissipated about 150 miles from Fiji, but not before hitting Vanuatu.

Got the sail repaired!!