Over Half-way to Fiji

This post has been delayed while we got over the worst seasickness either of us have had since we have had the boat. Your life if miserable and you don't have the energy or will power to do anything. The seas were rough, not big, just rough and the winds strong and constant. You move through the day and night in a fog. We did not eat for two days and actually had a hard time keeping even water down. Medication helped but a change in weather was what really fixed it.

Today and yesterday have been beautiful. We are at 26 45S and 176 54E right now and gently sailing. It is about 500nm to Suva, the capital of Fiji on the big island. We are actually slowing down so we do not get there on Monday which is supposed to be a holiday. Not good to check in on a holiday - very expensive. So we should arrive on Tuesday (Monday in the US).

We haven't seen any fish or mammals on this passage. Usually we have flying squid all over the boat and see dolphins or whales. Cindy did have a cute visitor while I was off watch sleeping. It was a tiny, tiny little bird that came out of nowhere and spent about an hour in the cockpit. It had a bright red face and black wings with some yellow. Not sure what it was or what it was doing out here. It was probably tired and looking for water and food. It finally flew off and I never saw it.

It is getting warmer each day. When we started it was in the 40's and very, very chilly. We lived in our foul weather gear day and night. Night watches were cold! Now it is warm enough for shorts and tees during the day but gets chilly at night. It will get warm enough to be only shorts in a couple of days.

Our passage this time is over 1100nm and will take about 10 days. Would have taken 9 days but we are slowing down on purpose. We have had some minor squalls in addition to the extremely strong and nasty near-gale conditions we had the first two days out of NZ.

I will try to get Yotreps updated daily from now on while we are on passage. When we get to Fiji we will not update Yotreps while parked. Hope all is well with all our friends and family.

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