Suva, Fiji to Noumea - Third Leg

Suva from the harbour

DAY #1 - Tuesday 15th June 

So its time to leave Suva for our 3rd leg to Noumea

1300 hrs - lifted anchor for departure. Winds 15 knots from S/E - Under full main, 3/4 Headsail
"reaching"

Beqa Island

 1800 hrs - cleared Beqa Island and set course for Noumea - 235 deg.

This Island is situated 10klms to the S/W of the main harbour area and it's main source of income is Tourism. I believe that there are approx 8-9 villages + some resorts on it. I was also told that one of their main attractions is the "Fire Walking", diving and surfing - I will definitely have to re-visit here.

2400 hrs - Position  W 177 deg, S 18 deg 15' -
wind increasing had to put 1st reef in main.

This Leg:

Distance to Noumea - 700 nm = 5-6 days
Course - 250 deg (T) 238 deg
Destination - Port Moselle Marina.



DAY #2

2400 hrs - Position: S 19 deg 07' E 175 deg 04'

0600 hrs - Position: S 20 deg 02' E 174 deg 39' - Strong winds with heavy seas and rain. Found new water leaks in topside

0630 hrs - Position: S 19 deg 15' E 176 deg 40' - Wind still increasing - dropped main completely
still experiencing strong winds (to 30 knots) and rain.

0715 hrs - Jock went to reef  Jib and discovered Furling line broken.

0915 hrs - Strange noise emanating from prop shaft - Bob checked and found that the nut from the gearbox flange was undone & flange had slipped back from gearbox - Shaft & Flange are grinding on spline - had to stop shaft spinning and Bob put ring spanner on flange bolt to stop it.

1015 hrs - hoisted Staysail to get under way - 4.5 hours
                 Position: S 19 deg 27' E 176 deg 18'

Never a Dull Moment here! I wonder what other surprises are in store for us!!!

DAY #3

- Bob was more able to inspect gearbox as the seas have abated a bit. Spline and thread to rear of gearbox appears to be OK - Cannot see spline on flange. If we can get a calm period or find a safe anchorage, Bob may be able to disconnect flange and replace to gearbox.

- Still running under Staysail only at about 5.5 knots

- Conditions still heavy and overcast with light rain.

- Wind remained strong to gale force all night and shifted towards the North, but lightened up a little before dawn.

DAY #4

Hoisted Jib at dawn as wind had eased and moved towards NW.

1200 hrs - Position: S 19 deg 58' E 172 deg 25'

                 Distance run at Noon - 110 nm

Wind -NNW 18-20 knots - - using #1 Jib (Headsail) and Staysail, Steering 240 deg when possible. (seems like this whole trip we have been heading 236 deg - 240 deg).

- Tightened nuts (back) on forestay turnbuckle.

- During the night the winds calmed and we lowered all sail to stop the flapping.

- Becalmed all night in rotten rolley swell. Everything in the boat is rattling and banging making a terrible noise and Jock stated that he wished the motor was working so we didn't have to put up with this.

DAY #5

0700 hrs - Position: S 21 deg 23' E 171 deg 50'

- Still becalmed - faint breeze from NNW - Bob is busting his arse in really bad conditions to fix the engine. The boat is really rolling around in the conditions and he has to lean down into the bilge while he works.

0920 hrs - He's done it - Bob has fixed the engine and we are underway again, motoring in dead calm conditions. The swell is also subsiding in no wind conditions.

Evening - Some swell appears but diminishes as night envelopes the sky.

1800 hrs - Position: S 21 deg 24' E 171 deg 06' - A glorious sunset - this is one of those things that most sailors truly enjoy on their travels.











DAY #6

Absolute calm all night, engine running erratically - Bob checked and found fuel filters dirty and some water in the bulbs almost black in colour.

0800 hrs - Filters drained etc - back on track. later we found where the spare filters were stored in the aft cabin and changed the old ones for new - engine now running well.

- Fixed forestay tension and furler anchor bands and lashed them.

- Still dead calm - under power on another beautiful sunset.

Day #7

Entrance to Moselle Bay, Noumea

Motored all day and night to make landfall at 10 am local time.

Ch 67 Pt Moselle have some space as we are currently moored at the visitors wharf.

We had motored some 54 hours from Saturday to arrive at Port Moselle @ 3 pm local time Monday

Bob is back working on the engine.



DAY #8

Port Moselle Marina

Bob working on locking the nut up on the spline housing @ the rear of the gear box.
Spent all day searching Noumea to find a 1 11/16" socket which we eventually found and then we had to find a socket driver - a 3/4" drive - hard to find.
Bob also was looking for that diesel leak - Bob moved the engine battery and engine room floor to check fuel lines but found no leak - actually there was quite a lot of water in the bilge - a concern.


DAY #9

Port Moselle Marina

Wed 23rd June - We are looking @ departing here on Sunday 27th and it looks like a good 6 day sail, meaning that we should arrive in Australia on Friday 2nd July, so we decided top advise the customs people that our ETA would be Thurs 1st July so they would be expecting us.
I had employed Kane Bygraves of Aurora Logistics to assist in the importation of Fete into Australia and have sent thru all details pertaining to our arrival.I a future Blog, I will detail the import requirements and some of the silly things that had to declare but that can wait till we get home.


DAYS #10 - #14 INCLUSIVE

Wide shot of Port Moselle with the marina in the foreground

Le Bout Du Monde - a great place to wine & Dine

The next couple of days consisted with Bob working on the gearbox and Jock looking for some replacement lights - which he eventually had to borrow from one of his friends, Christian, a local resident. Also at this point we started cleaning out and re-stocking for the last leg to Brisbane.
We organised clearance with George from immigration in preparedness for leaving although we were still waiting on the seal housing which will delay our departure till Sunday - New ETA to Brisbane is Sunday 4th July.