September 26, 2013
By this point we were having a few equipment problems including our pretty-much-dead Torqeedo electric outboard, one of our two low-pressure watermaker pumps was out, and we’d started noticing that the boat batteries were having trouble, too.
By now, I’d winnowed down the list of possible spots to visit to one island: Matangi. We wouldn’t need a dinghy with an outboard because it was forbidden to go ashore. The main attraction, the snorkeling, was within rowing distance. A visit there could be done en route to Savusavu and seemed like an easy stop.
And so we woke up at 5am to make the trip to Matangi Island. After we were ready to go Rich noticed the low battery light flashing on the inverter. He asked me to run out and start the engine. I tried, and it made that wrrr wrrr wwwwrrrrrr sound that engines make when they when they don’t quite have the oomph to start. Oh shit.
From there, Rich went into Mc Gyver mode and used his drill to help the starter turn the engine over. It should have worked. It didn’t. We’d have to wait to get some sun on our solar panels, then try again. While we waited, I looked at the weather and saw a bout of enhanced trades in the forecast. We’d be relatively protected from the winds in our next anchorage but it might get rolly.
With all these negatives, I realized it would be best to skip Matangi and head straight back to Savusavu before the wind picked up. Rich readily agreed; so suddenly we had an overnight trip ahead. It was a disappointing to reach this decision, but that quickly wore off when I thought about access to groceries, terrific eateries, laundry service, the means to get the boat cleaned up, and the internet. We’d been out in remote areas for a long time and it would be great to be back in town.
The sun came out and soon we had enough solar power to charge the batteries and thus start the engine. We motored out around 10am, heading back over the top of the island and though the pass. Good-bye Vanua Balavu. Below, a gallery of miscellaneous Mbavatu photos (click to enlarge and scroll).
A Note About the Mbavatu Yacht Club: We weren’t the only boat to have the frustrations of not knowing the rules for the yacht club. When we climbed to the top of the hill we saw a catamaran enter the harbor. First it went and motored around the yacht club area trying to figure out if they could take a mooring or anchor. They probably tried to call the other boat in the harbor, which was us, but of course we weren’t aboard. Deciding the whole thing was too dicey, they went to the first anchorage we tried and found the same mooring in the middle. No success there, they gave up and actually left the harbor.
Weeks later we met the yacht club owner in Savusavu, and he told us the moorings are kept in good condition and we would have been welcome to pick one up. Well, that horse had left the barn. It would sure have been nice if they’d let people know about it (post a sign at the yacht club, put it in the free Fiji guide handout, etc.). Of course they wouldn’t want people there close to arriving rallies; so maybe it’s easier not to publicize the moorings at all. I will hasten to add that this all happened in 2013. I have no idea what the protocol is now but it’s probably the same.–Cyndi
