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06/07/2007: "Never again (we hope)"

Leaving Futuna was a mistake. Although the anchorage was uncomfortable, it was secure. The ocean was not. The forecast abating strong wind warning and low moving away did not happen. The low intensified and stayed. Chaotic Harmony roared away on a beam reach straight into it. Intense rain squalls, three metre seas occasionally breaking and up to 38 knots of wind. We reefed down to three reefs and heavily furled headsail. Still we thundered on at 8-10 knots. OVernight we dropped the main and under headsail alone in blinding rain drove at 6 knots southward. It was only as we approached Fiji and headed for the lee of Rabi island that we got out of the large seas. We were exhausted after a hard night and rested in the lee until daylight when we continued on in a new weather pattern - absolutely no wind... Motoring with one motor through the reef system we eventually arrived in Savusavu on the second morning. Not one of our better crossings and one not to be repeated. We hope. Young Fletch found a most comfortable spot to fall asleep although the helming was made a bit more difficult for Catherine.