So, today is Wednesday? Good to know.
Today’s bout? Captain vs. ICOM IC-M802. The ICOM won round one with a near knockout, but the Captain channelled Harsol John, that never-say-die-master-of-handbooks, and came back strongly in round two. A fight to the finish, some say, but I say the Captain won on points. And I’m the Captain. The ICOM (it’s a radio; that much we know) has now submitted to Captain’s wishes and happily spurts out BBC news. Sometimes. And that is how we know its Wednesday. Simple really.
What else? Well, a minor victory with the starboard engine (it wasn’t starting. Call me Capt. Sparks, pls.). Let’s not skite though… Now (still Wednesday, I believe), we’re floating north along the eastern shore of Viti Levu – Fiji’s main island. Our Savusavu mate, Curly (ok, truth: Curly is everybody’s mate) gave us way points with which to dodge coral, and coral dodging turns out to be a bit like slalom skiing. Dangerous.
The sailing, though, is glorious. Brilliant sunshine, no swell (just those nasty wavelets around random coral reefs that seem to attack us from all quarters), a gorgeous coast line just a few metres away, all to classical music. Tonight we stop at Nanana Island, a mecca for kite sailors and random backpackers. Should be a bit of a change from the cruising community! Tomorrow, we’re going to do a big dash around to the west side of the Viti Levu in search of good coffee. Musket Cove beckons, I reckon!