On arrival as we approached the atoll, the pass was visually difficult to pick out, but we were in good shape since we had Curly’s waypoints and as we got near, we were able to locate the entrance. I had the helm that day, and the pass was straightforward, especially since we had decent visibility. Tim was continually commenting about how cool this place looked but I was focused on the coral on either side of us.
In the pass, as you approach the inside of the lagoon, it is necessary to stay to port (to the left) near a very large rock. Although it is a little uncomfortable to be so close to the rock, it is necessary because there is a big coral head right in the middle of the pass. Since we had the waypoints in the chart plotter it was very easy to see the route we were supposed to take and when we needed to veer left. We entered about 1-2 hours after high tide, so we had current flowing out of the pass against us at about 1-2 knot, so pretty good conditions. Our friends on Nautilus entered later when the current was flowing out stronger, and they had a bumby right in the standing waves.
The next day we were four boats anchored near the pass entrance when our friends on Nirvana arrived. Tim was spearfishing in or near the pass while I was out further in the lagoon enjoying a beautiful and peaceful paddle board excursion. As I kept glancing back at Nirvana making their way into the lagoon, I could have sworn it seemed like they had stopped moving. As I paddled back, and I watched them a little more closely I was certain that they were at a dead stop in the middle of the pass. Back at the boat I heard the radio chatter that sure enough Nirvana had hit the reef. Tim said that he and Hans were heckling Gary from the water when all of a sudden, they heard him start yelling, “Stop the boat! Stop the boat!” They got off the reef without drama and there was no damage to their boat, but that big coral head in the middle of the Fulaga pass will forever be known to all of us as “Nirvana Reef”.
Our pass exit was a little more bouncy and lively. We were a parade of kid boats crossing the lagoon that morning headed for the pass, and Fluenta was out in front and the first one to leave and they timed it perfectly, very near slack tide with just a little current flowing in (against them). We were near the back of the pack and by the time we got to the pass an hour later we had outflowing current and standing waves near the outside of the pass.
Gresham Family Exodus 