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Photo Log

Viwa Photo Log

August 18-19, 2015

Viwa is a more isolated island to the west of the Yasawa island chain. The pass was tricky and the anchorage had terrible holding, but our experience there was truly an unexpected highlight. Thanks to Field Trip, Breeze, and Lumbaz for such a good time, and some of the photos too!

Logbook – August 18, 2015 (Manta Ray Resort to Viwa)

Passage Log Highlights

  • 0829 Engines on
  • 0852 P engine off
  • 0812 SB engine off. Spinnaker
  • 1128 SB engine on. Spinnaker down.
  • 1150 P engine on
  • 1229 Engines off Viwa

Daily Notes

  • Welcoming committee of kids
  • Sevusevu in village, tour of the resort
  • Happy Birthday to Elizabeth happy hour on Field Trip
  • Michael & Nils sleepover on Exodus
A spinnaker run to the west from Manta Ray Resort to Viwa

Email to Family and Friends dated August 18, 2015

Subject: Exodus – Viwa

After spending a couple days anchored near Manta Ray resort where we, you guessed it, swam with manta rays, we are now on a beautiful spinnaker run out to the island of Viwa. As usual, we are a caravan of kid boats. Viwa is a lesser visited island because it’s about 15 miles west of the rest of the Yasawa chain, so we are looking forward to being a bit off the tourist track again.
Swimming with the mantas was phenomenal. They come to a pass between two islands to feed every day at max current, and there were a bunch of tourists in the water when we got there, but they cleared out quickly and then we had the mantas all to ourselves. I enjoyed the mantas very much because they just swim around you without caring that you are there, kind of like the whale sharks in Mexico. Much better than the sting rays that mob you because they want you to feed them.
Love and miss you all,
-D.

The Island of Viwa had a narrow pass and limited anchoring options
We anchored on the west side of the island
S/V Field Trip entering the pass. Notice the shipwreck right in the middle of the pass
Inside the lagoon. I think the only place prettier than this was Fulaga.
A parade of catamarans (Lumbaz, Exodus, Field Trip) Photo by Breeze
Our welcoming committee. They got yelled at by the men in the fishing boat before they reached Exodus though. We aren’t sure if it was because they weren’t supposed to come bother the yachts or if it was because of the strong current.
Going ashore for Sevusevu.
Sevusevu. The chief is the one leaning against the door in the orange sulu.
Genie (Lumbaz) always has a way with the children.
All the kids sang happy birthday to Elizabeth
All the men in their sulus.
These photos were taken at the small resort, not at the village, and no, I’m not wearing a skirt. It was so hot I took it off!
“…and the fish swam that way…”
All the kids on Field Trip to celebrate Elizabeth’s 10th birthday.
Nils, Michael, and Brenden.

Logbook – August 19, 2015 (Viwa)

Daily Notes

  • Alex plays on shore with boat and local kids
  • B/T – spearfish – walu + 2 small mystery fish
  • D – to village/handicraft market
  • Fun with local kids pulling them behind dingies
  • D/Genie even rode the banana
  • Walu dinner potluck on Exodus
Morning after the sleepover on Exodus
Boat kids and village kids playing together (Photo by Breeze)
Hanging out on Lumbaz (Photo by Lumbaz – https://lumbazander.wordpress.com/)
Ainara and Alex (Photo by Lumbaz – https://lumbazander.wordpress.com/)
Playing a little uno on Breeze (Photo by Breeze)
And here’s where the real fun began. The kids all had a blast.
And the sea plane added a little excitement when it landed
Photo by Breeze
The girls got a turn too
And the moms too! (Genie and Deanne) – Photo by Breeze
Potluck on Exodus!
The shipwreck in the pass (I took this photo the next day as we were leaving Viwa)

Email to Family and Friends dated August 20, 2015

Subject: Exodus – More about Viwa

What an unexpected treasure Viwa was! The pass was a bit daunting, and the holding was terrible, so we decided to leave today before the wind gets strong again, but seriously, I could have stayed a lot longer. Yesterday, we had a good percentage of the village children out on Exodus and Lumbaz and then they had the idea to get out some water toys and pull them behind the dinghies. Wow, what fun they all had! I’m not sure who was having more fun, the kids getting pulled or the big kids driving the dinghies (Tim, Danny-Lumbaz, and Mark-Field Trip). Genie (mom from Lumbaz) and I even took a turn on the banana boat!
The other great thing about Viwa is that there were fish! The guys all went spear fishing and came back with a nice sized Walu that fed all four families for dinner last night. We are motor sailing right now back down to Nevadra for a few days before Lumbaz has to head to a port to prepare for their departure to Vanuatu.
Love and miss you all,
-D.

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