June 9-16, 2016
The island of Makogai is just an overnight passage southwest of Savusavu, and it took a direct hit from super cyclone Winston back in Februrary. We spent about a week there doing some volunteer work for the organization called Sea Mercy. Many of these photos are from our friends on Fluenta (http://sv-fluenta.blogspot.com/)
Logbook – June 9, 2016 (Savusavu to Makogai)
Passage Log Highlights
- 0230 P engine off, genoa only
- 0817 Engines on
- 0903 Engines off Makogai
Daily Notes
- Sleepy day @ Makogai
- Boys play @ Fluenta
- B goes for dinner
- D – finally meet sv Outsider
Approaching the anchorage. Cruise ship? What the?
Email to Family and Friends Dated June 9, 2016
Subject: Exodus – Makogai
We made a somewhat abrupt decision to leave Savusavu and follow Fluenta down to Makogai. We arrived this morning after a pretty quick, downwind, overnight passage. There are several boats here, and they are all volunteers for the organization called Sea Mercy, which is a disaster relief organization of cruisers. Makogai was severely hit by cyclone Winston, so they are doing rebuilding in the village, and tomorrow we will go and help.
Love and miss you all,
-D.
Logbook – June 10, 2016 (Makogai)
Daily Notes
- No work because of rain
- T/B + Fluenta spearfish
- D – tea w/ Liz
Logbook – June 11, 2016 (Makogai)
Daily Notes
- Fun day! Lunch w/ village + sports games + sevu sevu
Logbook – June 12, 2016 (Makogai)
Daily Notes
- Happy Hour on Exodus – Outsider, Anahata, Q, Carpe Diem, Fluenta
- Sea Mercy barge arrives
- Guest on board (Leslie – OB/GYN from WA)
Logbook – June 13, 2016 (Makogai)
Daily Notes
- Workday #1 – cleared the beach house
- Kids on Exodus for movie + Minecraft
- Leslie stays again
Logbook – June 14, 2016 (Makogai)
Daily Notes
- Workday #2 – erect shade, fix quad bike, clear path
- Sleepover on Exodus after Fluenta rope swing and drinks
Logbook – June 15, 2016 (Makogai)
Daily Notes
- Workday #3 – late start. Internet on the beach.
- T – fix watermaker & drive quad bike
- D/Boys – de-nail
- Drinks on Carpe Diem
Email to Family and Friends Dated June 15, 2016
Subject: Exodus – Volunteer work and fun
We are still at Makogai doing volunteer work, and I have blisters on my hands to prove it. I have mixed feelings over the “relief” work that is going on here, and I’m still sorting out in my head exactly what I want to say about it, but I can say that the people of the island here are doing fine, which is good news, because this island was devastated by cyclone Winston. You see the signs of it even as you approach the island, and you notice that the trees are all craggly and even though many palm trees are still standing they are not bearing coconuts. To be on an island in the Pacific and have there not be coconuts is almost unthinkable! On the side of the west side of the island, where we are anchored, there was a government research center – in my guidebook it calls it a clam hatchery and turtle head-start program. Well, that was all totally wiped out, and I was told they released all the turtles before the storm or they surely all would have been killed. Perhaps some of them survived? On the south side of the island is the village, and most of the buildings were at least partially destroyed/damaged over there. People are living in tents, and I’m not sure where they are having school now, because the school was totally destroyed and that has been the focus of the Sea Mercy effort. The good news, like I said, is that the people are doing fine. They have food, water, shelter, loved ones around them, and after such a traumatic experience, there are even smiles to be seen. Saturday was a fun day where we had lunch with the people of the village and then played some sports games… Tim taught some of the boys to throw a rugby ball like a football, one of the other kid boats brought a cricket set (so yes, even Alex and Brenden played a little cricket), and even a make-shift volleyball net was erected.
We will likely stay just another day or two before we start making our way around to the west side of Viti Levu.
Love and miss you all,
-D.
Logbook – June 16, 2016 (Makogai to Yadua)
Passage Log Highlights
- 1641 Engines on
- 1727 SB off + genoa
- 1800 P engine off
- 1844 Genoa only
Daily Notes
- A/B – swim @ Carpe Diem, B stays for games
Gresham Family Exodus 