Thursday 7 July The Yasawas

downwind sailing

Finally the wind changed to SE trades and we had a fast downwind sail across Bligh Waters to Sawa-I-Lau island in the northern part of the Yasawa chain. We anchored in the lee of a large lump of limestone, the key reason for coming to this island to see the caves in the limestone.




Before we could go sight seeing we were obliged by Fiji custom to visit the village and do sevusevu (offer a gift of kava) to the chief. We are still three boats on convoy – Stray Kitty, Tahina and us – and enjoying exploring. We did sevusevu with the village elder and then went for a walk along the coast as far as the school. School had finished for the day and a 12 year old student proudly showed us around – all the classrooms were open, no doors or locks and obviously no problem with things going missing. It really is an open society where trust is paramount. Unlike in South America and the Caribbean we never feel the need to lock our companion way at night.

On the trip over from Vitu Levu Stray Kitty had caught three yellow fin tuna and had generously offered to share sushi with us all. We love yellow fin and we love sushi.