KEKADA II SAILS INTO NEW ZEALAND FOR THE SUMMER

SV KEKADA II CLEARS INTO NEW ZEALAND 🇳🇿

FOR THE SUMMER

Recently, SV KEKADA II and her crew just finished their third Pacific Crossing and cleared into New Zealand.  I asked Don and Anja if they would share a bit of their experience as there are many members of the Ocean Posse that do not have three Pacific Crossings under their keel...and just might some day.  So what's it take?  Read on to find out.

Kekada II Wallis Island South pacific

Don shared:

We cleared into New Zealand at Opua.  Very quick.  Had done the notice of arrival and inward passenger cards online prior.  Customs entailed answering a few basic questions while they completed the TIE (Temporary Import Entry) (very handy for GST free boat stuff).  They also gave me a biosecurity master's declaration form which I could have also finished prior to arrival but simply forgot to.  Two minute inspection and all finished.  We can work, stay as long as we like, no visas, etc.  Biosecurity was a few minutes later and I had time to finish the declaration.  He checked the fridge but we really did not have anything left.  We showed him some shell necklaces we had been given, all good.  Basically, he accepted our word for everything else.  Our last stop had been Norfolk Island 🇦🇺 (Australia) which probably helped.    

This is our third Pacific crossing so after French Polynesia we did the Samoa, Wallis, Fiji, New Caledonia route for a change.  Previously, we have done the Rarotonga, Niue, Tonga, Fiji, New Caledonia route.  The boat will spend summer in New Zealand.  We will have some home time in Adelaide.  

(Preparing for our passages) I check as many sources as I can re: weather but do my own passage planning.  Since French Polynesia the coffee machine has not had to be moved from the bench top.  (There were) a couple of days where it came close but basically a milk run.  If this is your first time then I suggest Tonga, Minerva Reef, New Zealand even if you backtrack to Tonga from Fiji.  The passages are shorter to one has a better chance of accurate weather predictions than Fiji to New Zealand.

Best advice: Be patient and wait for weather windows.  NO SCHEDULES

SV KEKADA II 🇦🇺 Don & Anja – Leopard 53’

by EDITOR

SAILING NOTES FROM THE SOUTH PACIFIC FOR OCEAN VOYAGERS

Sailing Notes from the South Pacific for Ocean Voyagers

Geologically young and dramatically, steep, mountainous Marquesan islands jut skyward out of the Southern Pacific Ocean. Tikis and coconut palms look out to sea.
The Ocean Posse is working to bring three posses together: the Atlantic posse, the Panama posse and the Pacific Posse so that we will have better overlap to share information and benefits across the oceans that we sail.  Some have crossed oceans that others are considering crossing.  Here, I will share notes from the South Pacific for people considering sailing to the South Pacific, or for those that just want to vicariously enjoy the cerulean blues, coconut palms, island communities spread throughout the South Pacific.
Presently, SV WHILRWND is underway in the Tuamotus, the second of five island groups in French Polynesian that we have visited since making landfall from Panama in May 2024. The Tuamotus, are sometimes referred to as ‘the dangerous islands’ for all the low lying fringing coral reefs boats can and have run aground on which require careful navigation.  So far, with a person on bow watch, the charts on Navionics, and multiple satellite overlays in OPEN CPN navigating the Tuamotus has been very fun.  There is a timing element one must consider when entering and exiting the atolls, between atolls we are sailing in the open ocean with ocean swell instantly, and within the atolls we are sailing in lagoons with little to no waves navigating coral bommies looking for a calm spot in the sand to drop our anchor.
So many different shades of blue in the Tuamotus atoll lagoons.
Slivers of fringing reef encircle blue lagoons studded with coral heads called "bommies"
Over the past two months, We have had the good fortune to see an abundance of coral and undersea life, more blue hues than I knew existed, and a few of the Southern Hemisphere Humpback whales that come annually to the oceanic islands of the South Pacific to breed and calf.  According to a cruising marine biologist friend the Southern Hemisphere Humpback whales will be turning back towards their summer feeding grounds off Antarctica in the next few weeks. There is a singular raised atoll in the NW part of the Tuamotus called Makatea where, in settled conditions, one can anchor outside the atoll on the leeward side and possibly see whales this time of year.  Looking at the weather with this possibility in mind we saw a sweet weather window that looked perfect for an adventure: two days of downwind sailing from Fakarava to Makatea in time for the wind to die off for three calm days anchored in the lee of the island, followed by wind from the south to carry us north to Tikihau where there is a manta ray feeding station, and on Rangiroa the second larges atoll in the world.  We have friends coming in on October 11th and as all cruisers know this hard stop commitment presents an added element into every sailing schedule.  Guests visiting the Tuamotus fly into Tahiti and then take an inner island flight to the Tuamotus. Interestingly, many atolls have airports: Fakarava and Rangiroa being the two largest atolls have airports that are more frequented than others. So, (Option 1) we could stay in and around Fakarava until our guests come (very relaxing) or (Option 2) we could go on a little atoll tour and make our way to Rangiroa to meet them (an adventure). We decided that the weather window looked good for an adventure and the plan was sound.
Our 'plan' was to sail from Fakarava for two days, spend a few days on the leeward side of Makatea, then sail to Tikihau for a few days and around to Rangiroa to pick up our friends.
Downwind sailing with the mainsail, mizzen, and spinnaker
We weighed anchor in time to catch the high water slack and sail through the exit in the southern pass.  After exiting the atoll, one is in the ocean immediately and we noted a long slow 1m southerly swell. The conditions were great and we set our kite for a smooth downwind sail.  A few hours in our buddies received an email from a French weather service sending out an alert to all mariners of a significant southern swell developing and moving north into the Tuamotus. We pulled up the weather and, sure enough, although the wind was still forecast to be settled in a few days around Makatea the swell was going to be too big to comfortably anchor on the outside of the atoll much less enter through the pass of an atoll.  We decided to reroute to Tikihau and save Makatea for another time.
There is a 'plan' and then there is the reality that unfolds when new information comes to light, conditions change, and the route must change as well.
We arrived outside Tikihau in the night, hove to outside the entrance, and waited for the low slack at first light. Upon arriving in Tikihau the weather forecast changed multiple times over the course of the day. In the southern hemisphere winter has just turned to spring and now this northern hemisphere sailor can say the spring weather down here is as fickle as one might expect in the spring: changing so often it’s hard to hang you hat on much beyond the immediate conditions. There are significant blows coming in and out of the forecast and still a large swell coming with mixed forecasts on how long it will affect this part of the Tuamotus. Based on these changing forecasts and the expected conditions in the passes when the swell arrives we have now determined that today, seems to be the best day in the next ten (when our friends are to arrive) to make our way from Tikihau to Rangiroa, so we are underway once more.
No matter the ocean, the weather calls the shots.  So far, sailing in the South Pacific has been nothing short of a dynamic adventure demanding that we constantly keep an eye on the weather and a sharp lookout over the bow.  While on lookout this morning we saw manta rays entering the Pass into Tihihau and dolphins surfing our bow as we set out into the ocean to Rangiroa...and we still could see a whale.
Sailing to Rangiroa: the second largest atoll in the world.
For cruisers looking to the South Pacific for adventure; crossing the ocean to get here is an epic adventure in and of itself.  Most people set sail for the South Pacific from points west in the late winter/early spring.  Presently, many cruisers are beginning to rub their palms together, eyeing up routes and weather patterns, running through their inventory of parts and spares, making lists, reading about storm tactics and high sea debacles, and/or taking care of a host or pre-departure maintenance or upgrades.  Shaking down our fears can also be a big part of mentally preparing for a ocean voyage.  Some, like my friend, may be wondering, "What were your scariest moments on the passage (to French Polynesia)?"
Taking a panoramic shot aboard SV WHIRLWIND out at sea while rocking and rolling.  Fear can feel like this: exaggerated and out of control.
In jest, my husband and our captain said, "the day we realized we didn't bring enough rum."  That was more sad really, but nothing we can't get over.
More sincerely, he said, "The day the autohelm and went a little wacky and (he) had visions of the rudder breaking loose."  Terrifying!  Indeed, one of our worst nightmares.  That 'wackiness' was rectified at sea with no major drama.  And we installed a back up autohelm before leaving Panama Bay.
In my most sincere and more lengthy response, I shared:  We spent 30 days at sea: they were both utterly glorious and unexpectedly difficult at times. A huge realization for me was that the infamous Coconut Milk Run starts west of French Polynesia….or maybe in French Polynesia…or maybe to the east...it’s the Eden out there somewhere, the Fair Winds and the Following Seas of every sailors dreams.  As we set out to cross the Pacific we actually thought we were on the Coconut Milk Run from Panama to the Marquesas.  So when we got out there and spent far longer in confused seas than we ever imagined could be part of a 'Coconut Milk Run' we joked, desperately at times while tossing chaotically in a confusion of seas and open sky, saying “this is coconut milk!? I imagined something sweet and smooth not a frothy mess" Or, "If this is coconut milk, I’ll stick to beer (or rum)!” Crossing the ocean can easily be romanticized…in my experience it is with the adventure ahead of me or behind me that I can romanticize really well about it.  When I am in it, it is usually....well...a Whirlwind of calm joy, uncertainty, chaos, thrill, or somehwere in between.
In preparation, I tried hard to be realistic, to plan for the worst and hope for the best, to be ready for the voyage and not simply long for the destination, to pack the boat full of provisions and spares, to check everything twice sometime thrice.  While the dream to cross the Pacific was years in the making for us and I had years to consider the magnitude of this voyage, still he scariest moment for me was somewhere SW of the Galapagos when I realized how far offshore we were, how much further we had to go, and that there would be no real rest until we were in French Polynesia.  It was nighttime and I woke out of a sleep to my husband, Mike, and our 13 year old son, Russell, reefing the main in sloppy seas and having a heck of a time.  I hopped up to help and the sky was SO big and SO black, spotted more stars than I had ever seen.  I could not immediately see Mike or Russell but somehow the wavetops were illuminated, so swift and heaving.  I was struck with a desperate feeling knowing there was no turning back, still so far to go, and only us to make that happen.  In that moment reefing the main felt goliath, possibly insurmountable, and I had to have a serious talk with myself!  I had to take the task at hand for just the task at hand, not the hundreds of miles we had come or the thousands of miles to go.  I had to just focus and reef the main.  'Stay calm.  Stay Steady.  We got this,' I reminded myself.  Finally, we prevailed.  For whatever reasons, reefing was more than difficult that night and with some mighty cursing and some steady determination we did it.  And then we just moved right along.  The boat settled nicely due to the reef, mind you the seas did not miraculously settle, but the motion certainly improved.  The boys went back on watch, and I to easily slipped back into bed.  For whatever reason, that was my scariest moment.  Basically, when the breadth of what we had set out to do actually hit me like it never quite had before - we were in the middle of the ocean and I felt like an absolute imbecile for only then realizing what I had gotten myself and my family into?!  I thought I had thought it through but in that moment I did not think I had.  I felt enormously overwhelmed by how easily we could get swallowed up.  I also felt that there was no turning back.  (Now in hindsight I know that is not entirely true, but it was certainly how I felt and continuing west was certainly the best option.)  Still, I felt I was stuck and incomprehensibly vulnerable which was truly scary.  The other side of these completely humbling feelings was how absolutely beautiful the stars, the ocean, and the sky were.  Steering away from the overwhelm of fear I definitely made a point to take comfort in the grandeur and holdfast.  It is wild when terrifying can also be infinitely impressive.  There is no doubt the ocean is mighty!  The colors and the expansiveness are nothing short of awe-inspiring making the trials of the adventures worth it....especially when I am on the other side of that particular part of this adventure and can romanticize all about it.
Romantic and Real: Tuamotu sunset.
Lagoon sailing can be exceptionally pleasant.

SY WHIRLWIND 🇺🇸 Maurisa, Mike, Russell & Josea – Alajuela 48’

WHIRLWINDWHIRLWINDWHIRLWINDWHIRLWIND

by EDITOR

EXPANDING POSSE PERKS: YACHT PORT CARTAGENA, SPAIN💰 Save real money at Marinas with discounts

ANNOUNCING: NEW MARINAS SIGNING ON WITH THE OCEAN POSSE

EXPANDING POSSE PERK:💰 Save real money at Marinas with discounts

Ocean Posse's new cruiser friendly and liveaboard friendly sponsorship marina in Cartagena Spain 🇪🇸
Dietmar tending bar. Thanks Flor de Cana! The 12 year old rum was a hit!!!

SV QUESO GRANDE II and Captain Dietmar kicked off the first Ocean Posse event in Yacht Port Cartagena, Spain!

Dietmar says: Thank you Sherri for all the event support and promotion to the international cruisers who came! AND THANK YOU LANCE FOR SOME SUCCULENT RIBS !!!

Sherri from SV QUESO GRANDE II says: Great fun, great cruisers, and great grilled meat by my darling husband Lance.  

Thank you for securing the Cartagena, Spain marina. We loved it so much, SV PATHFINDER

Currently, the Ocean Posse has ????some number of marinas in ????some number of countries bla bla bla.  This represents great savings bla bla bla

 

by EDITOR

TRIP REPORT: COLUMBIA INLAND

TRIP REPORT: COLUMBIA INLAND

WITH MV NEXT CHAPTER

MV NEXT CHAPTER sailed from Shelter Bay Marina in August to Cartagena, Colombia.  They explored the city and then travelled inland off the boat.  Their photos and enthusiastic report of their time so far in Colombia follows:

After leaving Panama it is time to raise the Colombian flag

Colombia exceeded our expectations in every way! We weren’t 100% sure what to expect but what we found was incredible people, safe walkable cities, delicious food and affordable prices for work and goods.

Cartagena, Colombia
That's Right.
Fruit Vendor on the street in Cartagena, Colombia
Taking a horse drawn carriage ride through the narrow streets of Cartagena, Colombia.

We stayed at Club de Pesca (they are a posse sponsor and a great marina) if you message their WhatsApp, Maricela Speaks great English and can help with your reservations) book very early as their marina is small and space fills up quickly.

Also at Club de Pesca is phenomenal workers! We had our bright work completely redone, some small fiberglass repairs, a wash and wax. Javier and his team were the best we have ever worked with! If you are stopping there and want his contact info I would be happy to pass it along

We also took side trips (it’s super affordable to fly within Colombia) to Medellín and Bogota. Both cities were incredible, rich culture so much to see and do!

Checking into the city/country was also pretty easy- Jose our agent was $300 and handled all of our paperwork and brought the officials to our boat, applied for our cruising permit and TIP.  You have to check into and out of every major port in Colombia but it’s pretty quick and easy.

Tram in Medellín, Colombia
Palace of Culture in Medellín, Colombia
Shawna and Lexi loving Colombia.
Fernando Botero's Woman on a Bull in Medellin.

Hope this helps other boaters feel comfortable stopping into Colombia! It’s in my opinion and must see country.

Presently, MV NEXT CHAPTER is underway to Santa Marta, Columbia.

MY NEXT CHAPTER 🇺🇸 Chris & Shawna & crew - Selene 59′

  Fair winds MV NEXT CHAPTER, thank you for sharing your inland adventures!

 SHARING YOUR ADVENTURES  
is the heart and soul of the Ocean Posse 

Please share pictures of your adventures, your award entries, your breathtaking sunsets, and picturesque anchorages on our group communications platform for others to enjoy in real time and/or email Maurisa at editor@oceanposse.com to share in the upcoming newsletter.  Maurisa is a sailor among us.  She is part of the Ocean Posse crew and enjoys writing fun and helpful updates to the Ocean Posse.

by EDITOR

OVERSEAS AND ONLINE: PASSPORT RENEWAL & VOTING

OVERSEAS AND ONLINE: USA PASSPORT RENEWAL & VOTING

As a US citizen, passports and voting rights are very important.  Both can be kept up to date from afar...here's how:

After a two month beta trial, The United States Department of State has recently announced that Americans can now renew their passports online.   This is new and additional staff has been hired to process the online system.  The two caveats are for using this service: You must be located in the United States and your passport may not be expired by over 5 years.  As of now, it is unclear if this new avenue of renewal will speed up the process overall or not.  We will have to wait and see.

 

Americans have elections coming up locally and nationally.  Are you registered to vote?  Do you know that US Citizens living abroad can register to vote from overseas?

There are several online resource to help US citizens understand how to register to vote and vote from wherever they are when the time comes.  Some useful sites include:

YOUR VOTE IS YOUR VOICE

by EDITOR

POSSE PERK: 🗺️3 DAYS OF LEARNING SEMINARS

POSSE PERK: 🗺️3 DAYS OF LEARNING SEMINARS

INCLUDED WITH OCEAN POSSE SIGN UPS

coming up in Safe Harbor, San Diego

October 23-25, 2024 @ Safe Harbor South Bay, San Diego

 

https://oceanposse.com/events/san-diego-seminar-series/

Sneak a Peak at the Seminars and Schedule...

WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 23rd, 2024 ● SEMINARS
$ 45 per person x day or FREE
FOR OCEAN ° PANAMA ° SOUTH PACIFIC POSSE PARTICIPANTS

09:00
Cruising down Pacific Mexico
Sea of Cortez

10:00
Water Makers + Plumbing in Paradise
Plumbing in Paradise

11:30
Diesel Engines  & Generators and preventative Maintenance
Smoky engine


12:30 LUNCH
Open CPN – installation and integration (PC + MAC )

Open Cpn with Satelit Images

14:00
Rigging 101 Standing and Running

Rigging


15:30
Weather Weather Weather – planning – routing – underway
Weather


16:30
Crew the good the bad and the ugly
CRew

17:00
Destination Costa Rica and Nicaragua

 

THURSDAY OCTOBER 24th, 2024 ● SEMINARS

09:00
South Pacific  – French Polynesia – Cook Islands – Tonga &  Fiji
SPP


10:00
Safety Security and Emergencies  outside the US and what to expect


11:00
Electrical Systems – Batteries, Chargers, Alternators, Solar Panels

batteries

12:30 LUNCH
Cruising in Panama + the Panama Canal
SAN BLAS


14:00
Where and how to repair boats outside the US

Repairs


15:30
The tropics – Refrigeration, AC, Shading,  Airflow + other ways to stay cool
AC


17:00
Destination Colombia, Jamaica & Bay of Islands Honduras
ROATAN

 

FRIDAY OCTOBER 25th, 2024 ● SEMINARS + PARTY

09:00
Destination Belize & Rio Dulce Guatemala
Blue Hole Belize Cruising Ground and how to get there


10:00
Communications onboard, underway and on shore
STARLINK

11:30
The fundamentals of wires, connectors and fuses
GROUND


12:30 LUNCH
Open CPN – Satellite Charts – Use Cases and Satellite Chart creation


14:00
Chart Accuracy, Navigation Trips and Tricks & Tracking
CHART ACCURACY


15:30
Provisioning, Propane and Fuel – where to replenish
PROVISIONS


17:00 – 21:00  PPPPARTY
SOUTH BAY SAFE HARBOR

by EDITOR

UPCOMING PREDICTWIND SEMINARS

UPCOMING PREDICTWIND SEMINARS

PredictWind began sponsoring the Panama Posse in 2021.  As of Season 8 PredictWind is extending their sponsorship to the entire Ocean Posse and is offering four seminars over the next 6 months.

MARK YOUR CALENDARS FOR THE UPCOMING SEMINARS

The upcoming seminar dates are as follows:

  • WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 23rd, 2024     @ 15:30  US PACIFIC TIME
  • THURSDAY DECEMBER 5,  2024           @  14:30 US PACIFIC TIME
  • MONDAY FEB 2, 2025                           @ 14:30  US PACIFIC TIME
  • MONDAY MARCH 17 2025                  @ 14:30   US PACIFC TIME

PredictWind supports the Ocean Posse with free tracking and a 20 % Discount off our pro packages – to claim your discount please login and email support@predictwind.com asking for your Ocean Posse discount.  Please include your vessel name and email address.  The discount will be credited back.

by EDITOR

MUST SEE: 🇵🇫 Taputapuātea on Ra’iātea Island, French Polynesia

MUST SEE: 🇵🇫 Taputapuātea on Ra’iātea Island, French Polynesia

in 2017 UNESCO named Taputapuātea on Ra’iātea Island, French Polynesia a world heritage site for its outstanding universal value, exceptional testimony to 1,000 years of pre-colonial mā'ohi civilization, and central location in the 'Polynesian Triangle'.  The 'points' on the Polynesian triangle are New Zealand, Hawaii, and Rapa Nui.  Taputapuātea is in the very center of this triangle of oceanic islands.  Both the cultural landscape and seascape on Ra’iātea make this a unique and remarkable place one must see.  Taputapuātea is an area that goes from the mountains through forested valleys spanning across a portion of lagoon and coral reef and a strip of open ocean.  In the center is the Marae of Taputapuātea.

The dark rectangular stone space is part of the Taputapuātea Marae complex: a political, ceremonial and funerary center on the edge of the lagoon surrounding the island. photo credit: P.F. Amar

The Marae of Taputapuātea is considered to be the most sacred pre-colonial Polynesian archeological sites in French Polynesia. UNESCO describes this site as:

"dedicated to the god ‘Oro and the place where the world of the living (Te Ao) intersects the world of the ancestors and gods (Te Po). It also expresses political power and relationships. The rise in the importance of Taputapuātea among the marae on Raiatea and in the wider region is linked to the line of Tamatoa ari’i (chiefs) and the expansion of their power. Taputapuātea was the centre of a political alliance that brought together two widespread regions encompassing most of Polynesia. The alliance was maintained by regular gatherings of chiefs, warriors and priests who came from the other islands to meet at Taputapuātea. The building of outrigger canoes and ocean navigation were key skills in maintaining this network.

A traditional landscape surrounds both sides of the Taputapuātea marae complex. The marae complex looks out to Te Ava Mo'a, a sacred pass in the reef that bounds the lagoon. Atāra motu is an islet in the reef and a habitat for seabirds. Ocean-going arrivals waited here before being led through the sacred pass and formally welcomed at Taputapuātea. On the landward side, ’Ōpo’a and Hotopu’u are forested valleys ringed by ridges and the sacred mountain of Tea’etapu. The upland portions of the valleys feature older marae, such as marae Vaeāra’i and marae Taumariari, agricultural terraces, archaeological traces of habitations and named features related to traditions of gods and ancestors. Vegetation in the valleys is a mix of species, some endemic to Raiatea, some common to other Polynesian islands and some imported food species brought by ancient Polynesians for cultivation. Together, the attributes of the property form an outstanding relict and associative cultural landscape and seascape."

Throughout Polynesia the Marae are communal or sacred sites in village life. In order to build a marae in another location, it is said that one must start with a stone from Taputapuātea.  The marae are places with different functions.   They are places where the world of the living intersected with the world of village ancestors and Polynesian gods.  They are places where people gather for ceremony, dance, connecting with the past and with community.

People gather in the Taputapuatea marae for ceremony.  photo credit GIE Tourisme

This video is a product of the cumulative effort of cultural and historical groups presenting the significance of Taputapuātea in the past, the present, and for the future.

https://youtu.be/wXbJXHR8-3g?t=391

People navigated to and from Taputapuatea in the past and continue today.  photo credit GIE Tourisme
Fishing in the waters of Taputapuatea is a part of traditional life.  photo credit: A. Wickel
Marine biodiverity in Taputapuatea photo credit: D. Hazama
Coral shelf surrounding Taputapuatea photo credit: D. Hazama

 

Mountains of Taputapuatea photo credit: P.F. Amar

by EDITOR

SAFEFTY AND SECURITY: REDUCING FIRE RISK

SAFEFTY AND SECURITY: REDUCING FIRE RISK WITH SMART PLUGS

 

Many members of the Ocean Posse are tied to a dock either presently, have been, or will be at some point along the way.  If and when one decides to 'Plug In' it is important to know the risks and available safer options available today.

A significant risk when plugging one boat in to shore power is fire risk.  The power to the pedestals along a dock may not be consistent.  There may be surges, outages and or just regularly inconsistent flow of power.  This variability can pose a risk within the pedestal and worse it can pose a risk aboard ones vessel at the connection.

Recently, Posse members aboard SV SERENITY shared their experience with this risk on the Posse Line Ap.  It is a shout out to other member to be aware and check their power cords:

For those of you with 30 or 50 Amp power that get close to it’s limit on a continuous basis (e.g. running AC while cooking with electric).  For the second time in two years, our standard cable and socket shorted. This time, the insulation in the socket between hot and neutral melted and the wires actually touched. It’s worth the investment to prevent a fire hazard.

evidence of high heat
Insulation inside the socket melted

The only place one can control is where and how the power comes aboard their boat is one their boat.  Serenity has now installed a 'Smart Plug'.  This is a branded receptacle and plug for the boat side of the 'Plug In' process.  The Smart Plug is a huge help AND one still needs to check it for damage regularly as seen above!

With the Smart Plug one can replace the power inlet onboard.
One can also have a modified cord that plugs into the modified power inlet. This combination reduces the fire risk greatly.

SV SERENITY was lucky.  They lost a cord and a plug, but did not sustain any damage to their boat.  Years ago Posse Member, Rob Murray on SV AVANT, saw smoke billowing out of the stern of a neighboring vessel.  The fire had started at the cord inlet.  He acted fast and doused the fire before any help even arrived.  Here he shows a concise visual on the steps he took to get the fire out fast:

SYSERENITY 🇺🇸 Mark & Kathryn – Antares 44′ & SY AVANT 🇨🇦 Rob & Debra – Beneteau 43.5

THANK YOU FOR SHARING MARK AND ROB!

by EDITOR

FIJIAN CULTURE AND THE SEVUSEVU PROCESS

FIJI: THE SEVUSEVU PROCESS

In traditional villages in Fiji Sevusevu is and has been the central component of all life-cycle rituals, social gatherings, healing ceremonies and community meetings.  Significant and ancient in Fiji, the “sevusevu” also marks the time and place for visitors to seek acceptance into a Fijian village.

In more formal settings, Sevusevu includes a complete performance where each male from the village has a specific role to play. Traditional attire is worn with pride, collected rain water is poured from bamboo shafts, pounded kava is strained through hibiscus bark and each bilo (drinking bowl from the half-shell of a coconut) is delivered deliberately and seriously in absolute silence (aside from the sound of deep ‘Cobo’ claps in acceptance and thanks of each ‘bilo’)

Every Sevusevu is not as formal as pictured above however there is a distinct and courteous process visitors must follow.  Further, understanding the significance of Sevusevu, respecting, and adhering to the tradition of this process helps to keep this aspect of Fijian Culture strong.

Longtime Ocean Posse member Chris on SV SEAGLUB has been living in Fiji for several years.   He shares the following about his experience with the Sevesevu:

In Fiji, when visiting smaller settlements, a visitor must seek out the village chief and present him with a small token or gift as a sign of respect and to ask permission to visit. This not only gives visitors permission to interact with the villagers but also to stay in the town and to visit any local scenery (such as beaches, waterfalls etc). Not doing so shows disrespect for their culture, but is also the equivalent of trespassing – for example pitching a tent in someone's backyard without permission.

‘Sevusevu’ is the name given to the actual gift or token that visitors present the chief with, most commonly a half-kilo bumdle of waka (kava root).  When arriving in the village, visitors should ask for the Turaga ni Koro (pronounced as too-ranga nee koro) or the village headman, as they usually have good English skills and will help with the translations. The headman will take visitors to the chief’s house for introduction. Remember no hats are to be worn once in the village and you should take your shoes off at the door before entering houses. Sitting cross legged on the floor, the kava root is then presented to the chief.

To ensure you are respectful of this important tradition, there are a few points of etiquette to follow. Firstly, everyone at the ceremony should dress in a sulu, which is a Fijian skirt regarded as their national dress. Women should also cover their shoulders. Men should sit cross-legged, ensuring that their sulu covers their knees, and women should sit with knees and feet together. Do not take photographs or videos throughout the ceremony, until the Turaga ni Koro lets you know that it’s okay to do so. Silence during the ceremony itself is crucial.

The ceremony itself is poignant. Afterwards you'll be welcomed as nothing less than family.

SV SEAGLUB 🇺🇸 Chris -Hylas 46'

 

Anchorage in Fulaga, Fiji

 

by EDITOR