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Firefly - A windlass saga



On Saturday morning (6th September) we were up early and leaving the idyllic anchorage between Navadra and Vanua Levu after 2 enjoyable days. Our intended destination was the south of Waya but due to the failure of our anchor windlass we changed our plans.



The anchor windlass is the powerful electric winch that raises the anchor chain at the bow of Firefly. Its a piece of equipment that works really hard on this kind of trip due to the frequency we anchor and its also really exposed to the elements being regularly doused in salt water whenever water comes over the bow. Following the recent inactivity (while we were in the UK) the windlass was tested as we left Vuda Marina and we did have some doubts as to how well it was working. It was therefore little surprise when the electric motor stopped altogether with a water depth of 20 metres and 30 metres of anchor chain still to get on board. It is in these circumstances when one wishes that the Firefly had a large crew! Using the manual attachment and a winch handle and after much heaving and sweating, Paul managed to get the anchor stowed.



We sailed off north, east of Waya, studying our charts and pilot information, looking to find a place to anchor for the afternoon and evening. We needed somewhere relatively well sheltered and not to deep as we would use the spare anchor while rebuilding the windlass. We found the ideal spot in a bay on the south of Naviti Island just east of the smaller Draqawa Island. Arriving about 1400, the windlass was removed and Paul stripped it down, fitted a new motor (from the on board spares), rebuilt and re installed it and by 1800 it was working again. To celebrate we opened a bottle of beer and decided to get the boat BBQ going - its a gas one and it fixes on the stanchions so that it hangs over the side allowing any fat to drip into the sea - and we cooked up some sausages and aubergines and devoured them in the moonlight!



The pass between Naviti and Drawaqa is called Tokatokeanu and is apparently frequented by Manta Rays. Yesterday afternoon we saw a number of small boats in the area dropping off snorkelers from nearby resorts (one is called the Manta Resort) so assumed there are some mantas to be seen. This morning we will take the dinghy down to the pass and see if we can find and swim with them.



Paul and Susie

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