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Fiji feast – Susui

Debbie McDonald

The village of Susui on Vanua Balavu, Fiji invited the rally for a tour of their hidden lagoon, snorkeling off the beach followed by a traditional sevusevu ceremony and feast. The villagers, including the school children had spent days preparing the feast, decorations and performances. The school children performed songs and dances and the rest of the village participated, even inviting random members of the rally to join in the dancing. The feast was fabulous with two different pork dishes, fish, taro, cassava, potato and many other dishes that I can’t put names to.

  • Children dancing and singing
Amanda’s meal.

Ha’apai group,Tonga – Limu

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Approaching Limu Island

Limu is one of those idyllic islands that I always picture when “tropical island” is mentioned. Crystal clear water, white sand beach and coconut trees.

We had sundowners and fresh coconuts on the beach with Chris and Ingrid from Willpower. It took some ingenuity to find a way of opening up the coconuts but the dingy anchor turned out to be up to the job.

Dave dehusking a coconut. Ingrid in the background

There were so many hermit crabs

Ha’apai group, Tonga – Nomuka Iki

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The weather was wet and windy and there was division amongst the fleet with some boats electing to miss the Ha’apai group and head straight for Vava’u.

We elected to go through the Ha’apai’s and our first stop was Nomuka Iki island. A local called Willie met us on shore and he showed us his house and let us shelter from the rain. A new yacht club is under construction along the beach. We hosted drinks for Willpower and while Ingrid and Chris were on board with us we experienced a short fierce squall with a complete 360 wind shift and whiteout conditions. It was quite scary.

Willie’s house