Bligh Water

[nhschneider]

Has anyone sailed directly from the Yasawas, across Bligh Water to the Yadua Passage? I know the area is poorly charted and that's probably why the cruising guides (the few that are available for Fiji) all recommend making the passage inside the reef along the north coast of Viti Levu. But I've studied the route using Google Earth from a low elevation and can see no hazards. Has anyone made this passage or know of anyone that has made it safely?

Thanks for the help.

Fair winds and calm seas.

[barnakiel]

How do you want to sail it exactly? N of Pascoes?

I believe the regular route goes S of Pascoes.

What does the chart say? What does the pilot say?

b.

[nhschneider]

I'd like to sail south of Pascoe Reefs. I was thinking that if we left Manuqila Bay on the north end of Yasawa Island late in the day, we could overnight to Yadua Passage and arrive there just before sunrise (we might have to heave to for a while). The charts have virtually nothing on them and I can find no pilot entries for the area. Have you done this passage?

[barnakiel]

Hi,

We planned the same route except in reverse direction before we gave up on Fiji. That was 2004. I had the whole thing already pre-planned (or so I wrongly believed - read on) back then - also this particular passage.

I remember our charts were pretty good (we carried some BHO and some FMD charts) and the pilots (Sailing Directions) seemed informative too. We had one cruising guide (can't recall the name though). I did not find the area poorly charted and I believed with the charts and the pilot I could sail from Yadua to Yasawa over the deep water channel of Bligh Water! I might have been an idiot.

I am puzzled as to the 'inside reef along Viti coast' route. I believed the Bligh Water passage was THE route - looked all deep water to me.

I will standby and listen to what others say as I may have had a completely wrong impression of Bligh Water from our charts.

BTW Which charts of the area do you carry?

b.

[barnakiel]

This is how I was going to sail back then.

What is the suggested route? & Why is passage over Bligh W not recommended?

b.

[Jim Cate]

Not quite the same thing, but some years ago we made passage from the west coast of Viti Levu to Yandua Is, thus crossing Bligh waters S to N in its eastern part. Once clear of the fringe reef it was deep and free of hazards on our course line.

Seems to me that Barnies proposed course looks good. Currents can be strong in that area, though.

Cheers,

Jim