Cyclone Yasa

[grantmc]

Thanks for your good wishes.

The storm passed well to the north of Suva and Nadi.
The Denerau (Nadi) boats in the mangroves would have been fine.
Haven't heard from anyone at Vuda Marina yet.
We are well north of there, and on the other main island of Vanua Levu.

I stayed at Daku Resort.
Far too scary to stay on the boat, and if something goes bad nothing you can do, especially in pitch black.
I begged as resort closed (as did most hotels) due to the cyclone.
No other guests.
Sadly wasn't able to take advantage of he snorkeling, kayaking, stand up paddle boards, horse treks and bush walks.
Actually I had a great night.
We lost power about 2pm so even the air con was out, not even a coffee.
About 4:30pm storm was so bad it seemed like it would be night time by 5.
So I went up to where the staff hang out and they invited me to have kava.
Lots of kava!
Was great, they had a gas cooker and did a big dinner and we played rumikub.

Back at my room about 9:30 and the noise was horrendous.
I would guess the actual eye went past between 11:30 and 1am.
The wind astonishing (and we were tucked in under shelter of a hill), debris flying everywhere and horrendous rain.
They'd boarded up all the glass but all the solar lighting throughout the resort grounds continued and hence it was a nature display at it's most fierce.

I didn't sleep much and was up at 5 with the dawn.
By then winds were light with just a little rain.
I walked back to check the boat.
Daku is along a coast road and about 2ks out of town, and my boat is about 2ks past town the other way.
As I wandered along much destruction, but mostly superficial.
No houses destroyed, a couple of power poles down, and many trees down, beach debris all over areas of the road.

Some sail boats had come adrift of their moorings.
From what I could tell about 6 yachts, all with absentee ex pat owners due to covid.
I guess we'll pull then off (they end up in the mangrove) in a few days.
Very relieved to see my own boat, along with all other boats at our marina, safely floating to their lines.

Only hassle I have is the alarm system is confused and thinks we're sinking and so continuously runs a couple of bilge pumps.
Could not find the damn off switch so have had to cut the wire feeding each.

Very tired so will take a nana nap shortly.

As an aside I feel that the 'news' upscaled this whole event.
Yesterday it became not just a cat 5 cyclone, but they were reporting a 'Super' Tropical Cyclone.
Scared the bi-jesus out of everybody.
I even just had a call from the Suva High Commission to check I'm ok.
Kind but a tad over the top.

[Boatguy30]

Glad all is well with you. Sounds better than being in this damn quarantine hotel in Auckland!
Will check out that marina have only been along south coast from Suva to Musket Cove previously.
Hopefully more next year.....

[JPA Cate]

Here's a link: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-12-...-hits/12996312


Glad you're OK, Grant.

Ann

[boatman61]

Good to hear you and the boat came out the other side sound..
Have a grand Crimble mate..

[atoll]

i saw a report of one yacht sunk on the island to the south of Vanau Balavu?
https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=...02419089798382

UPDATE: people at the Phillips house (on the main island to the east of them) have spotted them and are trying to organise a rescue now... thanks Sea Mercy Fiji Islands for your help
EMERGENCY: does anyone have any contacts in Vanau Balavu? Sy Pantagruel sunk last night, the crew are well and onshore but need rescuing from the position below. We are already in contact with RCC and Sea Mercy

[grantmc]

Originally Posted by atoll

I saw a report of one yacht sunk on the island to the south of Vanau Balavu? ...

Yes yacht name is SV Pantagruell. Three friends of mine on the boat.
We hear crew all safe onshore. No imminent danger.

Sailing is a fantastic thing to do; until it's suddenly not.

As an aside it has been what seems like a spring tide here all day. I guess a combination of the flooded creeks pouring water in to the estuary where I am located, combined with a storm surge. Still occasional strong winds and seas state very uncomfortable.

Amazing too that the internet is till working.

[grantmc]

Storm did fade away
And a Perfect day today, at Savusavu
Cloudless hot sky, clear chartres blue
Local time 8am as we welcome the day

Celebrations exit Church Babels, oh hear!
Arrive at my pelagic home where I’m listening
Cross surface crystal calm and shimmering
Experiences shared, deep feelings of fear
Hopes, even tears, relief, all expressed there
Such moments, wish I could too, be believing

Hugged by this gentle dawn sound
Reflections of home, where family all excited
I ponder my wet life, mostly delighted
Just small few days, our Crimble will abound

[arsenelupiga]

turned into small/non event.

exaggeration seem to be pretty widespread in media. fighting for few readers that still bother with these media.

Fiji is a great place and on my bucket list.

[LittleWing77]

Originally Posted by grantmc

Storm did fade away
And a Perfect day today, at Savusavu
Cloudless hot sky, clear chartres blue
Local time 8am as we welcome the day

Celebrations exit Church Babels, oh hear!
Arrive at my pelagic home where I’m listening
Cross surface crystal calm and shimmering
Experiences shared, deep feelings of fear
Hopes, even tears, relief, all expressed there
Such moments, wish I could too, be believing

Hugged by this gentle dawn sound
Reflections of home, where family all excited
I ponder my wet life, mostly delighted
Just small few days, our Crimble will abound

Relieved, Grant, that you and your boat are okay...

Merry, Merry Christmas!
Warmly,
LittleWing77

[NaClyDog]

Originally Posted by arsenelupiga

turned into small/non event.

exaggeration seem to be pretty widespread in media. fighting for few readers that still bother with these media.

Fiji is a great place and on my bucket list.

This is a disgusting comment. Were you there? I have friends who were and they personally described the destruction experienced there (and loss of life).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Rj4t9vXSd4

A little education goes a long way, I suggest you find a way to get some.

[grantmc]

Originally Posted by grantmc

...
As an aside I feel that the 'news' upscaled this whole event.
Yesterday it became not just a cat 5 cyclone, but they were reporting a 'Super' Tropical Cyclone. ...

I would just like to clarify my comment above. In making the statement I did not intend to diminish the storm's severity. Where I am located we benefited from geography.

Thousands of others did not have such protection. On the other side of the long hill that backs the shopping district and estuary here, in which all boats are moored, the devastation is beyond description. Many houses are just flattened areas of rubbish. People there had the full brunted ugliness of the storm. Houses and property and farms destroyed. All over Vanua Levu there were areas of similar destruction.

And many outlying islands have the double problem that they are now cut off, their homes and crops destroyed, and with little food.

And people here are poor, resources limited. There are only a handful of helicopters. Few islands have a landing field. There are no supply ships here, the biggest vessels 60 feet.

What I would also add is that the efforts and resourcefulness of the local people has been astonishing. The storm came through Thursday night, At 6am Friday people were out cleaning up. A couple of gangs of electricity linemen were repairing the fallen power lines and poles, we had power on again mid afternoon to the majority. By midday Friday the roads were cleared of fallen trees, slips and debris.

Some of the smaller shops opened for a few hours Friday afternoon so people could buy food. Saturday virtually all the shops were open again, and many had had flooding. Sunday churches rang out.

People all over were asking 'Do you need any help?', 'What help do you need?' I understand only a single act of looting has been reported.

My comment was in respect to the way that the media were reporting the event as a 'Super' cyclone. It was officially a category 5 storm, there is no category 6, yet that is effectively what I feel the media created in the reporting that I and my family and friends back in New Zealand were seeing.

It was certainly the most fearsome event I have ever experienced.

[Rucksta]

Originally Posted by arsenelupiga

turned into small/non event.

exaggeration seem to be pretty widespread in media. fighting for few readers that still bother with these media.

Fiji is a great place and on my bucket list.

Footage showing coconut trees with the tops still attached does not indicate a Cat 5 hit or even near miss.

Some areas will have experienced destruction and more areas flooding.
The media will too busy interviewing other journalists to report on that.

The real story is how much better Fiji was prepared for Yasa compared to Winston and how quickly Fiji will recover from this natural disaster.

Hopefully open for business by Easter with resorts full of Aussie and Kiwi families.

[grantmc]

During Cyclone Yasa as described in an earlier post, the sailing ketch Pantagruel was sunk on a remote island to the east of Fiji's two main islands. Good news received today is that she was floated and is currently on her way (under sail) towards Vuda Marina near Nadi.

One of the crew has also just posted a video of the experience. Jaro, who made the video, sailed up with me to Fiji from Opua, NZ last September.

You might be interested to watch.