Cyclone Yasa

[grantmc]

Just sitting here reading CF as Cyclone Yasa bears down on our location. It’s being called a Super Tropical Cyclone and is classed as category 5. It’s predicted to travel right across Fiji and her islands over the next 24 hours. It is 5pm Thursday 17 Dec local time as I write this post. As with most yachties I’m hunkered down on shore. Far too dangerous for most people to remain on their boat. But a few noble hearts are doing so.

The rain has been torrential all day, and wind this morning was intermittent, periods of calm, and then strong gusts for a few minutes. Now the wind is on the brutal side. Coconuts are dropping like flies as the palms dance like banshees, and the noise is fearsome, with periodic loud crashes you can only wonder as to their cause.

Very poor light, and it feels as if the night will start soon, and yet it’s so early.

Worrying of course about my boat, and people’s safety and their property. Locals living here are comparatively poor and building codes and practices can lack enforcement, so many live in makeshift shacks. How do they manage through something like this (and it’s as regular as the seasons)?

I caught a car ride with the Marina manager this morning and she told me that in Cyclone Winston some five years ago she watched her house blow away. They rebuilt and she was proud that in the last couple of years they’d been able to buy new furniture and appliances. She’s terrified that work will all be in vain (and no of course insurance doesn’t cover storms). She has so little confidence in her new house that her and her family are staying somewhere else tonight.

Throughout the day the power and internet have been up and down. Whoever the people are that fix utilities in weather like this go well beyond their pay scale. Thank you. I can attest to it being pretty miserable when you can’t even boil water.

If anyone is interested I am located at a hotel called the Daku Resort. Unfortunately the snorkelling, stand up paddle boarding, kayaks, horse treks, and garden walks etc are closed. Perhaps another time.

But reaching out to all the other sailors currently in Fiji and hoping that you and your families and friends all stay safe and your boats get through the night undamaged.

Oh and Fiji Met Service have updated scenarios.

[Tillsbury]

All best wishes for you from here. I have a good friend here in nz who's Fijian and really worried about her family where she hasn't been able to go all year.

Please post back as soon as you can if you can find connectivity

[Dsanduril]

Hopefully as it is coming across the island from the north you and any friends on the south shore will be spared the worst of it. Fingers crossed.

Best of luck.

[Wotname]

Looking forward to another update in (say)12 hours telling us you have survived without too much damage.

Wishing you a safe night!

[Boatguy30]

Hope it a good solid building. Seems like the major yachting area near Nadi is going to miss the worst, but quite bad near you. Check in with us tomorrow

[JPA Cate]

Stay safe, Grant, if you can. Good hopes for you.

Ann

[boatman61]

Stay safe Grant..

[GordMay]

Thanks for the update, Grant.
Stay safe and well!
Look forward to more, when you're able.

[LittleWing77]

Wow. Just wow.

Hang in there, Grant.
Warmly,
LittleWing77

[Seaworthy Lass]

Cyclone Yasa hit Fiji slightly earlier than forecast:

“The category 5 cyclone made landfall in Bua, Vanua Levu, at 6pm Thursday (7pm NZ time), two hours earlier than originally predicted, according to Metservice Fiji. A state of natural disaster has been declared and a strict curfew imposed until Friday morning.

The eye of the storm is passing 100 kilometres east of Yasaway-i-rara and 90km southwest of Labasa, according to the Fijian Government. ”

Grant, I hope you and your boat are safe.
I think we are all keeping fingers crossed for everyone in the area.

[GordMay]

According to CBC reporting, Fiji was taking precautions with some 50 foreign yachts moored in the southern part of the island chain.
"The boats have been moved to mangrove shelter, which provide good protection against the winds," said Cynthia Rasch, chief executive officer of Port Denarau Marina.

[Saleen411]

Originally Posted by GordMay

According to CBC reporting, Fiji was taking precautions with some 50 foreign yachts moored in the southern part of the island chain.
"The boats have been moved to mangrove shelter, which provide good protection against the winds," said Cynthia Rasch, chief executive officer of Port Denarau Marina.

I was wondering about the mangrove shelter.....guess boats have done well there in the past.

Is Cyclone Yasa forcast to pass over the Port Denarau area?

This sucks as I know that many had no choice but to stay in Fiji for cyclone season having been denied access to safe zones. They're on their own too insurance wise.

[Saleen411]

Originally Posted by Saleen411

I was wondering about the mangrove shelter.....guess boats have done well there in the past.

Is Cyclone Yasa forcast to pass over the Port Denarau area?

.

Looks like Yasa is northeast of Port Denarau. Hope everybody is ok.

[GordMay]

FWIW: Local time, in Fiji, is: 3:26 a.m. Friday, December 18, 2020 (GMT+12)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hYW2XqtakXU

[Boatguy30]

Originally Posted by Saleen411

Looks like Yasa is northeast of Port Denarau. Hope everybody is ok.

Yes the storm has passed long way from the mangrove mooring area seen on many FB sites and min city of Suva. Probably less than 70 knots winds in Port Denarau/ Nadi area. Savu Savu the other main yachting area, where I assume Grant is was much closer to center of storm.

Had Savu Savu been an open clearance port last month, it’s likely that’s where we would be now.