Fiji Lakemba Channel

[daletournier]

Hi all, heading to Fiji from Tahiti shortly, no stopping along the way due to no where else being open and Fiji Blue Lane rules.

Friends in Fiji suggest keeping south of the Lau group of islands to the east of fiji. I've also been told navionics etc isnt always accurate in this area.

Charts indicate the Lakemba channel is clear of dangers and Ovitalmap seems to confirm this, but Ovitalmap satelite seems to have no coverage for approx 50nm just west of the channel.

My question, is anyone here familiar with this area and more specifically has run through the Lakemba channel, are the charts accurate? any reason not to use this channel?

I've been looking at the weather over the last couple of weeks and it often blows reasonably hard in that area.

Thanks in advance.

Cheers Dale.

[BigAl.NZ]

I am sorry I can't speak specifically to that passage, but you are right to be cautious. There are whole islands missing, and some islands are several miles out.I wouldn't sail at night in Fiji unless I was following my own trail and only then if I really had to.

[s/v Moondancer]

Navionics was useless, we discovered a 1/2 mile long reef that was not on the chart, in and near the Lau group. It was OK in the main two islands but not a place to sail at night except for the main channels.

Very experienced friends lost their boat running a channel in daylight near Savusavu.