Lat:27 03 S
Long: 171 26 E, a little over 600 miles from Fiji, heading northeast
The last day/night have been no picnic, but things are settling now. Last night and early this morning we had 30-35 knots, and 18 foot seas cresting 8 seconds apart. We tried to take them off our bow as much as our course would allow, but sets occasionally smacked our beam making life a bit uncomfortable.
The low we were most concerned about is sufficiently to the east of us and moving southeast, and we have made enough northerly progress to stay out of the teeth of the low traveling across the Tasman to New Zealand, so all’s as well as it’s going to get with the seas, and we are now making a bee-line for Lautoka.This passage has a reputation for being rough, so what we’ve experienced is probably typical, outside of our little diversions to avoid low pressure systems.
The boat is very happy. Her big propeller cavitates sometimes when the big seas take us from certain directions. It makes a huffing, grunting sound. Kind of like a buffalo exhaling a big steamy breath from flared nostrils. In related news, sleep deprivation sends my brain on flights of fancy.
Until later!
buffalonickelblog.com 
Great to hear all is going well…I think you have the best vessel for the conditions! Thanks for the post…
Hey Val: it just dawned on me that you have taken our youthful designs for a retractable ceiling (in our third story ballroom/opium den by which to better view the night stars), to the extreme! Wish I were there to experience all this. When you arrive in Fiji, you will no doubt be wonderfully serenaded, as the Fijians are great singers. Continued safe travels! Carol and Don
AFTER ALL THIS SEA DRAMA, YOU WILL WELCOME THE BLUE LAGOON SEAS OFF FIGI. IT IS DELIGHTFUL. DON’T DO LIKE JIM DID AND FIGURE YOU CAN PARTICIPATE IN AND RECOVER FROM THE KAVA CIRCLE. IT IS WICKED.
WE LOVE THE NAME OF YOUR BEAUTIFUL NEW BOAT. – PERFECT !
WE ARE LEAVING SOON TO JOIN THE SWANSONS ON THEIR NEW TRAWLER IN THE PUGET SOUND. COOL AND DAMP WITH
SUN BREAKS THERE – NORMAL PRE-SUMMER WEATHER IN THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST.
JIM IS MAKING THE DECISION WHETHER OR NOT TO JOIN THE CREW OF VIRAGO FROM PORTLAND, MAINE, TO NOVA SCOTIA AND THEN TO NEWFOUNDLAND. IT COULDN’T BE NEARLY AS CHALLENGING AS CROSSING THE ATLANTIC. WELL, MAYBE IT
COULD.
SORRY YOU MISSED THE TWO DAYS OF MERRIMENT AT VYC’S 75 ANNIVERSARY. WHAT A PARTY – DANCING, PARADING,
FEASTING AND MORE FEASTING AND DRINKING. WE’VE NEVER SEEM THE UPSTAIRS CLUB LOOK SO FESTIVE,
SO PACKED WITH HAPPY PEOPLE, AND SO BEAUTIFULLY ADORNED. THE YORKS HAD THE VIVISON AND MADE IT HAPPEN, ALONG WITH THE HELP OF MANY COMMITTEES AND TALENTED PEOPLE.
DO YOU HAVE A MAIL ADDRESS WHERE WE CAN SEND YOU A PACKAGE.? JIM AND JUDY GRAVES
Let the Buff’ off of the leash…