Futuna lies 230km NE of Savusavu - Fiji.
Along with Wallis (which lies another 230km away to the E), Futuna is governed and run by the French, (petit pois!)
A new yacht visa for Fiji is required every 18 months and Hiraeth's ran out on the 6th feb. Due to the threat of cyclones the customs officials granted a day by day 'weather watch' extension, meaning if the tropical cyclone warning ended then I would have to leave.
So on the 17th feb I left for the 2 day trip to Futuna.
Navigating the Somosomo straight and the outer reefs added some grey hairs (don't tell mother!) but Curly and Brian donated their much needed waypoints, so even thought the reefs felt close enough to touch I was safe following their tracks.
With some wind on the nose and a light NE it was a motor sail all the way to Futuna.
The swell crashing on the outer reef didn't look great for a quiet anchoring close to the wharf. However once inside, the swell died.
Checking in and back out was a quick formality, and after a quick walk from one end to the other I was back onto Hiraeth.
The French connection was evident with everyone speaking the lingo along with the number of French nationals in the government jobs that I witnessed.
Also some of the buildings proximity to the 'road' - a concrete path just wide enough for two cars - reminded me of the French villages we used to drive through where you could see the scrapes of vehicles as they passed by.
Strange to be reminded of this half a world away!
Everyone was friendly as I walked through the 'town' to stretch the legs.
Sailing back to Fiji the trades kicked in and Hiraeth was loving her new roller furler and sail setup.
Heavy squalls and rain kept me awake most of the first night, reefing and adjusting course.
The second night passing through the reefs again would be easier as I would only have to follow my outgoing track - I thought!
Wind versus tide!! Short sharp waves with heavy squalls ensured another sleepless night.
Shining the big spotlight over the side looking for what I thought was an island coming too close, turned out to be a big wave! Tens of thousands of red eyes were illuminated in the waves. Squid were everywhere, as thick as soup, only hand width in size they would swim away as the light caught them then be back close as I swept the beam the other way.
These squid kept me amused and awake for most of the night until at last I was through the Somosomo straight and on the home run back to Savusavu.
So I have four a months visitor visa in my passport and Hiraeth has 18 months before she has to leave.
A strange setup but that's the way it goes.
SB
