Please select your home edition
Edition
CompareBoatInsurance Leaderboard

Yachts in Fiji prepare to assist cyclone-ravaged islands

by Andrew & Julia Dallas 23 Dec 2020 06:10 UTC
Yachts in Fiji © Andrew & Julia Dallas

Sea Mercy has organised yachts spared by tropical cyclone Yasa to bring relief to the smaller islands in Yasa's destructive path. Please help by donating to Sea Mercy.

A few years ago my wife and I were persuaded to join the club by Jonathan and Anne Lloyd plus the inimitable Lydia Strickland. A decision we have never regretted as we have cruised the North Atlantic and Pacific oceans.

We find ourselves in Fiji unable to move on at the moment. The most perfect place to be in this strange world, other than it gets a bit breezy occasionally.

Last week we experienced being the target of the deepest ever SW Pacific Cyclone. For 5 days we panicked whilst we prepared our boat. Fortunately for us, it veered off and passed to the North of Denarau/Vuda Point by 100km.

However, this was not so lucky for others who experienced life-taking destructive winds.

We have decided to get involved with Sea Mercy. Jonathan who runs it introduced himself to us as the local OCC Port Officer on our arrival under the Blue Lane scheme back in July. He has gathered together the first two waves of boats to go out to some of the smaller islands with aid.

There are others to follow behind after the initial assessment is made. What we can achieve in these remote communities completely depends on the material we have to distribute. Is there any way that the club could promote the activities of Sea Mercy?

With many thanks in advance for anything that you can do.

This article has been provided by the courtesy of Ocean Cruising Club.

Related Articles

OCC Long Range Communications Survey Results
Asking members what communications equipment is being used when offshore The OCC has conducted a survey of its members to discover what communications equipment is being used when offshore in 2025. Posted on 20 Apr
S/V Theros was lost after a fire on board
A marine investigation report has been published by Noonsite.com Last summer the crew of S/V Theros were found dead in a dinghy on Sable Island NS. The report has been published by Noonsite.com Posted on 7 Apr
Jasmine Harrison continues her circumnavigation
Starting her 6,000 passage from Panama to Fiji this week A young British adventurer will start her 6,000 passage from Panama to Fiji this week. Posted on 29 Mar
Declining Arctic Sea Ice
The average February 2025 Arctic sea ice extent was 13.75 million km² The average February 2025 Arctic sea ice extent was 13.75 million km², the lowest February extent in the 47-year satellite record and 220,000 km² below the previous record low set in 2018. Posted on 23 Mar
Ocean Cruising Club announces awards for 2024
The OCC Seamanship Award recognizes exceptional skill or bravery at sea. The Ocean Cruising Club has announced the winners of its 2024 awards for sailing and voyaging accomplishments featuring its Seamanship Award to British Vendée Globe racer Pip Hare and the Lifetime Award to Canadian Victor Wejer. Posted on 17 Feb
OCC Awards Conservation Challenge Grant
The Ocean Cruising Club is pleased to support Free Range Ocean The Ocean Cruising Club is pleased to support Free Range Ocean with a Conservation Challenge Grant towards the development of its directory of Ocean Citizen Science Projects. Posted on 6 Feb
Guides to Canadian Cruising Adventures
CCA Guides to Canadian cruising The Cruising Club of America publishes cruising guides for Maine (online only), the Canadian Maritimes and the Viking Route that are written and regularly updated by sailors who know these waters. Posted on 31 Jan
Whale makes epic migration
Seen in the Pacific Ocean in 2017 then several years later in the Indian Ocean A whale was seen in the Pacific Ocean off Colombia in 2017, then popped up several years later near Zanzibar in the Indian Ocean - a distance of at least 13,000 km. Posted on 16 Dec 2024
'Fishing our Seas Dry' by Charlie Young
The harrowing story of the over exploitation that is happening in our oceans An Ocean Cruising Club Webinar that tells the harrowing story of the over exploitation that is happening in our oceans. Posted on 5 Nov 2024
South Pacific fuel delivery
Ruffian was dismasted mid-passage between Tonga and New Zealand Two Ocean Cruising Club boats delivered fuel to S/V Ruffian (also OCC) after Ruffian was dismasted mid-passage between Tonga and New Zealand. Posted on 4 Nov 2024
Cure Marine - Cure 55 - FooterSunstorm Marine - Cup Holders - RIBExposure Marine