![RING OF FIRE](https://cdn.magzter.com/1387288041/1718184843/articles/_OVld6qaA1720610709765/RING-OF-FIRE.jpg)
Our hulls cut through the translucent waters of the lagoon around Fiji's largest island, Viti Levu. As we make our way towards the pass, the wind is a perfect 10 knots. I catch my partner Jim's eye; he grins back at me. We've spent weeks waiting for this weather window. The forecast is for a comfortable, downwind passage with wind up to 25 knots and a moderate swell from behind that should help push us along to Tanna Island, Vanuatu.
White choppy currents swirl like boiling water in the pass. My stomach churns, but we've been through so many passes in the Pacific I tell myself there's nothing to fear. Up ahead our friend on a catamaran - one of several boats to leave in the same weather window has two reefs in his mainsail and I wonder if there is something we don't know? We're in the wind shadow of the island, but from where we are conditions look moderate. Nevertheless, we furl away our genoa to keep life simple as we exit the lagoon.
I take a moment to glance back at the island's outline as it shrinks in our wake. We've spent three months exploring Fiji, but it's October and the time has come to leave. After Vanuatu, we're bound for Australia where we'll spend cyclone season and fulfil bucket list dreams to anchor beside the Opera House to watch New Year's Eve fireworks. That all feels a long way just now.
FIJI TO VANUATU
Through the pass and further from Viti Levu, the wind begins to clock around, shifting by 90° to our port beam and intensifying. In the distance two monohulls heel over and I can see gusts agitating the surface of the water, barrelling towards us. Jim calmly helms our Catana 47 Polaris, keeping the apparent wind speed down until it is safe to reef.
At last, with enough clearance from the jagged outer reef, we turn into the wind and put two reefs in the mainsail. Within fifteen minutes it's blowing 35 knots.
Denne historien er fra July 2024-utgaven av Yachting World.
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Denne historien er fra July 2024-utgaven av Yachting World.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
![THE NEXT CHAPTER](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/5180/1730731/FIOdF7_Xq1720613293074/THE-NEXT-CHAPTER.jpg)
THE NEXT CHAPTER
THE ARCHETYPAL SCHOONER CRUISER-RACER IS BACK ON THE CARIBBEAN CIRCUIT. NIGEL SHARP JOINED ADELA'S CREW FOR ITS FIRST REGATTA IN FIVE YEARS, THE ANTIGUA SUPERYACHT CHALLENGE
![ZEMI FORM MEETS FUNCTION](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/5180/1730731/aj5sutIhU1720612763487/ZEMI-FORM-MEETS-FUNCTION.jpg)
ZEMI FORM MEETS FUNCTION
MALCOLM MCKEON DELIGHTS IN THE CHANCE TO RACE HIS OWN DESIGN BALTIC 110 ZEMI AT THE ST BARTHS BUCKET.
![PEGASUS TAKES OFF](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/5180/1730731/J0AdTkN9a1720612395739/PEGASUS-TAKES-OFF.jpg)
PEGASUS TAKES OFF
MIXING NEW AND PROVEN IDEAS, PEGASUS HAS CREATED A SHORTHANDED FAST BLUEWATER YACHT WITH A MARKED DIFFÉRENCE, AS TOBY HODGES DISCOVERS ON A TWO-DAY TEST SAIL
![A LONG WAY ROUND](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/5180/1730731/VDJ9tYW6U1720611441293/A-LONG-WAY-ROUND.jpg)
A LONG WAY ROUND
THE OCEAN GLOBE RACE WAS ALL ABOUT BRINGING BACK THE SPIRIT OF THE EARLY WHITBREADS. ELAINE BUNTING FINDS OUT HOW THE CREWS FARED
![THE BIG OCEAN CLEAN](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/5180/1730731/l5RwJeRSQ1720611035482/THE-BIG-OCEAN-CLEAN.jpg)
THE BIG OCEAN CLEAN
AN AMBITIOUS PLAN IS SETTING OUT TO REMOVE PLASTIC FROM THE WORLD'S GREATEST OCEAN
![RING OF FIRE](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/5180/1730731/_OVld6qaA1720610709765/RING-OF-FIRE.jpg)
RING OF FIRE
A MEMORABLE PASSAGE FROM FIJI TO AUSTRALIA FOR KATE ASHE-LEONARD
![HALF WAY HEAVEN](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/5180/1730731/FwWbE995S1720608505005/HALF-WAY-HEAVEN.jpg)
HALF WAY HEAVEN
A FINAL PACIFIC PASSAGE FROM FRENCH POLYNESIA TO NEW ZEALAND TAKES THE SWAN 37 ELIXIR HALFWAY AROUND THE WORLD
![THE ENDLESS OCEAN](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/5180/1730731/K_hy0uLjy1720608167536/THE-ENDLESS-OCEAN.jpg)
THE ENDLESS OCEAN
THE PACIFIC IS THE WORLD'S BIGGEST OCEAN, BUT WITH SO MANY OPTIONS HOW DO YOU PLAN A ROUTE ACROSS? CRUISERS SHARE THEIR EXPERIENCES
![NIKKI HENDERSON](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/5180/1730731/buus-Ppx41720607813172/NIKKI-HENDERSON.jpg)
NIKKI HENDERSON
ALL YACHTS SHOULD HAVE THE MEANS TO GO ALOFT AT SEA AND A CREW MEMBER WILLING AND ABLE TO DO SO
![MATTHEW SHEAHAN](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/5180/1730731/5mFQY7FFp1720607508152/MATTHEW-SHEAHAN.jpg)
MATTHEW SHEAHAN
IT’S ALL SMILES FOR THE AMERICA’S CUP TEAMS AS THE BRAND NEW AC75 BOATS HIT THE WATER. BUT THE SERIOUS BUSINESS STARTS SOON...