Over the last couple months we fretted over the coming cyclone season. In the current El-Nino phase, we expect a few more than normal cyclones in this part of the SW Pacific.
One option we contemplated: Sail to the Marshall Islands, on the other side of the equator. Except for keen divers, which we are not, we don't think there is much to do. On the route would be Tuvalu, which we have visited in 2010. It is an island group threatened by increasing waterlevels, everything is low.
A standard option for getting away from the cyclone prone area is sailing to New Zealand. We do want to see NZ one day, but maybe not by boat. NZ's attractions may be better visited by air and RV. The 1100nm passage can certainly be difficult, with the North Cape of NZ being further south than the Cape of Good Hope in South Africa. At that latitude, the Lows with accompanying cold fronts travel fast and regularly. The passage would need to be done twice, now while it is still cold (Spring) in NZ, then back in April/May when it is cold again there (Fall). We don't fancy cold weather sailing!
We opted for a third option, we are staying in Fiji. There is certainly a risk, and a major category cyclone may end some cruising dream. That risk is mitigated though:
Vuda marina has a rather protected basin in which we can come when a cyclone threatens. We had to pay 3 months in advance to reserve a spot. Vuda marina issues an email recalling all boats in plenty of time in the event of a cyclone warning. We are free to come and go during the season and our cyclone berth is kept for us until we need it.
In case we have to use it, boats will be tied stern to, with chains to ground anchors ashore. The boat's anchor is taken off and divers will use the anchor chain to tie the bows of all boats in the basin to a big central mooring point. All additional mooring lines will be used to shore, to other boats and to smaller moorings in the basin.
The day before severe weather is forecast to hit Vuda point, a barrier across the entrance is put up, during low tide that day. By then we better be in the basin, or we are on our own trying to find a safe place somewhere else. Then cyclone prep begins in earnest, with removal of all sails, canvas, solar panels, etc. The big central mooring point is visible in both below pics, taken from a mast-up trip on our boat:
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They also offer storage in a pit, on land, which would be horribly hot to live in/on. But for owners who leave the boat during cyclone season, that is a great option.
