Feedback from SY Inca

5 November, 2018

Vuda Marina has to be the best Marina in the South Pacific! Nothing from the west coast of the US to Australia and everything in between compares. Further, I don’t know of any Marina in Australia that compares.

The facilities are first rate, travel lift to 60 Tonnes, cyclone pits, Catamaran haul out. Fuel Dock, General store (good coffee and healthy salads) and yacht shop chandlery, clean and modern bathrooms and showers in 3 locations plus Laundry service. First-rate restaurant and bar island style with thatch roof perched over the waterfront. Live music and lovely sunset views! Kids play area and lots of outdoor seating. There is accommodation available in cabins. Local trades work on your boat at very reasonable rates. A very good Engineering shop just up the road and full Sail making facilities at the end of the driveway. These are the Australian standard.

During a minor cyclone last year, my boat a 58ft ketch was in one of the many cyclone pits. Adam Wade the Marina Manager kindly walked past giving me a live video stream of the situation. The boat was fine. What other Marina does this!?

When considering a stop at Fiji please look at Vuda Marina. Check the photos online, this place is very attractive with palm trees and grass. Perfect for liveaboard extended stays. The islands close by are fabulous and there are many months of cruising to be done amongst the beautiful islands and people of Fiji.

Aaron King

S/V Inca

Feedback from SY Sojourn ll

21 October, 2018

We have spent the last three months cruising on our 47-foot yacht around Fiji – our second time sailing around these stunning islands. There is so much to see, do and explore.

The people, the weather, the islands, the huge Bula Fijian smiles are so welcoming… you immediately feel at home.

We chose Vuda Marina as our base on the main island of Viti Levu and came and went from here.

A fantastic sheltered all weather marina with facilities for haul out and a workshop that can carry out most boat jobs, from bottom paint to rigging etc. An experienced group of skilled workers.

The Boatshed, a great restaurant with scrumptious food and a bar overlooking the water, features local music, a laundry, general store with a yacht shop to complete the scene.

We headed out to Musket Cove from here to celebrate with many other like-minded yachties the week-long legendary Musket Cove Fiji Regatta. There were races to the sand bar, around Malolo island, Hobie cat races, dress up nights, a Fijian buffet feature delicious local foods, singing, dancing and more.

Heading out to the Blue Lagoon in the Yasawas was a highlight. We anchored off the Nanuya Island Resort and explored the area going by dinghy around the point and through the mangroves to Miri and families’ amazing organic garden. Such a special place. They grow so many colourful and succulent vegetable and fruit. We filled our bags with eggplants, red and green peppers, fragrant basil, spring onions, radishes, lettuce, bok choy, tomatoes and more. The kids helped us pick and load our bags to overflowing. Thank you, Miri and family.

Next day was a 30-minute walk up and along the ridge to Lo’s teahouse to sample her famous doughnuts with chocolate sauce. They are so good she insists you order two as you always go back for more… if you only order one! The lemon leaf tea was refreshing and tasted like heaven after the hike in the searing midday sun. Lo, the owner is a smiling enterprising woman who lives next door to the teahouse with her family. She decided to make tea cake and doughnuts to entice yachties over the hill for a walk and now she is famous!

Later, snorkelling with a myriad of tropical fish amongst the nearby coral we felt totally content swimming in the tepid turquoise water. A true piece of paradise not to mention the stunning white sand beach with iridescent water.

A couple of hours north we anchored outside the Sawa-i-Lau Caves on the island of the same name but were disappointed as it was too windy to take the plunge and go diving – but that leaves another activity for next time!

So much to do and see here. We’ll be back for sure…

Thanks, Fiji!

Jo and Ross Blackman

Sojourn ll

Feedback from SY Mustang Sally 1

7 December, 2016

We arrived at Fiji on the 4th July 2016 and our first stop, as is the case with most yachts arriving from the West, was at Vuda Marina.

We found the facilities at the marina were excellent and they have thought of everything to make a cruising yachts life a bit simpler, from on-site customs clearance, well-stocked chandlery and general store and even cabins that make life a bit more comfortable once the boat has been hauled out.

The Boatshed staff made us feel very welcome and we quickly felt like part of the Vuda family.  From a warm welcome upon our arrival including the ‘Bula’ song, all the staff knew our names after our first evening.  They made it a fun place to have a drink and a meal and share some time with our fellow cruisers.

The girls in the office were meticulous and a wealth of information which made the arrival process seamless.  During our various stops at Vuda, they attended to every detail with a minimum of fuss.

We decided to leave our boat in a pit for the cyclone season and were very impressed by the expertise and care shown in handling our boat from water to being secured in her pit.  The haul out went exceptionally well making what can often be a very stressful time very easy.  Big thanks to all the boys in the boatyard.

They have even offered a service to monitor and look after the boat during our absence which gives us peace of mind that she will be well looked after and still in tidy shape when we return in April 2017 to continue our cruising adventures in Fiji

Mark and Di

Mustang Sally 1

An update from SY Reboot

16 September, 2016

We are currently in Vuda Point. Once again we made an entrance – towed in due to bad engine vibration.

Vuda Point is the first comprehensive marine repair facility when travelling west from Tahiti.

Approaches

The entrance channel is well marked with white poles. At night they are illuminated by flashing red and green lights. Night entry is still not recommended.

Approaching the entrance channel is straightforward the second time. The first time is not so easy. The marina is not shown on the (Garmin) charts.

Position 17º41’04”S, 177º23’02”E (Vuda Marina entrance channel.)

The area around the entrance is littered with buoys (most not on the charts) and an offshore pipeline for tankers. As you get closer the picture becomes clearer as you sort out the channel, pipeline, quarantine, anchorage, etc.

The quarantine buoy is large, yellow and round. Do not confuse it with the yellow “can” buoys. It has “MARINA” painted on it. It is to port as you approach the channel.

The Marina

The marina facility is “med mooring.” A chase boat is required to help you into your slip. Be prepared to wait outside for your turn. As of this writing, the marina monitors channel 11.

The marina megayacht facility is still an artist’s concept, although some work has been done on the breakwater.

The interior basin (at the moment the only one until the megayacht facility is complete), suffers from poor water flow so the water is quite dirty. Don’t expect to dive to check the bottom of your boat.

The staff is very helpful and efficient. There is a list of contractors and the availability of casual labour to help with washing, etc. The restaurant is nice but more pricey than in Savusavu.

Roger Jones

SY Reboot

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