But I was quite surprised that I met so many people/boats that I knew already. I had thought they had all sailed on, but many had spent the southern winter in Fiji or the surrounding island nations and were now getting ready to sail either down to New Zealand (again), or onwards to Australia, or cross the equator and head for the Marshall Islands. Many evenings (and some afternoons) where spent catching up with old friends - or making new ones. While sailing across the oceans can be quite lonely, when in port, sailors are extremely social.

Fiji sunset

Meeting up with Uli, Uwe, Gisela, and Rita (SV Venus, SV Anni Nad)

New friends Patrick, Tom, Josh, Peter

Gudrun being hauled out of her cyclone pit