This was our first time on a tiny island, a place we could run the width of under just a few minutes. Leleuvia is an island in the Lomaitivi archipelago in Fiji.
This island went through many hands, but now belongs to a resort that too bears the name of the island. We decided to make a stop there on our way to Suva to wait for favorable winds to go south—also, we wanted a taste of tiny-island living. We arrived at Moturiki pass around Our friends Eric and Vandy gave us a number to phone the resort on arrival so they could send a boat to guide us through the reef.
We realized then that our phone plan didn't include calls within Fiji, all we had was data. We called them on VHF instead. We had waypoints for the entrance, but not all the way to the anchorage. Many areas in Fiji aren't charted well.
You can find yourself navigating over an area with the depth sounder reading 10 m but the chart will display a patch of green, an area too shallow to pass.
It's always disconcerting to find yourself anchored in a place where the chart doesn't match reality. We got closer and closer to the green area, growing nervous, and continuing to try and hail the resort. Eventually, they picked up our call. We motored on, nearing the pier, and spotted the escort boat. The driver came within shouting range, instructing us to follow, which we promptly did. They led us to a mooring, and assured us it was strong and that it could take our weight.
