WEsail · video

What this video covers

Erica and Warren aboard their sailboat ride out Category 1 Tropical Cyclone Vianu at Vunda Marina on the western side of Viti Levu, Fiji, on April 6, 2026 — their first official cyclone after seven years of cruising.7:55 They had been provisioning for a month-long trip to the Lau group when the warning issued; they left Denarau Marina and returned to Vunda specifically because it offers better protection than Denarau.1:29 The marina's central cyclone-prep procedure requires every boat to remove its anchor and pay out chain to divers, who attach it to a large central cinder block mooring.2:22 Warren rigs fenders with lines strung between neighboring boats to prevent fenders from popping.2:06 The cyclone tracked roughly 300 km offshore west of Nandi before shifting slightly east; the closest approach came around 3–4 p.m. Peak gusts at the marina reached 50 knots, with sustained winds of 45 knots, heavy rain, coastal inundation warnings, storm surge, and wave heights up to 4.5 meters forecast for open water.16:42 PredictWind provided the track data they monitored throughout.14:36 The marina reached capacity and held a pre-storm briefing covering expected conditions and evacuation procedures.11:28 Erica notes that marina staff's proactive chain-rigging protocol and the protected berth made the experience far less severe than several previous open-anchorage storms they had endured in stronger winds.27:35

More from WEsail

France to Fiji in 24 Hours | Back to Boat LifeAug 2026We Flew Halfway Around the World to Surprise My Family | Fiji to FranceAug 202613 Knots, Big Seas & Dolphins at Sunset | Sailing Back to Fiji's MainlandAug 2026We Don't Know Where We're Going Next | Leaving Fulaga, Fiji & Sailing SomewhereAug 2026

From WEsail — see the channel’s boat, crew, and every analysed video.

The Sailing Directory Newsletter

One email with the fleet's best finds — the moments, boats, and stories worth your watch time. Enter your own address to get your own copy.