Checking in to Fiji
Friday, 26. June 2009, 11:55:06
Fiji was a stop I looked forward to most. Having high expectations is not a good thing, so at first I was a little disappointed.
We arrived (from New Zealand) at the Navula Pass at around midnight. With careful navigation, leading lights, reference to books, charts, radar and another yacht not too far ahead we made it through the mile wide gap in the extensive fringing reef and snuck in to Momi Bay for a few hours of undisturbed sleep. Anchoring before checking in is not strictly allowed, but who wants to move around Fiji’s reef strewn waters in the dark. Aside from that, most charts of Fiji are not 'spot on' accurate. Maybe they are accurately depicted, but just not in the correct position.
Up anchored at dawn and motored off to Lautoka for check-in - Quite a palaver. We have found that the more third world the country, the more paperwork required. I suspect some smaller islands are secretly using all the duplicate and triplicate forms for land reclamation. On shore while buying a tiny fuse the assistant carefully rearranged two sheets of carbon paper and dutifully recorded the sale in triplicate. The cost of the fuse 15 cents. Cost of shipping the carbon paper and receipt books? We were reminded of the time we were trying to buy a phone card 10 years ago in the Caribbean. After numerous forms, passport checks, authorization signatures and James’ low level of patience, he told them
"we don’t want to buy the company, just a phone card".
The French Islands are worlds ahead for us yachties; check in and out is mostly quick and easy. Sometimes you get the feeling that they would rather you hadn’t bothered them at all.
So back to check-in. We were fortunate to have 3 other yachts checking in the same time. Safety in numbers. Things went okay with 2 officials going around and visiting the boats in turn. On ours they had a look-see at the groceries and in the fridge, then settled down for a cool beer before signing the forms. Just as well they took the time for the beer as they noticed that on one of our forms we had been renamed "Mind the Cat".
Other yachties have been given a hard time at check-in. A friend arrived about midday and after having some forms completed, he was told to come back at 5pm for the rest. Back he rowed at 5 only to be charged overtime - as it was now after hours and there is a minimum 3 hours overtime fee. Yachts have been fined for not giving 48 hours notice of arrival, yet if you have, no one can find the notification and they expect you to furnish the proof that you have sent it. I spoke to one yachtie that stood his ground and told them
"I sent it, you have it, you find it".
That response was accepted without extra charges. Arriving over the weekend is a definite no-no with the weekend fees. The couple whose boat sank having sailed in with the rescuers over the weekend got hit - even though their boat didn’t make it!
Lorna
We arrived (from New Zealand) at the Navula Pass at around midnight. With careful navigation, leading lights, reference to books, charts, radar and another yacht not too far ahead we made it through the mile wide gap in the extensive fringing reef and snuck in to Momi Bay for a few hours of undisturbed sleep. Anchoring before checking in is not strictly allowed, but who wants to move around Fiji’s reef strewn waters in the dark. Aside from that, most charts of Fiji are not 'spot on' accurate. Maybe they are accurately depicted, but just not in the correct position.
Up anchored at dawn and motored off to Lautoka for check-in - Quite a palaver. We have found that the more third world the country, the more paperwork required. I suspect some smaller islands are secretly using all the duplicate and triplicate forms for land reclamation. On shore while buying a tiny fuse the assistant carefully rearranged two sheets of carbon paper and dutifully recorded the sale in triplicate. The cost of the fuse 15 cents. Cost of shipping the carbon paper and receipt books? We were reminded of the time we were trying to buy a phone card 10 years ago in the Caribbean. After numerous forms, passport checks, authorization signatures and James’ low level of patience, he told them
"we don’t want to buy the company, just a phone card".
The French Islands are worlds ahead for us yachties; check in and out is mostly quick and easy. Sometimes you get the feeling that they would rather you hadn’t bothered them at all.
So back to check-in. We were fortunate to have 3 other yachts checking in the same time. Safety in numbers. Things went okay with 2 officials going around and visiting the boats in turn. On ours they had a look-see at the groceries and in the fridge, then settled down for a cool beer before signing the forms. Just as well they took the time for the beer as they noticed that on one of our forms we had been renamed "Mind the Cat".
Other yachties have been given a hard time at check-in. A friend arrived about midday and after having some forms completed, he was told to come back at 5pm for the rest. Back he rowed at 5 only to be charged overtime - as it was now after hours and there is a minimum 3 hours overtime fee. Yachts have been fined for not giving 48 hours notice of arrival, yet if you have, no one can find the notification and they expect you to furnish the proof that you have sent it. I spoke to one yachtie that stood his ground and told them
"I sent it, you have it, you find it".
That response was accepted without extra charges. Arriving over the weekend is a definite no-no with the weekend fees. The couple whose boat sank having sailed in with the rescuers over the weekend got hit - even though their boat didn’t make it!
Lorna
WIDGETIZE
Ricardo Ferreira # 26. June 2009, 16:24
Nice "board dairy"
Have a nice trip