Fiji Recovering from Mega-Cyclone

Residents of Fiji are still reeling from Saturday’s pummeling by ferocious Tropical Cyclone Winston, the most powerful storm ever to hit the multi-island South Pacific nation — and probably the most destructive. 

Packing winds as high as 205 mph (136 sustained) as it peaked over the nation’s eastern islands, Winston reportedly sent roofs flying, flattened whole villages, and even overwhelmed some weather instruments. In addition to structural damage, crops and livestock were wiped out by the high winds, lashing rain and storm surge in some areas. Thousands of islanders have found refuge in evacuation centers, as local agencies and international aid organizations assess damage and begin the long process of picking up the pieces and rebuilding. Yesterday, major airports opened and a curfew was lifted.

Early reports indicate that the worst damage was probably sustained in the Lau Group of islands, the western Yasawa Islands and northern Vanua Levu. As of this morning, 21 deaths have been confirmed. 

Reports are also trickling in from cruising yachts based in Fiji for the cyclone season. In a post this morning Lewis Allen and Alyssa Alexopolous (who were off-island during the blow) report that their Redwood City-based Tartan 37 Eleutheria rode out the monster storm on a mooring and suffered only minor damage. The Faulkner family’s Colorado-based Tartan 411 Hotspur, lying nearby we assume, also came through without major damage. Bruce Harbour and Jennifer Martindale of the Montana-based St. Francis 44 Mk II Skabenga weathered the storm in a mangrove lagoon, as did many other cruising yachts. But as photos confirm, other international cruising boats were not so lucky.  

Ian Wells reports that at Vuda Point Marina, a popular cyclone-season refuge for cruisers, "There has been some damage to a few unlucky yachts, but most came out unscathed." There were no major injuries there. Wells observed, "Amazing efforts by the team [marina staff], many of whom have been working since 7 a.m. yesterday [Saturday] and are still going, sacrificing their own families and properties to look after the yachts. Incredible stories about what they were doing during the middle of the cyclone."

Winston was tracking toward Vanuatu on Sunday afternoon, but some computer models predict it will turn south and weaken between New Zealand and New Caledonia over the next few days.

Longtime cruiser Dietmar Petutschnig of the Las Vegas-based Lagoon 440 Carinthia returned last year from several wonderful years in Fiji. He encourages sailors to support the efforts of the sailor-assisted aid organization Sea Mercy in addition to other relief organizations. See the Fiji Government’s website for other donation suggestions and aid updates.