Fiji - Denarau in August

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JET01
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Fiji - Denarau in August

Post by JET01 » Mon Aug 07, 2017 1:25 pm

I'm taking the family over to Denarau for a holiday. Staying at the Radisson. Although the focus of the holiday is not surfing, I'll be taking a board or two over with me to get away for a day with a mate.

I've noticed on a few of the older threads that it seems to be pretty easy to get a trip out to the reefs for a day. Most of the posts are from quite a while back.

Just wondering if there is anyone that's been recently. What are the best sites to get surf reports from? I've noticed there is wave info on magicseaweed, but I'm not sure how reliable the site is for this region.

I've done some reading on it and it seems like Wilkes Passage is the easiest option. The wind forecast according to MSW looks the most favourable, but is it accessible?
What breaks should I be keeping an eye on?
Are there boats that will stay with you for the day so you can take food/water/spare boards?
Looks like the wind this time of year is a bit shit for surfing? Any hints on breaks that could be out of the wind?

Cheers.
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steve shearer
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Re: Fiji - Denarau in August

Post by steve shearer » Mon Aug 07, 2017 2:07 pm

Cloudbreak.
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JET01
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Re: Fiji - Denarau in August

Post by JET01 » Mon Aug 07, 2017 3:14 pm

Guess I'll just have to suck it up and deal with the crowd.
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Re: Fiji - Denarau in August

Post by brendo » Mon Aug 07, 2017 4:05 pm

strong SE trades in our winter across that area of the pacific jet. like shep said, cloudbreak. when do you leave?
not hard to see if there is swell headed for Fiji, just look out for lows travelling through the tasman with a long
fetch aimed NE

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Re: Fiji - Denarau in August

Post by Drailed » Mon Aug 07, 2017 4:13 pm

That time of year need to be in the Cloudbreak area.
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steve shearer
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Re: Fiji - Denarau in August

Post by steve shearer » Mon Aug 07, 2017 4:39 pm

Cloudbreak isn't that crowded when it's over 4-6ft.

If under and light winds go to Wilkes, but it's a shitt wave, esp. compared to Cloudbreak.

Cloudbreak is surfable all day long under the trades. It's a massive reef and can handle 30-50 people no probs.

Surf it over 6ft and there'll be lucky to be 20 in the water, unless there are pros there.
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Re: Fiji - Denarau in August

Post by JET01 » Tue Aug 08, 2017 7:30 am

Outlook for cloudy is solid. I'll pick a small day so I don't kill myself.
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Re: Fiji - Denarau in August

Post by steve shearer » Tue Aug 08, 2017 11:16 am

Put Restaurants on the radar.

You wont forget it if you jag a session there.
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Re: Fiji - Denarau in August

Post by Drailed » Tue Aug 08, 2017 4:49 pm

Yep. we got Restaurants on a rising swell, only about 4 of us in the water, 3ft perfection. It was insane, shallow, but insane.
Trev wrote:I have always had a lot of time for Dick
smnmntll wrote:Got one in the mouth once, that was pretty memorable

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Re: Fiji - Denarau in August

Post by JET01 » Tue Aug 08, 2017 10:45 pm

Report is looking like it's going to be solid. Going to have to work on the mrs to get away on the monday while it's smallish.
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Re: Fiji - Denarau in August

Post by Drailed » Wed Aug 09, 2017 10:09 am

how solid? Up to 6ft Cloudbreak in my humble opinion is manageable as there are so many different take off spots. Head further up the reef to where it first starts breaking and its not difficult... Just dont take the first one of the set and not make it through like I did.
Trev wrote:I have always had a lot of time for Dick
smnmntll wrote:Got one in the mouth once, that was pretty memorable

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Re: Fiji - Denarau in August

Post by Beanpole » Wed Aug 09, 2017 5:56 pm

Or me....$400 for the snapped rental board when I got stuck inside. Loofys right the further up the reef you go the peakier it gets. If you get one from there that links up right through its memorable. Not that many do though. Sitting further in is more intense.

They will pick you up from your hotel and drive you to the boat....about 15 minutes south. Pretty good fun.....if you don't snap a board. I enjoyed Namotu but everyone on here reckons it's just a cruisy wave you could ride on a mal.....true. Extra good if everyone else decides to paddle right up the reef where it is also peaky and doesn't connect through. Quite a few other spots out there.

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steve shearer
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Re: Fiji - Denarau in August

Post by steve shearer » Wed Aug 09, 2017 6:41 pm

If it's big Jet take a chance on Restuarants.

Sack up and go.

Just fall flat down the inside...it's s.h.a.l.l.o.w
I want Nightclub Dwight dead in his grave I want the nice-nice up in blazes

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Re: Fiji - Denarau in August

Post by JET01 » Wed Aug 09, 2017 8:38 pm

steve shearer wrote:
Wed Aug 09, 2017 6:41 pm
If it's big Jet take a chance on Restuarants.

Sack up and go.

Just fall flat down the inside...it's s.h.a.l.l.o.w
Is the take off too steep for a single fin?
Live in the sunshine, swim the sea, drink the wild air.

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steve shearer
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Re: Fiji - Denarau in August

Post by steve shearer » Thu Aug 10, 2017 7:09 am

hhmmmmm....that would not be my first choice unless you are very confident on it in hollow extremely fast waves.
I'd be on a good wave thruster or quad.
I want Nightclub Dwight dead in his grave I want the nice-nice up in blazes

JET01
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Re: Fiji - Denarau in August

Post by JET01 » Thu Aug 10, 2017 8:53 am

Just winding ya up.

I'll be taking a 6'2 dhd sweet spot. Will stick quads in.

Just watched a few videos of restaurants.... f me.... make the drop and hand the f on.
Live in the sunshine, swim the sea, drink the wild air.

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Re: Fiji - Denarau in August

Post by Elmako » Thu Aug 10, 2017 3:23 pm

Heading there next week from the 14th onwards for 6 days. Organised surf with Fiji Surf Co, 2 mornings. My brother did it 2 weeks ago and he mentioned they have 2 boats , one for less exposed options for beginners to Intermediate type waves if Cloudbreak is 6+ plus. The second boat will always go to Cloudbreak due to demand and consistency. Apparently both boats re-group at Cloudbreak, so maybe a chance to paddle out warm and see it all unfold from close by and maybe get a couple after you have been surfing a lesser powerful wave.

Pick up 6.30am from hotel and back on the boat at 1 pm fro $230 Fijian dollars, snacks and water included with boat with canopy. Wife can come along for same rate $ and snorkel on the inside reef while I surf.

Boats will obviously go where the wind / tide / swell is optimal so this is why I thought it would be best to book with them and just jump on the boat and jump out to the line up.

See you out there.

cheers
J

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steve shearer
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Re: Fiji - Denarau in August

Post by steve shearer » Thu Aug 10, 2017 5:10 pm

$230 for a half day?

Thats rich.
I want Nightclub Dwight dead in his grave I want the nice-nice up in blazes

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