Name, Place and Historic Importance(solved by Jim)

[Richard Quartermaine]

Ivan, Volasiga was a solid carvel plank hull and was long before I was blessed to have her she was a ferry running from Savu Savu, Vanua Levu in open waters. She was really seaworthy and the light canvas awnings could roll up. They also could clip down to deter theft although, believe it or not there was little of that. A bottle of beer, sitting on top with my feet through the hatch on the helm with Margaret and the kids with the awnings out was sheer bliss. The very lines of Volasiga were such that she'd roll in wet grass. On one Levuka trip (about 60 miles) we had a howler of wind and she rolled and bucked and seemed to enjoy it. She had a Morris Vedette 4 Cylinder engine that throbbed away giving us little more than 8 knots.
Richard

[Richard Quartermaine]

Yes Cappy, I had Walter Whippy the Suva boat builder give us a bit more cover up top but his family had been in the business for generations so he would not have made any errors I shouldn't imagine. If I recall, you mentioned you were in Lautoka in mid sixties. We were there from mid 59 to the end of 68. We could have kept you out of site lol. It was great having my sister and her family in Lautoka and my brother in law, his mate and I took Volasiga there around the top of Viti Levu once. We stopped in a cove half way for the night and from the grass bure village a man came out in a canoe so we gave him some oqa (barracoota) that kept on taking our trolling line. Off he went with a big grin and shortly back he came with a big basket of fruit. We had the best time to be there you know.
Richard

[cappy]

its surprising richard what a touch of kindness can bring back ......all my life i have tried to give more than i recieve and have found that hard to do ......if i have a guest or visitor i will not let them pay for anything all and it has been returned 10 fold.......i did have a boat with a flying bridge and outside steering also but sadly never got it of the river ouse ......or had the time to use it much as i was tied to my business 7 days per week the was persueded to give it to my son ...on mothers advice who proceeded to run it aground with 3 young women on in varios states of undress........lose the screw out of her and not make the dingy fast which was never seen again......but then fathers have these prices to pay ......i called her harbour lights ...........one of my favourite songs .......but having said that did get some good weekends with mates a couple of cases and a trough of sirloin steak and fishing etc...happy days

[Doc Vernon]

As this thread has become one of some interest I have moved it from the Quiz Sction as it can remain open for futher discussion!
Thanks Richard!
Cheers

[Jim Brady]

Vernon have you secretly been away meeting Wills,Kate and baby George were'nt they in the Blue Mountains ?
Regards.
Jim.B.

[Doc Vernon]

Hi Jim
Not up our neck of the Woods Jim.they were in Winmalee though also so called Blue Mountains LOL!
Not really though! Just West!
No mate I have been in Woolongong doing a bit of Rest and relaxation ,with the Fish LOL!
some had good Legs though! haha!
Cheers
Hope you had a good Easter !

[Richard Quartermaine]

Re #36
Have found some Suva Levuka Race Log Books which give a good description of Fiji history. I'll put them over two posts. Fotunately we didn't run into any of many in Volasiga.
Richard

[Richard Quartermaine]

Here is the course through reefs and beacons from start to finish.
R