A NEW comprehensive guide to the shores and marinas of Fiji has been launched to give yachties a better insight into the country.
The 244-page A Mariner's Guide to Fiji Shores & Marinas is the brainchild of two local women entrepreneurs — Andrée Matson Yee and Heidi Williams-Moy —who put together information for seafarers "in celebration of the growing yacht tourism industry in Fiji".
Art director Ms Yee said with more than 300 breathtaking islands to explore, the guide aims to assist visiting yachtsmen and women throughout the duration of their trip. "It's like an in-flight magazine, but for tourists sailing here rather than flying," she said.
"The guide is designed for people who have the time and resources to explore; people with no timetable or deadline, people who can reach the farthest islands easily, transporting with them their supplies and accommodation that makes visiting places that would otherwise be restricted, possible.
"Our aim with the guide is two-fold, to promote Fiji as a destination to potential yacht tourists heading toward the South Pacific, and to provide a comprehensive guidebook for yachtsmen and women once they have arrived in Fiji."
The comprehensive guide covers information on all marinas and popular anchorages in the country.
It also covers the Fijian culture, language and traditions, highlighting good etiquette while visiting villages and shares some of the fantastic initiatives designed to promote the protection of some endemic species visitors may encounter.
Visitors can also contribute to national conservation projects, such as the Fiji petrel (sea bird) and whale and dolphin sightings databases.
"For six months, we have been working hard to create this much-needed guide to Fiji for yacht and superyacht tourists."
Guide editor Mrs Williams-Moy said they were pleased to welcome valuable contributions from experts in a variety of fields, including Captain Carol Dunlop, who compiled the original Fiji Islands Yachting Guide in the 1990s for the then Fiji Visitors Bureau, and various government agency representatives regarding clearance procedures and permit approval.
Their company — Sea Reel Productions Ltd — is a locally-owned production company based in Suva.
A Mariner's Guide To Fiji Shores & Marinas is available at all Fiji marinas and in yacht chancelleries countrywide.