Couple find hope, peace in Fiji

UKRAINIAN couple Alex and Olga Maxim felt so at peace when they were accorded a warm welcome by the staff members of the Vuda Marina last Sunday.

The couple left their Ukraine home in November last year and were sailing around the world when Russia invaded their country in February.

Stuck in the Pacific waters, their son at home saw an advertisement on the Vuda Marina Facebook page welcoming Ukrainian vessels stuck in Pacific waters to berth there for at least a year.

“The welcome when we arrived was really unbelievable,” Mr Maxim said. “People sang and we were speechless. “All we think about is our family back home who’ve been traumatised by the war. We’ve not been able to get in touch with them because of network problems.”

Stranded in their Ukraine home are the couple’s elderly parents, their son, grandson and his pregnant wife.

“This place is so calm and peaceful. We’ve never been to a place like this in all our years of sailing,” Mr Maxim added.

He said their vessel, The Amelita, will be dry-docked for free over the next 12 months, and that they’re appreciative of the Vuda Marina’s timely offer of assistance.

He said they would be in Fiji for at least two weeks before flying home to the Ukraine.

“We have fallen in love with Fiji. Even when we visited Lautoka on our second day, people just loved to say hi and greet us as we went around the city.

“We hope to return when things go back to normal at home and see other parts of Fiji that we haven’t been to.”

The couple said Fiji had given them new hope and they couldn’t wait to tell their families about this side of the world and its friendly and welcoming people.

This place is so calm and peaceful. We’ve never been to a place like this in all our years of sailing. – Alex Maxim