"A Lady Trip" Sailing around the World ( presently in the Tuamotu's French Polynesia )

A Lady
Stephen Hyde
Mon 12 Apr 2010 20:27
SUNDAY 11th  APRIL  2010
 
Again, another beautifull day at sea, with a 15  /  18 knot breeze over our quarter.
Very flat seas by comparison and the colour, just wow !
We could see another yacht about 8 miles behind,, interesting,  she was only 1 mile off our starboard bow last night as it got dark.
funny thing, we could not see her at all on the radar. !
 
We recieved sad news that " Maura Twomey" from Crosshaven died yesterday unexpected.  may she rest in peace.
 
10.15 hrs We could just see the palm trees on the horizon of Manihi, The first of the Atoll's and also it was the first
of the Islands to produce cultivated black pearls .......
We sailed down the east coast , about a half mile off , and the depth was still 3500feet deep.  ( dont think we could anchor there ! )
 
Rom sent us an account of the rugby of the rugby matches, Munster and Leinster, Both are through to the semi finals,
Could they ever wind up playing one another in the final in Paris  ? Yhat would be some match.... come on MUNSTER
and remember we will be flying the flag in the South Pacific.
Rom's accounts of the games are excellent and very entertaining,  Thanks for that.
 
14.00hrs  We arrieved at the entrance to the lagoon on the south side of the Atoll. Many of the books about these Islands do
not reccomend this place for stopping, ( they cited , Too shallow, entrance too dificult, tides too strong, etc, etc )
Well we decided " feck the Begrudgers" we are going in anyway, and that is just what we did,
mind you, we had a 4 knot tide with us and at one stage in the narrow entrance the dept under the keel was less than a meter.
 
If we grounded with that strong tide,,, ohhhhhhh feck, we would have torn the ass off the boat,  but the funny thing, the skipper
never thought for one second that we would touch bottom,,  A good case for positive thinking..
 
When we got inside, the dept went to 16m and we nibbled ( a Hugh Gibson _expression_ ) our way between the coral outcrops
across the lagoon and finally dropped the hook just outside the  " Manihi Pearl Beach Resort " with all its bedrooms on stilts
in the water,
Oh my Gawd !   what a place, Paradise X 2,, everything we expected and more, so no more talk and all into the beautifull crystal clear blue water
for a refreshing dip... It would take a lot of this to kill you....
 
Another thing,,,, NO  riff raff or Lager Louts ever make it to these places, Worth its weight in gold................
 
Donal went for a nap, while S & A went ashore and explored the Hotel. also booked dinner for later.
 
19.00hrs We all went ashore again and had a good dinner, ( not as good as our own restaurant on board the boat )
a night cap and all off to the bunks for a good night ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ
 
thats it from Paradise today..
 
Signed :- Stephen Hyde      ( skipper )