To Tubuai
Beez Neez now Chy Whella
Big Bear and Pepe Millard
Sat 27 Jul 2013 22:37
|
From Raivavae to Tubuai,
Austral Islands
We got up this morning to blue skies,
flat water and just a gentle breeze – the first time in what has seemed like
months. We went about our pre-journey chores and went ashore, I was left outside
the post office to download blogs and the skipper went to log us out at the
police station. He came back telling me Andy (the boss) had shook his hand
warmly and wished us “good seas”. Back on Beez with filled rolls for lunch from
the festival ‘mall’. Baby Beez stowed and ready to go, leaving time was anything
from twelve until four. At half two all was ready and as a parting farewell we
watched a squall come over the mountains – this time accompanied by a beautiful
rainbow. Fifteen minutes later all as before so engine on, anchor up and off at
three.
Passing the final
red before we turned out to sea.
No sooner than we had got the main up
in sixty feet of water, than a squall cloaked the
island. We had one gust to thirty five knots then a calm eighteen,
perfect for the one hundred and eight miles overnight to Tubuai, the capital of
the Austral Islands.
Off we went on water that was kind
and as smooth as you find in any book you read about ‘the peaceful ocean’. We
actually saw a local fisherman out enjoying the last
of the afternoon sun.
We had a real mix overnight with
frequent lulls and big winds but the sea stayed calm, what a nice change. I got
up to a first look at Tubuai.
We followed a very
similar track to the ones into Mangareva and Raivavae.
This time we were in very deep water
right up until we made our turn, seemingly against the far
shore.
A feeling of deja
vu.
A local boat waved enthusiastically and the
afternoon sun lit the hill.
The biggest difference with Tubuai is the flat area before
the elevation.
We had leading marks to line up,
usually they are set one low or a little higher and one up on a hill, as we
neared this pair it was funny to see both of them at sea
level.
Loads of clean, well maintained buoys, except for the old reef marker and a
depth below us of fifteen feet all the way in.
The main
village.
We carried on passing the wharf and anchored opposite the
dock building in ten feet of water.
ALL IN ALL WHAT A WONDERFUL
CHANGE IN CONDITIONS
THE GENTLEST SAIL SINCE THE
GALAPAGOS |