To Banda Neira
Beez Neez now Chy Whella
Big Bear and Pepe Millard
Tue 26 Jul 2016 22:57
|
To Banda
Neira
 Up this morning at
daybreak for the 191 mile overnighter from Tual to Banda Neira.
   We set off at twenty past six just behind Afar VI, up came the sun and we had plenty to see on the
AIS. We have never travelled in a fleet before and it’s fun to see boats
we have come to know all around us – expecting everyone to overtake as we settle
to play games and have a tranquil journey on calm seas and good
winds.
 Very lovely
sky.
   All too much for the skipper as he took a trouncing on the backgammon field.
Huh. Out between the
islands in very deep water – makes such a nice change from constantly
watching the depth. A local freighter passing
by.
  Antares as she overtakes and a
full list on the AIS.
 Overnight was easy, I listened to and
thoroughly enjoyed Mr MacGregor by Alan Titchmarsh and Bear came on to
read an Alex Cross novel. After breakfast we played until lunchtime. All packed
away in time to approach the Banda Islands (famed for growing nutmeg and
cloves).
 These volcanic
islands simply spring up from the sea floor, very deep water all the way
to the craggy edges.
 No sign of a
beach as we near the first island with an impossibly long
name.
 All we could see was steep rocky faces and trees.
 The main town around the next bend but the water between here and there is reef
strewn so we have to head in from the north.
 The island on our
right turned the wind off completely for several minutes.
 A squid fisherman's set
up.
 Out at sea a chum ??? no a rock. The water too deep to register
on our reader.
 Local
traffic scooted in front of Beez at quite a lick.
 Our final
bend just as the heavens opened.
  We found a ledge close to the black
volcanic sand beach to drop the anchor in seven metres and within seconds are
back in thirty metres. A local lad enthusiastically
waves and bails at the same time.
 ALL IN ALL STRANGE TO TRAVEL
IN A BIG GROUP – BUT A HAPPY CHANGE
A CRACKING SAIL IN
COMPANY |