pos 8:5.33S 156:49.83E

Gizo Island

Friday the 12/6 2015

 

Thursday after breakfast we started towards Gizo, the last place to clear out of the country. I had been given a hand drawn sketch with some GPS waypoints from Joe on Lola Island. Armed withthis we decided to cross Vonavona Lagoon on our way. This lagoon is full with small islands and coral reefs. The water is turquise and between 2.5 and 10 meters deep where we passed. It was impossible to see through the water, it looked the same with any depth. Luckily we got through the 20 NM passage in the afternoon without any accidents. Sometimes we had to slow down to snail speed, and once we had to anchor when hit by a big rain squall. We then crossed the passage to Gizo Islands, and when we got in through the reef I spotted a tiny sand island and decided to anchor there for some snorkeling. It was a beautiful little place with great swimming but not good for the night. We moved on to anchor outside Mbambanga Island for the night.

Friday we went into Gizo town to clear out and to do some shopping. To our dismay we found that the customs and immigration offices were closed  because of the “Queens Birthday” which is a national holiday here! (We are talking about Queen Elisabeth) Nothing to do about that we moved out to a small Island called Kerukeru Island. After a nice lunch and some snorkeling we moved in to a small mangrove covered bay south of Gizo town as the wind and later rain swept in.

All is well,

Lars and crew.