31/7/10 12.00 UTC - 17.19.4S 177.07.9E
Flying Cloud
Julian Nichols
Sat 31 Jul 2010 22:21
So off we set, me up the mast, searching for our dinghy. 20 miles later, dead downwind, we reached the island of Vomo.
We had seen and chased several "phantom" dinghies, but none belonged to me. And then finally we saw it, tied to a buoy off of the resort.
But why? We threaded our way through the reef to collect it, Harry on his surfboard, and as we did 2 locals appeared who had clearly found the dinghy. They had taken off the fuel tanks to make sure no one would take it, and had found the dinghy some 5 miles from Vomo in the morning.
After telling them how grateful I was I offered them all of the money I had on me (around FJ$500), of which they would not accept more than FJ$50. The Fijians really are wonderful people.
We continued on West to anchor at the sand bar between Waya and Waya Sewa.