22:23.07S 166:53.70E

 

The weather situation decided for us and we sailed North inside the lagoon to Prony Bay. It was a perfect downwind day sail, arriving in daylight off a small sandy beach close to the reef.

We enjoyed this anchorage to ourselves until on the third day a catamaran (French) anchored rather close to us.

On the third night we had a wind shift which had the effect of putting us on to a lee shore and our radar touched the reef at 1 am. The catamaran being too close, stopped us from just being able to reduce our scope to hold us off the reef, so it was a case of re-anchoring and we stayed on anchor watch until day break listening to the chain grating over the sea-bed.

At 6 am enough was enough and we moved into the head of the bay of black and red sand. Bird songs and peace gave us a restful time.

After catching up with sleep we enjoyed exploring the shore and found a fresh-water creek.

 

 

            Two beautiful and very different anchorages within 1.5 miles:

 

                                              

 

                                                 We are getting now ready for a 100 miles sail to the Loyalty Islands.