Lifou - Loyaly Islands (13th June - Queens Birthday)

Mustang Sally Cruising
Mark Lawrence & Dianne Jackson
Sun 12 Jun 2016 21:18
Currently anchored in Baie de Gaitcha off a little village called Doueoulou.
Position is 20:55.383S 167:04.976E
 
After a few days spent in Noumea stocking up the boat etc we departed for the Loyalty Islands bright and early on Friday morning.
We had an excellent run out to the Havannah Passage and for once we had current with us all the way (may be hard to believe but for once we planned it that way!!) including getting flushed out of the passage at around 9kts.  The Havannah Passage is the main pass out at the southern end of the big island of New Caledonia and can be quite treacherous in the wrong conditions and tides so were happy to make it out without any dramas.
 
Unfortunately a couple of the Aussie boats we have palled up with (Skylark II and Jannali) are both stuck back in Noumea one with broken engine mounts and the other with gear box issues.  Hopefully they can both get them sorted and can continue their adventures for this season.  I am very pleased that Mark spent much of last winter working on the boat and getting things as right as they can be although it never excludes you from having some problems when away from home but so far so good Smile
 
 
As there is strongish trade winds forecast we decided to head directly to Lifou as it has a much better trade winds anchorage that the more southern island of Mare.  After a very pleasant overnight sail we dropped anchored in the bay at around 10:00am on Saturday.
It is a lovely bay and a great anchorage.  there are white sandy beaches, aqua water and palm tress swaying in the breeze – think we are going to enjoy our time here.  We went in for a shore party in the afternoon and have already managed to find the local baker and purchase some bread.  We have also found a couple of small trade shops which we plan to check out this morning as well as another visit to the baker.
 
We went for a bit of a paddle in the morning (in the recently purchased inflatable kayak) and had a lovely time investigating and many coral uplifts and bommies in the bay and found a great spot for a snorkel which we did in the afternoon.
 
We also have a couple of resident manta rays which seem to do a pass by the boat at least once a day which keeps us both in awe watching them literally fly through the water.  There are also a few turtles in the bay.  Hopefully we might get to see more of them on one of our snorkelling adventures.
 
Depending on the weather outlook the plan is to spend a few more days here before heading North West to Ouvea – the third island in the Loyalty Group - which is a large sand and coral atoll and lagoon which looks and has been described as paradise so can’t wait although kind of like it here too....