position S13 32.400 E167 20.3000
Ocean Rival Journey Log
Adam Power Diana Power
Sat 15 Jun 2019 21:39
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Saturday 15th June
Another rolly night in Sola bay. After stowing the
dinghy we made an early start intending to make a short lunch
stop at an island on route with a horseshoe shape round a deep
bay. The malaria officer had reccomended it to us.
As the wind was pushing 20 knots dead astern I kept
the main on the boom and we rolled along under genoa. We had to
make a sharp course adjustment to avoid a shoal- it was marked
on the chart but I hadn't watched the course carefuly enough and
we had drifted too close for comfort.
The island of Ureparapara looks like an extinct
volcano with water filled centre and a channel blown out of the
of the east side to connect the lagoon to the sea. The deep bay
gives a nice calm anchorage (so far) and before we could decide
where to drop the hook a canoe raced out and showed us the best
spot off the white sand beach. Once anchored we had 4 or 5
canoes around us and Edward and his son came aboard for a drink
and biscuit. Edward is a vice chief- one of 10 for a village of
300. He asked what we lacked and ordered a canoe to fetch lemons
and coconuts. We hinted that we had jobs to do and needed some
rest as they were looking set to make themselves at home and I
promised to bring some gifts ashore once we were sorted. Another
canoe came with bananas and egg plants.
Another man passed with a canoe laden with timber
poles for house building- also a vice chief although he was
disolusioned with the post, suggesting that disagreements about
money and gifts from yachts was making the task unpleasant.
I set about my sail repair- a split in the genoa-
using up the last of my stick on repair tape. I think we will
revert twin jibs as the wind looks set to stay on the stern for
the next few days.
I rowed ashore with a few offerings- some notepads
and pens, a pair of reading glasses and a couple of fishing
hooks. I began to understand the problem that the village has
with gifts though- I met one of the two head chiefs who
obviously had an important role and attended meetings on other
islands for the region. He complained that some of his vice
chiefs like having the kudos but don't put in the work. Then I
found Edward who had given me stuff and gave him my gifts but the
head chief snaffled the
hooks and glasses and then later a lad who had given
me the egg plants looked forlorn because he hadn't had a gift. I
hadn't paid enough attention to who gave what and have added to
the friction. Edward needed some help with his solar light and
the head chief wanted some wire for his new building. A pretty
girl asked if I had some fins. This is the first island that the
gift issue has become so intense- they get a cruise boat from
time to time and I suspect that may have been the apple in eden.
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