AHE

Oyster Moon
Paul Foskett & Rhu Nash
Thu 3 May 2012 21:17
Position 14 32.48S 146 21.604W

We are anchored in the Pacific Atoll of AHE (in the Archipel Des Tuamotu) opposite the village main of Tenukupara.

We arrived on Tuesday the 1st May 12.

At 07.20 we entered the pass Reianui, and then picked our way through the coral heads across the atoll to anchor off the village. It was blowing 20 knots plus as we came into anchor but since then it has been very calm. In fact you would think you were on land as no rolling or rocking from side to side.

We spent a couple of hours wandering around the village, that including having burger and chips at a snack bar. The village has about 200 people yet there is still a snack bar. Then it was back to our respective boats and we were all in bed by 8pm zzzzzzzzzz.

Wednesday 2nd May

Spent the morning cleaning the water line of the boat. We have acquired a very nice fury jacket. In the afternoon arranged to meet a pearl farmer (well Annie did with her superb French). Annie bought a black pearl necklace then she and Stephen went back to Karacool to do some trading with pearl farmer's daughter and friend whilst Paul and I attempted to chat to her Mum and Dad. Annie ended up with more pearls. Meanwhile in my pigeon French we found out that it took about 3 years before the pearls could be harvested. They also crop sea cucumbers (big black ones apparently). They boil for 10mins and then lay out in the sun for a week. They sell these for 5000 pacific francs per kilo (about 140 pc fr to the £) on and thence to the Japanese / Chinese market. They also crop cobra for 1500 pc fr per kilo. The market for black pearls is declining apparently.

Had a duck BBQ on board in the evening.


Thursday 3rd May

Anchor snagged on coral so Paul had to dive down and disentangled it. I smoked about 10 fags during the process. We are off to Rangiroa on the afternoon tide and should reach there tomorrow morning.

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