Nalauwaki Bay on Waya Island
Trust
Richard Martin
Sat 12 Jul 2014 06:37
We are now at the northern end of Waya Island. Theres a small village on the shore, and a swanky resort over the hill - such a contrast. We met the chief to present our credentials (a handful of kava root) and to ask to anchor in his bay. He was a chatty guy with good English but, again, without many good teeth in his head! They take the sevusevu ceremony quite seriously and do a little chant after the stuff is handed over. The proximity to the resort shows - English ability is better, and when people engage you there is more of a sense that they are looking for what else they can get from you. But they are still generally very open in their dealings with you.
We spent the last 2 nights at Drawaqa Island at the south of Naviti. There are a series of small islands with narrow channels between them. Its a very attractive and popular spot. Manta rays frequent one of the passes at this time of the year so there was a procession of yachts calling by, as well as long boats full of guests of the neighbouring resorts looking out for them. We spent 2 days snorkeling at high tide in the appointed place but didn't see anything. No sooner had we got back to the boat the last time than our neighbours came back to tell us that they had seen them swimming through the channel. Cest la vie! Anyway the snorkeling was still great - the best its been.
We caught up with the NZ boats Laissez Faire and White Gold again there and we all went to the resort for pizza in the evening.
Weather is good - the winds have lightened off and tonight we are in a bay where the westerly roll cant get in - yeh! We spent the last 2 nights trying to sleep across rather than along the bed to make it more comfortable as she rolled and rolled and rolled.... That was OK, but the bed is 4ft 6" wide so getting my 6ft 3" frame comfortable was quite a mission! Even drinking more wine over the meal didn't help!