cruising again
Ripple2
Sun 20 Aug 2006 05:31
|
Well inevitably we need an extra day on the hard.
I got to fixing the anchor windlass and it took
longer than I wanted.
We splashed on thurs morning. Water
didn't come in in any of the 3 holes I messed with. Good news indeed. We
spent the aftern oon on a mooing just outside the boatyard and took it easy for
the first time in a while.
On Friday we set off cruising again. We motored
over to the nearby island of Tahaa. It, like it's sister island of Raiatea, is
surrounded by a reef and lagoon. You can sail in a deep channel that circles the
island. The water goes from 100 feet (30m) to 3 feet very suddenly towards the
reef. The water is deep also right up to the shore of Tahaa itself. There is a
coastal road around the island a few houses down at the shoreline and the island
rises sharply to 2,000 feet.
After some angst at our first anchoring attempt we
moved and found a good spot in 10 feet (3m) over good sand near one of the motus
of the barrier reef. Just after we anchored around 3pm the sun clouded over and
there was some rain. Squelched our plans to go ashore for the
afternoon.
This morning (sat) was flat calm and we packed our
snorkel gear and a picnic to visit the motu. Then the rain came again about
9.30. It's now lunchtime and no improvement . We spent the morning listening to
Macca on 'Australia All Over 'on radio Australia.
By 1.30 it was bright enough to go in the dinghy.
There was no beach or shells or snorkelling. But an interesting copra
camp. It is deserted now but at times it looks like a fair few people work
there. We had or now traditional French picnic of baguette, brie or camembert
and pate. After our lunch we looked around some more until the mosquitoes
chased us off the island and besides the sky was darkening again. Back home by
3pm.
It remained heavy overcast the rest of the
day.
We are hoping for better weather and better islands
when we go to Bora Bora tomorrow.
|