The Lau Group of Islands

Sea Topaz
Duncan Briggs
Wed 8 Sep 2010 01:25
 
----- Original Message -----
To: blog
Sent: Tuesday, August 24, 2010 6:04 PM
Subject: The Lau Group of Islands

17.10.654 S  179.01.098 W
 
We did manage to get the anchor up without difficulty and set sail for the Lau Group. We had 24 hrs of not very pleasant sailing into wind. We were basically going back in the direction of Tonga. We arrived in Vanua Belavu in the afternoon four nights ago in the pouring rain and poor visibility. We found our way to Dalconi Village, where we dropped anchor. We stayed there two nights, Duncan was not feeling great so we postponed going into the village to pay our respect until the Monday. We did our Sevusevu ceremony with the elders of the village as the chief was away, we presented our kava. We were very well looked after by Israeli and Elenoa, as well as Joelli, the yacht liaison officer. We gave them gifts of rice, noodles, nails, t-shirts, tins of tuna and some money.
Joeli and Bill came on board and guided us to the Bay of Islands. This is a fantastic, beautiful spot, blue water and lots of small islands rising up out of it. These islands are raised coral reefs. We have been here for 24 hrs now and intend to stay a few more days, before moving on to two other amazing bays on this island. We have been snorkeling and exploring in the dinghy in all these little bays and islands all around us. We have this bay all to ourselves, there is not other boat here!!
We feel very privileged to have got a permit to sail the Lau Group, only about 20 boats have been so far this year and it looks as if we are the last one.
 
                                
 
        Elenoa and Israeli in Dalconi village                                                View from Sea Topaz                                                            Exploring the smaller bays