29^th May – 8:56.58S 140:09.78W

After getting up early once again I prepared the boat, went to town bought some bread and left for the next anchorage as the water in the main town was not drinkable. So this meant I had to sail down to the next bay and collect it from a tap that drains the water from a fresh water spring. All very well however carrying two 25Ltr jerry cans is not a lot of fun after about 20 meters infact it is no fun at all and quite painful after a hundred or so and then twice as bad after the next hundred.

Well all was good I caught up with Honey Moon, Don and Agnes who cooked me Birthday dinner which gave me the chance to return the favor however not for another day as there was another party on the beach with all the boats in the anchorage.

All was going great this whole single handed thing until that night at about 1AM I was woken by a small Japanese man banging on my hull and yelling at me, as I was very dazed from all the water carrying I had no idea what was going on. I was just thankful I was sleeping with my pants on that night because I sprang to life and was on deck being informed that I had dragged anchor. I will be dammed I thought I backed that thing in proper and to top it off I was still the exactly the same distance to the guys yacht. Well after about 30 minutes of sitting on deck trying to come to my senses it saw Don cruise past in his tiny little dingy ‘Oppy’ and I yelled out as loud as I dare at now 2 AM in the morning, I asked Don if he thought I had moved and we came to the conclusion that I had and was almost mirrored on the other side of the Japanese boat. I then ask him what it was he was doing cruising around at 2AM which seemed very strange. Lucky for me I had great neighbors because he was wondering what the commotion was and was taking a look, he had no idea it was me dragging until I told him what had happened. Well anyhow he went back to bed after we decided that I would wait it out till the morning as I was no longer moving and off we all went.

That was until I moved again this time taking with me the Anchor of the Japanese mans yacht. He was now yelling, I was still dazed and very confused and after having come to terms with the fact that I was going to have to move the boat I started the engine just in time to motor away from a little boat behind me that I was also about to collect. The problem is this, It was pitch black, I could not open my eyes properly yet and I had to motor forward without hitting the boat in front not to mention the one behind and at the same time lift the chain. Well, it was stressful and as I manually winched up the chain I herd Don cry out do you need a hand. I was very grateful to have him come on board and help me, it was not that I wasn’t capable to do it alone it was just that it was dark and I was frightened a little and all I needed was some one to hold my hand and just be there. Well I got the anchor up and moved back towards where I previously was, all being good but it was so dark and everything at night seems so close. I had no idea where I was so fingers crossed I dropped the hook and once again backed it in. Stupid Volcanic black sand has a bad rep for holding but I never thought it would uproot Silky, back down stairs I went with a brand new rule for myself, never go to bed with out the Anchor alarm on ever again from now on.

Day 309

Destination – Anse Hakatea, Nuku-Hiva

Traveling Direction – West

Average Speed – 4.6

Total distance – 6.1 Nautical Miles

Travel Time – 1:26’h