Mishaps at Musket Cove

Storyteller
Sat 5 Jul 2008 22:41
pPosition; 17.46S 177.11E
We're just about to leave Fiji for Tanna in
Vanuatu, a day after the rest of the fleet. the time at Musket Cove wasa real
holiday, with visits from the families of ourselves and Southern Princess. Not
surprisingly the two four year old boys got on famously and many tears were shed
when Hunter left to fly back to Melbourne. With baby sitting at $3 50 an hour by
lovely Fijian women, this is a holiday paradise for parents (and grandparents)
of small children.
Not so good have been technical problems. We took
Storyteller over to Vuda Point on the mainland to be hauled out and
discovered that we had a major problem with our propellor. Luckily we were able
to get a new one sennt up from Sydney, although it's not as good as the one that
is kaput. Here's hoping it will get us to New Zealand, where we are heading due
to ill health in my family.
This morning we were all set to go when John Hunt
of Southern Princess called to say he couldn't leave due to a problem with his
headsail furler. Shortly after we heard a cry for help from the Princess,
and John Hunt had injured his hand pretty badly. Luckily a French doctor
was able to sew him up, and we have now all lifted our anchors. Tony
Black has jumped ship to help John and Irene, leaving John, Annette, Rigel
and me on board for the 2 and a half day
trip. Luckily a local motor boat is going to lead us out through the reefs which
are pretty treacherous in this part of the world. Rigel is a 19 year old
American who has joined us for about 6 weeks and shows plenty of aptitude for
doing ocean passages.
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