Niue, Cook Islands 28/05/16
Wishanger2
Brian Bonniwell and Claudine
Sat 28 May 2016 19:43
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19 03.0S 169 53.2W
We have just departed the island of Niue.
This island is a protectorate of New Zealand which is some 1500 nN Miles
away. (rather like Guernsey is to the UK but with one big difference
- NZ pumps in $30 million of annual aid, equivalent to $100,000 per
each resident man women and child!). A similarity is that to become a
resident a man has to marry a Nieuean girl!
We arrived at night which is always a little
concerning as there was no moon and it was pitch black. Luckily we had
some friends already there and they shone
their torches to guide us to a vacant mooring ball. There are 15
fixed moorings as there is too much depth to anchor.
The WARC rally was split into two groups with different
arrival dates to ensure there were enough moorings for
all.
We awoke to view an island similar
to Guernsey's Sark with tall cliffs and a jagged shore lines and so
diffeent to the attols we have recently been expeiencing. The
water was so clear we could see the bottom 25 metres below
- swimming and snorkelling were a delight. Brian, the boys and some
other friends went for a scuba dive off the boat and saw the most
amazing underwater caves and caverns. We hired scooters and toured
the Island with some friends and saw some caves and chasms with good areas
where we could snorkel. Generally all the roads were in need of
repair with large pot holes which meant Brian needed his wits about
him to avoid them.
The WARC had organised lots of events with
Niue yacht club which were all fabulous and the food was excellent. This
included an evening with the villagers who produced a vast array of
delightful local delicacies and traditional Niuean Dancing. We were also
invited to the Residence of the New Zealand High Commission where we
met the Deputy High Commissioner with drinks and nibbles (courtesy of Admiral
Marine Insurance)
We found the Niuean people to be so friendly and
welcoming. The local Yacht Club commodore, Keith, couldn't have been
more helpful and when Brian needed a repair job done on a hydraulic hose,
he drove him all over the island to source some 'improvised' parts (eventually
from the Government Works Department!) and some specialist welding. At one
of the functions Brian met a resident New Zealander, Andrew Cory, who had moved
to the island to rescue the bankrupt Nieu Honey Company a few years
ago. He now manages 1000 hives located across the island
with his bees busy collecting ample pollen throughout the year (no
winter). Brian was invited to his factory to view (and drive) a 1954
John Deere tracked excavator and a 1952 Series II Landrover. Brian in his
element again and an invitation extended to Andie to visit Wishanger
Manor when he is next in the UK to view Brian's array of vehicles (he has a
Irish wife with parents living in London so visits alternate
years).
Landing on the Niue coastline is impossible
because of the flat expanding coral reefs that reach up to the cliffs and a
constant swell. At the Alofi wharf an ingenious way of lifting the
visiting dinghy's clear of the water was used. Each dinghy had to have a
pre-arranged lifting bridle and was then lifted by a DIY electric
crane with a swinging jib and hook parked over the water. No
mandatory crane driver, rigger and banksman here to satisfy Helath and
Safety! Just each boat's crew who soon got the hang of things - so to
speak! Brian was in his element and
thought this was so sensible, even though the large swell did make
lifting a little tricky at times!!
Next sto Tonga!
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