8:15'.76S 116:41.22E

Wednesday 23rd September towards Mayo

What an interesting anchorage this one proved to be!  We chose this anchorage as it look it would give us more shelter from the prevailing, but knew nothing about it. As we arrived so was a large Swan 70' flying the white ensign of the Royal Yacht Squadron. 

 The chosen anchorage turn out to be in front of the very up-market $1,000 US a night + 21% tax! Amamwana Hotel.  A boatman from the hotel approached us as we were dropping our anchor to say that there were some moorings around the corner for us to pick up.

 By this time it was blowing 25-30 knots on a lee shore, around the corner it was even more exposed and there were no moorings after taking a couple of large waves over the bow where Ollie was standing we returned to our original spot and anchored next to the Swan who called across to say that this was the best spot. So we anchored in 25 metres with 90 m of chain out!

Both the boats then had a visit from the hotel to tell us we had to move because it was their bay and they didn't allow anchoring, by this time it was sheeting down with rain but at least the wind had dropped.  To keep the guy quiet I said I would move as soon as the rain had stopped and the visibility was good enough for us to move safely.  The guy then had the cheek to ask us if we were going to eat at the hotel after we had moved - that was a real bargain US$ 100 + 21% tax plus service charge + drinks per person.

We then went over to the Swan where we had been invited for drinks (Ollie's first time on a superyacht with crew).  Needless to say that neither of us were planning to move.  When we returned to Kanaloa we had another visit from one of the hotel boat, this time it was 4 guys banging on the side of the boat in the dark all carrying AK47's! To bring us a sheet of paper about the regulations regarding visiting yachts visiting the hotel and their charges.  If that wasn't intimidation I don't know what is.

Position  8:15'.76s 116:41.22e

Distance run 61 miles