08:11.16S 129:49.185E

Masela

Friday 3^rd September

Captain’s log: Thursday 2nd September 2010 Towards Kotan Fanoier

After some more shopping and collecting our laundry we left for the other side of the island to a little place called Kotan Fanoier recommended by our good friends off Troubadour we had a lovely sail in light winds and beautiful smooth seas.  We anchored for the night in 6 metres of water.  07:48'.78s 131:06.27e

Distance run 27 miles

Friday 3rd September Towards Masela

We knew we had a long one today nearly 80 miles to cover before nightfall.  Unfortunately I have been suffering with an blood infection in my leg from a cut and have had quite a high temperature for the last couple of days, but after a cold shower felt a lot better on the antibiotics and off the booze!

It was a beautiful day with absolutely no wind so we had to motor quite hard all day to reach the anchorage before dark.  We anchored at 1745 off an island called Masela in about 10 metres of beautiful coral garden finding one of the few patches of sand.  The coral is absolutely pristine and a joy to see.  Saw some stunning light fish flashing away just below the surface. Damn generator decided to boil over again - sod it, it can wait until the morning

Position 08:11'.16s 128:49'.185e

Days run 82.1 miles average speed 7.1 knots

Masela Anchorage

Profile of our anchorage, with steep drop off.  We managed to find a sandy patch to anchor into, without damaging to much of the coral

Coral we saw beneath our boat, magnificent, in great condition too!

It was 7 meters deep, so not easy to get the colours as seen in this photo

Ollie could dive down and see some of the fish closer up however, like this saddle bck butterfly fish

And sea stars

And soft whirl corals, which seem to be abundant in this sheltered bay