Friday 22^nd May – After a trip into town (Hiva Oa) to provision in the most expensive place known to man I pulled up both stern and bow anchors and headed to a small bay on the island of Tahuata 9:53.51S 139:4.92W

Today is my birthday, another year older and another year wiser so to speak. Anyhow today my Dad left the boat and flew home to Melbourne. This now means I am officially a single hander which is actually something I am really looking forward to.  So I took my time and pulled everything in and motored out of the tiny harbor and headed across the way to a small anchorage.

I arrived in good time however still no wind so it was another journey of motoring which did allow my batteries plenty of time to charge them selves up. I dropped anchor just past a coral reef and settled back to swing around the most wonderful bay. As I felt for the anchor to bite I was greeted by three huge Manta Rays that just circled the boat. As you do I jumped in and swam with them for as long as I could trying to catch the biggest of the group who must have been 3 or 4 meters wide to catch a free ride. But it was not interested in me getting on.

There were several other boats in the anchorage and most new it was my birthday so the invites for drinks did not stop, I had a delicious fish lunch onboard T-Rex and then a chicken Stir fry dinner onboard Honey Moon, there were plenty of beers in between so hoping into my dingy to get myself home was no easy feat.

The bay here is absolutely beautiful surrounded by palm trees and coral reef I wasted no time the next morning going fishing, At first light it was a trip into shore with the cast net where my mate Gary gave me a refined lesson on throwing the thing however after a throw or two we had enough live bat to catch what ever we dam well felt like, to top it off we had not even put a line in when a local women walked up to us and offered the biggest grouper I has ever seen in return for a bucket full of bait fish so what a trade we were already going to be well and truly fed. We motored back to Silk Sheets and throw a line in off the back and with in a hour we had a bucket full of coral trout and a couple of little snapper. These fish were absolutely amazing and once served up they were also delicious.

Anyhow as it was early what would you of had for breakfast? Fresh fish cooked in butter is gooooooooood.

Day 302

Destination – Tahuata

Traveling Direction – South

Average Speed – 4.2

Total distance – 7.83 Nautical Miles

Travel Time – 1:44’h