The rest of our passage was very wet with loads of squalls, but all very manageable. We changed course as the wind swung around a bit and went right around the island rather than left, which looked marginally shorter. It was a good call, we could sail the whole way without having to motor much. Always more pleasant and comfortable.
We finally made it into the long deep bay just before 5pm, the anchorage is in a little bay on one side of the water. The immigration office is on the other side of the water but has no safe anchorages nearby. We rounded the corner and there were three other boats. One was Profasea, the South African solo sailor we met in French Polynesia and the other boat Clif and Melody had told us about. Turns out the third boat is an American boat here since Covid, a Californian who is looking for a local wife, but currently back in the States! It was a tricky little bay as it is not big and very deep in the middle, we cruised around and finally tucked into a smallish space, the bottom is loose coral rubble, never the easiest to get the anchor into. We finally got it down just as it was getting dark. Hoping to relax and have a celebratory drink, a boat came over and two men made it clear they were coming on board. Turned out to be a police boat and the immigration officer on board to check us in. They had checked Profasea in two hours earlier and had stayed to do us. Rowan had been in contact with them via email beforehand, you have to give them prior notice, I guess because this is so remote. Rowan had no shirt on and the holiest shorts, apologising for his outfit, we sat down and did the endless form filling. Wonderful to be checked in. The only thing he was interested in was our booze!
It was a quick cheese toastie and off to bed for us, it had been a very long day, but very relieved to be here.
Another volcano nearby, no wonder this is part of the ring of fire
Rain as we approach the deep bay
Finally anchored in the Solomon Islands
Pockets of sunshine reveal lovely dense vegetation
Three boats in the anchorage
Evening light
Thankfully the rain clears for our anchoring
Our Immigration officer heading back to his home and office on the other side of the bay
A welcome sunset
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