Thankfully the storm came to nothing serious last night and we actually had a relatively good night’s sleep. We decided to move on as another gentler Bogi Walu is on its way.
We headed about 15 miles north to a protected bay. It was quite something getting out of the anchorage through a scarily shallow channel and then hitting very choppy waters. There was a bit of wind so Rowan got the main sail up and we had a good sail for a while until the wind died off. The whole area is full of reefs and the charts, as we know are not that reliable, so it was careful navigation all the way through to our anchorage.
It is an amazingly scenic anchorage, with dramatic rock formations and white beaches, only two other boats so lots of space to keep clear of coral. We anchored in water 18ms deep, which is deep for us and means 70m of anchor chain out. As soon as we put our anchor into the water sharks appeared, in the end we had nine circling around us. I suspect that they have been fed from boats, which is why they were so interested in us. I noticed that Rowan didn’t go and have a swim over the anchor today! He did go and have a snorkel and said the coral was not that great.
The kiwi boat Taihoa that we had drinks with a couple of nights ago arrived late afternoon, Rowan had been in touch with them and they decided to come here too. We will have them around for drinks tomorrow as we had to call it off last night because of the pouring rain and wind.
Leaving the anchorage
Markers guiding us out through the reef
Booby giving us navigating advice through the channel
Reefs everywhere between here and Fiji mainland in the distance
Tiny sandy island Rowan though of stopping at for a snorkel but too difficult in the windy choppy seas
Navigating between islands and reefs in choppy water
Approaching our anchorage
Strange rock formations along the way
Apple maps shows us strategically anchored away from all the coral
Two other boats in the anchorage
Sharks greet us
Drone pics
Drone video
Gorgeous sunset
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