[password]8Tarnhows
[position]Port Moselle Marina Noumea New Caledonia
[weather] wind light and variable, sea calm
[status]Good afternoon friends and families,
As planned we carefully managed our speed to ensure we arrived at the start of the South Lagoon entry at dawn last Thursday 08 August. By 12:30pm, having navigated the long winding passage, we were secured in Port Moselle Marina, Noumea. We cleared Customs in the afternoon and on Friday completed our Immigration and Quarantine clearances. Friday night we had a very pleasant crew dinner at La Petite Cafe. (*** recommendation).
Saturday, 10 Aug, we departed Noumea for the nearby Maître island, and resort, where we had some great snorkeling which included turtle, stingray and sea snake sightings. In the afternoon we departed for a very safe anchorage in Bay Alric.
Sunday 11 Aug we departed for Port Boise, seeking a sailing guru who we believed resided there on his boat. However, no guru! Mark and Jo set off for a walk around the bay to a hotel and when the weather changed for the worse the Skipper braved the rain and ?rescued? them.
Monday morning, 12 Aug, we departed for Amedee Island and despite the weather managed some more snorkeling which included more turtles and a small White Tip reef shark sighting. In the afternoon we anchored in Baie De Sainte-Marie (Port Ngea) a small island and bay off the coast of the southern suburbs of Noumea. Beautiful night lights.
Tuesday, 13 Aug, we sailed back to Maître Island for coffee at the resort and more snorkeling before heading back to Port Moselle Marina for our crew change.
Tuesday night we had a fabulous degustation dinner at Chez Toto Restaurant (****recommendation).
This morning Wednesday, 14 Aug, Jim and I sadly farewelled Libby, Jo and Mark as they headed home.
Today Jim did some servicing of the engine while I shopped and made arrangements for our dive trip tomorrow.
Until next time we chat, regards from,
James and William (Sailors & Divers Inc)

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