[password] zara1010 [position]21 21.21s 164 59.2e [status] Still anchored at in Grimault, lovely warm water for swimming, no vis for snorkeling. Managed to create a repair to the snapped stanchion using our cockpit table leg. Hope wind and waves lessen for Monday so we should leave for our next stop tomorrow. Towards the top of New Caledonia the scenery was reminiscent of desert mountains in Morocco, or somewhere equally arid, the colours of the mountain range hues of ochre, rust and brown - when set against the brilliant turquoise of the lagoon it was stunning. It seems all the mining of the mineral rich soil has effectively flensed the island of its lush greenness, this reveals the true shape of the mountains, the valleys and contours in light and shadow, the stark reality of what lies beneath the usual tropical growth exposed. [END]