October27

[position] 16 14S 162 15E

[weather] SE wind 18 - 25 knts, sea 2.5m from SE, 20% cloud, SOG 7
knots, COG 275T, bar 1012

[status]  Just learned that the amazing sunsets and sunrises are due to
the fires burning in Australia, which is so sad.  Conditions today have
gotten a bit testy with 2.5 m seas, short period (steep), which may last
a day or so. Makes galley work not so fun and since we had to leave Port
Vila so quickly after arriving there, I have very little pre-cooked for
this passage.   I only have salad, broccoli casserole, bean burgers, and
sloppy lentil Joes all made.  Tony is looking for a restaurant and
dreaming of a steak!

More history.  The Solomons became an independent nation in 1978.  Civil
war broke out in 1999 between the people from Guadalcanal and Malaita,
and the unrest continued through 2006.   New Zealand and Australia
provided assistance to restore law and order, and since then it has been
more stable.  Hopefully, there won't be any elections or any cause for
civil unrest while we are there.  The Solomon people are 94% Melanesian,
4% Polynesian, and 2% Asians, along with Aussie and Kiwi expats.  The
tourist industry is mainly focused on the excellent diving and
underwater world, created in part by all the WWII wrecks.

More Later - G&T

[END]