[password] NZL9424A27ZMU3791
[position] 22 39.549S 167 26.494E
[status] We stayed at Atoll de Beautemps-Beaupre until last Tuesday as the weather wasn't very good for sailing back to Ouvea. Glen got to have a dive with some other people in the bay. I walked around the whole island. We had dingyed around the previous day and there was a strong sulphur smell which I found out was lots of bird eggs that had been abandoned by the birds and left to bake in the sun. There were 3 different bird varieties nesting around various parts of the island. After we left the Atoll we headed to Ouvea for supplies and anchored overnight ready to get an early start for our sail across to the main island in New Caledonia, Grand Terre. This was an 8 hour motor sail but to break up the day Glen hooked a marlin. He fort it for probably 20 minutes. He got it to the stairs ready to release it but it spat his lure back and was gone. Probably measuring 2metres, it was nice seeing it swim off. We entered the reef system that runs the whole length of the west coast
of Grand Terre at Pass de Nakety. Along the reef there are several entry points. All the way down the coast the evidence of the Nickle mining is very obvious. Many scars on the land. Some still being worked and others still recovering. This coastline is quiet rugged but has lots of harbours that is worthy of a return visit. Over the next three days we worked our way down the coast towards The Bay of Prony, where we were meeting the yacht Arradonna and transferring Graeme and Sue into there care. The next day we motor sailed across to the Isle of Pines where we picked up John from the airport. He is on board with us until next Sunday. The Isle of Pines is another beautiful island with white sandy beaches and beautiful turquoise water. There is also lots of turtles swimming around the anchored boats. I am trying to capture one on the camera but as yet they are evading me. John and Glen have been snorkling around the bay trying to swim with a turtle but the water is murky and v
isibility not that great.The island has an amazing maze of reef around it that we will explore this week before heading to Noumea for next weekend. We are all good on board. There is lots of Whitakers chocolate loaded into our fridge!! Thanks John and Graeme and Sue[END]