[password] Tsar12
[position] 14 95.81S 147 57.08W
[weather] SE 14 knots seas 1 m easy cloudy skies
[status]after thinking about making a dash for Fakarava yesterday morning we sailed back across Rangiora atoll to see that the weather front had turned the wind to SE rather than S we were hoping to be able to sail to Fakarava in so we pulled up to the village besides Tiputa Pass and anchored up again. Went ashore by the wharf and found the cafe that had always been shut was open so we had a nice fish lunch, cold beer and as it is built out over the water could look out the window besides our table and see myriads of fish swarming around ( think they know it I a cafe ) and 4 black tip sharks ! Quite novel watching sharks swim literally 5 m away while you enjoy a beer over lunch - v pleasant .
Went to the supermarket - still no flour ! Back to the boat for a rumikab session and dinner .
Today Greg and I did another dive on the aquarium - lots of fish - just 1 shark . Back to the cafe for another lunch and watch the sharks then off to th the Pearl Farm. Was v interesting tour and of course Mar and Zuny had a black pearl bought for them :)
Ba
Decided to make a dash or the northern atoll of Ahe before the wind freshens and the seas build - set off at 17.00 going through the Tiputa pass with a 7 knot current behind us doing 12 knots SOG !
Nice 14 knot SE which means we will lay through and get there tomorrow morning .We can then get settled in to a new location which apparently has a good anchorage from SE/E while the wind builds over the exit few days .
Zunys first night sail this trip !
Look forward to seeing a new island

Note: Sending a brief description of the weather you are experiencing is a great help to David and Patricia (Gulf Harbour Radio) for monitoring the weather.

[END]