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Author: bungendore

Ilot Mato – snakes anyone?

bungendore

Motor sailed over to Ilot Mato which is one of the higher islands in the southern lagoon area. It is surrounded by an extensive reef and tiny sand fringed islands. It is also home to lots of the local banded sea snakes which are quite unconcerned about visitors to their home. At times there is a red flag to indicate whether or not you can go to the island due to it being a nesting site for birds. There was no flag for us so we climbed the single hill for a fantastic view over the surrounding reef and lagoon. We saw turtles and a couple of black tipped reef sharks hung around the back of the boat for quite a long time.

Baie de Prony- Lemon or bull?

bungendore

It was a lively sail from Lifou to Grand Terre. After ducking inside the outer reef we overnighted in Baie da Kouakoue before heading to Baie de Prony and winding our way up to Baie du Carenage. This is completely different scenery – mountains with deep gashes exposing bright red soil, rocks, deep dark water. Apart from the colour of the soil it reminded me of parts of Pittwater in Aus.

Taking advantage of a very still, peaceful early morning, Paul took the SUP out and was paddling over a shallow, muddy section of the bay when he noticed a shape just lying on the bottom just underneath him. A shape as long as his board and definitely a shark – either a lemon or bull shark we think. It was definitely a breathe in sharply and “please don’t let me fall in just now” moment for him.

There are a number of walking tracks in the area so Ro and Paul hiked out to see some waterfalls and later we took a picnic over to some tepid “hot springs”. It was a lovely peaceful spot.

Fun times with new toys

bungendore

After a boisterous first 24 hours including squalls to >30knts, the wind and seas have died away to virtually nothing. We have been motoring for about 16 hours now, but for a few hours this morning we had conditions suited to playing with a new (to us) sail. #2 gennaker.

It was fun until the breeze changed directions and flew away…. motoring again now…. sigh….

Only 20 hours or so until we pass through Vanuatu.