Today was a good day. We were anchored in Neiafu this morning and went to town for emailing at a hot spot restaurant which also sent off our advanced arrival notice to New Zealand. About 1100 hours we released the line attached to the mooring ball and drifted astern. Out went the genoa and off we were. We sailed for 90 minutes to the anchorage, no motor, dropped the hook, snagged a coral head which abruptly jerked us 90 degrees and set us firmly in place. We decided there was too much fetch and wind so we tried to haul in the anchor and head for a more northerly anchorage with less fetch. Well the anchor wasn't going anywhere!!. We pulled to port then starboard then ahead with force and nothing happened. I dove on the anchor but it was too deep and the water was murky. We decided to use the hookah to dive on it. A hookah is an onboard compressor providing fresh air through a 50' hose to a mouth piece. Nona drove the boat forward to locate it above the anchor. It was only 28' down and lodged under a coral head. I was able to shake the chain back and forth to back it out from under the coral head. Nona pushed the up button on the windlass and we were clear. That was the highlight of my day, but dinner was a close second. We motored to another anchorage in the lee of land which was more protected from wind and waves. Nona prepared chicken and dumplings in a pressure cooker for dinner with fresh beans from the market and dressing. It was a great meal. She is a great cook!. I was going to dive for lobster tonight but I am too full from dinner. Tomorrow we snorkel.
----------
radio email processed by SailMail
for information see: http://www.sailmail.com
No comments:
Post a Comment