Leaving Rangiroa

Friday 18th April

On our front we have been busy on BlueFlyer.

First of all I got the watermaker up and running again producing good water. It is not working on its electronic brain, but by switching on its power switch the pumps run and make clean water. So that's OK.

Tuesday I went for a dive with the people from Chantelle, by the name of John & Kim. We went out the pass we came in in a large rubber dinghy and turned south for about a kilometre. We then put on all our gear and fell over the side into the coral garden area of the sea bed. This was my deepest dive, to 20 metres. Brilliant fish and fantastic coral, and you could go to the edge of the garden and look straight down for about 3 kilometres. A deep blue colour in the water. Lots of fish, including a large Manta and some dolphins near the entrance.

Wednesday we went sailing in the lagoon itself. Its so big that although we were out for about 6 hours we didn't get anywhere near any of the perimeter reef! Lovely sailing conditions of force 3-4 wind and flat seas. Lunch was on board, and then in the evening we went to Chantelle for dinner and a Bond movie. Shin, myself and John all wore bow-ties for the occasion!

Yesterday Val and I went to the Pearl Farm here. Fascinating place. They use the same techniques as the Japanese Mikimoto company and produce some beautiful pearls. We had to buy some of course! Then straight afterward we went to the only Polynesian vineyard's cellar door, Cave as its known in French. They have a huge range of 4 wines - a dry white, a rose, a red and a sweet white desert wine. We bought some of these as well needless to say.

Today the five of us went on a boat ride to The Blue Lagoon. This is another very small lagoon inside the main one. It's full of fish and lemon sharks. Great snorkelling in warm water and a full lunch supplied as well. Val went snorkelling as well and finally got to love it, diving next? On leaving the little lagoon we stopped just in the main lagoon where there were loads of full size sharks around. Black tipped reef sharks. All went snorkelling with them and then when everyone was out the crew threw food into the water and created a huge feeding frenzy. The sharks come over to the boats and wait for this feeding, so its not unusual.

Tomorrow, Saturday 19th, we leave this beautiful place and sail across to Tahiti, about 190 miles, say 24 to 30 hours. We will be on a marina in Papeete for 10 days or so. Some rest & repairs for both the boat & the crew!