Noumea, 28/02/2018.

Having filled up with water and duty free fuel in Port Denerau, we set off for New Caledonia with a favourable forecast and an expectation of a comfortable 5 day crossing. Winds to be south going to ESE along the way. Initially we set course to the west to keep the wind on a reach, then we slowly turned to the south west on the rhumb line to Noumea.
2 days of good sailing at 7+ knots average was a bonus. The wind slowly dropped out and the engine came on for about 20 hours till the wind returned, initially softly from the south, cold, then strengthening with rough seas. We kept going and entered the Havanna Channel at the SE of New Caledonia, wind over tide and an outgoing tide of about 2 knots. We plugged on and eventually reached Noumea, about 40 miles, 6 hours travelling.
Initially we headed to the wrong marina, but eventually tied up at the correct one! Navigating at sea is easy!
The landscape is amazing with red soil and very straight pine trees everywhere.
Check in was simple, the marina helped us to tie up, gave me a form or two to fill out and said wait 2 hours for Customs. If they don’t appear you’re free to go ashore! Customs did not turn up, they rarely do apparently. Next day I went to Immigration in town by taxi, filled out another form and had the passports stamped. That afternoon the Quarantine guy appeared and took our rubbish bag and left! No fees involved at all.
Since then we have looked around the town, done some repairs, minor, and checked over the engines. Today we also washed the boat with fresh water so a load of salt has gone.
While I was looking for spare linen I found a nest of cockroaches, they are not in favour of Mortein. I killed about a dozen or so and that appeared to be all there were, we’ll see soon enough. All the spare linen will go to the laundry tomorrow.
We’re out tonight with the Ocean Cruising Club port officer for dinner. Initially we’ll head to the yacht club for a drink and a check of the menu and then decide where to dine.

All is well on board here, with discussions of what to do next and checking on the long term weather for the LAST LEG! to Sydney we hope.