Our trip to Isle of Pines, New Calendonia.

This is a little out of order as I had problems getting a connection before we left New Caledonia. But we had such a great time we still want to share what happened with you.

The Isle of Pines is south of the main island Grande Terre in New Caledonia. On the way down we stopped in Baie de Prony. This is an eerie kind of place but quite beautiful. The Kanack people refuse to live near because, in past many battles were fought in the bay and they believe there are too many warrior ghosts around. It cetainly has that feel about it. It was also stripped of its trees to built the first houses in Noumea. Now the bush is starting to regenerate.

We sailed up to the very end so that we could have a dip in a natural fresh water pool built in the bush by a river. It was lovely and refreshing.

Both Lindsay and I were woken up during the night with strange noises which we took to be large fish jumping. Early next morning while weighing anchor Hamish and Lindsay saw a 10ft hammerhead shark swimming beside the boat. It was about ¼ the length of the boat. As we motored down the bay we saw a large turtle swim past too.

In fact it turned out to be the best day for sea creature spotting we have had. Later that day we had common pacific dolphins swimming at our bow. This was the first lot we have seen since NZ. But wait there’s more! As we approached Isle de Pins we saw in the distance whales leaping out of the water – what a display as they leapt clear and also slapped their tails. Although it would have been spectacular to see close up I was secretly glad that they were so far off.

We stayed in a lovely white sandy bay called Bay de Kuto. Hamish and Kate enjoyed snorkelling and turtle spotting as there were about 5 turtles swimming around. The best part was when they got towed behind our dinghy on their boogie boards by their father. The weather was pleasantly warm although we had to motor sail most of the way back to Noumea due of lack of wind.

We then had to prepare for our last big ocean passage for a while. There was a lot to do. I made and froze 5 dinners, bought provisions to last the 6-7 day trip, caught up with all the washing, Hamish and Kate completed as much school work as they could and we posted it off. Lindsay built a cover for our new generator and there were lots of forms to fill out for both New Caledonian and Australian Officials.

Pics from Isle de Pines

Being dragged though the water on the back of the dinghy

Hamish hand feeding seagulls in Kuta Bay.

There were three or four of these strange shark like fish called Remoras under our boat. They loved the bread that Hamish and Kate threw overboard for them.

Guess who took this photo? Hamish is becoming more and more confident snorkelling. He spent ages exploring the rocks and reef in Kuta Bay.

Arrived in Australia!

We have just arrived in Bundaberg, Australia. The passage from Noumea took 6 days. There were 2 days of very light winds and the rest was nice comfortable sailing. The night before we arrrived we watched a lightening storm over the horizon. That was close enough thank you!

People have asked what sort of things do we do on passage. If the weather is fine and the sea flat the children do school work. If not we read, watch DVD's, play on Nintedo's, read, fish (no luck since Fiji), do cooking, eat, do dishes, spot sea life and identify them (saw Brown Boobies and our first Pelican today), read, keep a look out and try to keep comfortable. Pretty much the same sorts of things we did when we sailed around the coast of NZ.

This trip was a very nice trip but as Hamsih said it seemed to go on forever - he was beginning to think Oz was a myth. But he was the first to see it. Now we are here and when the welcome party of thunder and lightening let up (thank goodness it started after we arrived) we are keen to go exploring. Stay tuned for some photos.

Noumea and Isle of Pines

We have had a fantastic time in the Isle of Pines. It is an island 60 miles south of Noumea.

Oh la la!

Bon Jour from New Caledonia!
We arrived in Noumea after a 2 day 6 hour passage. It started off a little lumpy as the wind was coming from the south. I found out “Sturgeron” sea sickness tablets aren’t as good for me as “Sea Legs” but late in day two I recovered. Everyone else was fine. No fish this time as we thought the trip too short to bother.
Noumea is different from Vanuatu because it is further south. The weather is refreshingly cool – a bit like a New Zealand summer. The trees are a mix of tropical and pine trees. An unusual place with rusty red earth because of nickel and other mineral deposits.

Hamish took this as we came into Noumea.

I noticed that the buildings were fairly new and when we went out to a friend’s place for diner he said his house was in the old part of town. Their house was built in the 1960’s. It is a mini France here, every thing is in French but most people can speak some English and with my limited French we manage ok. I REALLY wish I had taken my 3rd an 4th form French further!

It is true that it is the people that make a place and we have been very fortunate to have met some neat people here. Last Saturday we visited the Aquarium. Someone said you could walk there from the marina others said it was a bit of a hike about 20 minutes, anyway we set off as it was a beach front walk and it turned out to be a huge walk. After 20 minutes we stopped a young couple who out with their toddler. They did not speak English very well but said it was about another 20-30 minutes away! We opted for the bus and just missed one when there was a toot. It was the man who we had just spoken to. He had gone and got his ute and come back to pick us up. He took us to the Aquarium – what a nice person!!! It was a 5 minute car trip but saved us slogging in the heat. We got a taxi back.

The Aquarium is outstanding we went round it twice. There were so many amazingly different fish. The best was a Napolean fish. It had such an expressive face. The colours of the coral were incredible. We are itching to get out and explore for ourselves.

We are currently in port getting some work done on the boat. The battery charger is on the blink and Lindsay has other jobs to do to get sorted before we head to Australia. We have been very lucky to meet up with some friends who live here and have given us the benefit of their local knowledge for getting things done.

Dad paints the hull while Hamish and Kate paint the oars (and did a fine job!).