Archive
CW 41 2004
04.10. - 10.10. 2004
On Monday we weigh anchor to visit the southern end of Fakarava. There are no exact sea charts on the atolls interior available, but now and again there's a ton in the water, marking the route to take through the atoll. Actually the space between these tons should be kept free of any obstacles, but some of the pear-fishermen seem to need to use exactly this route out of the entire atoll for their purposes. Also, one should keep to the ton-marked route (which at times are up to 4 nautical miles apart) as precisely as possible since, just a little beside it, corals are waiting to meet the ships.
The village on the southern straights of Tmakohau
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used to be the main settling place, but after too many people had been living
on the small motu, most of them moved back to the north of Fakarava. By now
it's almost completely deserted, except for two families that still live here.
| But our anchoring spot is not deserted at all. Even though we're the only yacht here, surrounded by magnificent coral, we soon find new "pets". Apart from all the colorful fish relaxing in the shade of SUILVER BLUE we also have 3 "blacktips" as permanent guests. |  |
Those do make swimming quite exciting. Our new sailor boy Antoine finds the trips to the beach, where we introduce him to the elements beach and water, much more exciting. Coming into contact with the "cold" water produces very loud protest - but it also makes it so much nicer to be back in mom's arms.
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To end the week we spoil ourselves with a lunch at a beautiful place. One of the families that haven't left run a small guesthouse here and their restaurant, situated right on the straights coral reef, offers quite a unique ambiance. |
More about us, here, next week...
until then, take care!
Tom, Nela & Antoine
