Foire de Koumac

This morning dawned fine and clear but already beginning to blow by 0700. So, we abandoned thoughts of doing last night's dinner dishes and hastily weighed anchor - or as hastily as it was possible with all the mud that came up on the chain and anchor. This is one of those times when we are very grateful for Noel's suggestion to install a deckwash pump. It certainly saves the anchor locker.
One of the marina guys came out in a dinghy offering a tow when we got in in order to turn us in a very confined space but all went well and we turned 180 degrees by the usual method of going astern halfway through the turn. The marina is very small and the entrance requires a very tight turn in a 10 metre wide entrance by nearly 180 degrees. And then once into the inner part another 180 degree turn to come alongside. And all between very unforgiving looking rock walls!! But we didn't require the tug which made us feel quite smug!! The wind was already approaching 15 knots and later in the day was up to 25 knots - all SE. Makes things difficult and we are hoping that the conditions lessen for when we turn the northern corner to head down the east coast. However, we have a strategy and that is to head offshore to the northernmost of the Loyalties (Ouvea), then back in and then out again a bit further south for Lifou (south of Ouvea). This means tacking to windward but on angles of our choosing so hopefully it'll work.
Anyway, after we berthed we visited the Capitainerie (marina office) where there is a delightful female person who had helped us yesterday and this morning with berthing. She explained the workings of the laundry/toilettes etc and made us feel very welcome. After we had tidied the boat and ourselves (a never ending task!!) Phillipe and Jocelyne and their 2 little boys came over from their boat "Dune" to welcome us. We had met them in NZ and had a long-standing arrangement to meet them again at Koumac where they have a rural property. We hope to visit them there in the next couple of days. We then made radio contact with David and Mary who were still out on the anchorage and arranged to meet them at the Foire de Koumac. This is an annual agricultural show which is fascinating and so like NZ. Just a little more tropical.
After attending to the laundry we started walking towards the Foire (Fair) site and met David and Mary who had come ashore in their dinghy. 400 francs per person to enter which seemed reasonable and then began a most fascinating day. We had been sorry to miss the Foire de Bourail when we had the car but this made up for it. Probably an exact duplication. All sorts of agricultural equipment were on display and very impressive animals. The horses (mostly quarter horses) were beautiful and so well looked after. Jean was most impressed and just itching to have a ride!! Then there were all manner of other livestock from exotic species of fowls and geese to obviously highly prized bulls. There were Limousin, Charolais and Brahma. We made the acquaintance of a Charolais bull with very handsome curly hair on his forehead and he seemed to like being scratched there!! Probably just as well he was behind a solid fence though!
We had a snack lunch and found some Indian food with the stall manned by a delightful young Indian woman who came from Mauritius and who had married a Frenchman. Her English was excellent.
Then we saw some dressage eventing and after what had become a long day we bought a pawpaw and some oranges as well as a venison salami-like sausage and made our way back to the boat (only about a 30 minute walk). David and Mary came on board later for a cup of tea and then it was time for a shower and dinner on board - pinenut and ham pasta. Now early to bed to be all fresh and bushy tailed for the 2nd day of the Foire tomorrow. We are looking forward to the rodeo events. A walk into Koumac is also planned before going to the Foire.
As always watch this space.
Lots of love
Jim and Gina (Jean)
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