Back in Noumea

We weighed anchor (late for us) at 0700 and set sail in a very light 10 knot breeze - still from the SE!!! But no worries for us now because Noumea lies in a WNW direction. We had a very slow start because of light winds so we had full main and genoa. We navigated our way across the lagoon around reefs and shoals for several miles and then the wind started coming up and by the time we were nearly at our waypoint to make the final turn towards Noumea it was hitting 30 knots. We still had full main and genoa so the old girl was starting to become a bit of a handful!! Tiare of course!! But we carried on and came past Anse Vata and Baie des Citrons at a good clip. Dropped the sails in Baie d l'Orphelinat and then proceeded in to Port Moselle. We had contacted them on the radio and very fortunately they had a berth available for us. When we arrived the visitor's pontoon was quite full (mostly with boats waiting to go to Bundaberg it turned out!!) and so we were lucky to secure a berth.
We've been tidying up the boat and took a load of washing to the laundromat then went to the supermarket for some essential (alcoholic!!) supplies and now about to have a very welcome shower. Good to have the water tanks full too. We are exhausted and will be sleeping long tonight. But we have a sense of quiet achievement with our circumnavigation. NC is far from the easiest island to go around lying as it does right up the line of the prevailing wind, and we certainly had our share of frustrations. The whole passage has taken more than 5 weeks and probably the highlight for us was Koumac with the Foire de Koumac - already covered in previous blogs you'll be pleased to know!! But it was all very varied and a navigational and sailing challenge. Especially for tropical water novices like us.
But a very good apprenticeship for the future and certainly has crystallised some thoughts for the boat in future - like dedicated chartplotters.
Lots to do now here in Noumea before we leave for Australia. The head started playing up coming in here today so must look at that and there is the continuing vexed question of the watermaker.
All part of the cruising lifestyle - it's certainly NOT all G&T's and downwind sailing - would that it was!!!
We must also make mention of our trusty Ford engine, albeit over 40 years old. We have depended on it, particularly during the southwards east coast passages and never more so than when we were coming through Havannah 2 days ago. It has never let us down and is economical too. 900 to 1100 rpm is a good cruising speed and it just keeps trucking along sipping fuel at 1.5 litres per hour. Thanks to Russ for all the work he has done with it in recent times. We are essentially a sailing vessel but there are times such as at Havannah and motorsailing very tight angles to get south as soon as possible before the on nose wind rose above 25 knots each day when we have been very relieved to have such a reliable and powerful engine.
And we must also make special mention of Mary and David on "Giselle of Argylle" without whose help, particularly with the chartplotter, this circumnavigation would not have been possible.
Lotsaluv from us
www.tiaretaporo3.blogspot.com

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