Greetings from yacht Ensemble.
Although we had some wind yesterday - we ended up motor sailing the whole way to Mahini and arrived at 3pm. We'd decided not to push on to Ahe because we would have arrived at dusk and there is nearly 2nm of navigating through the unchartered coral heads before you reach the anchorage - a daunting task in the dark. As it was we arrived just at low tide - and while this was no problem for Ensemble - things were a bit 'hairy' with Seaquest who has a 2.4m draft. In the end they had 1m to spare. Ocean Lady called us on the VHF to suggest an anchorage and we successfully dodged the fish farm buoys to end up at a lovely sheltered spot close to the coral (the Glamorous Galahs had to have someone dive their anchor earlier in the day).
Manihi is a lovely atoll and boasts an exclusive resort and pearl farms. They also have a morning boat bread delivery - and have offered a tour on the pearl farms (I am getting nervous!)
Last night we celebrated our arrival with cocktails on the trapoline. We'd originally planned to go ashore to one of the beaches - but were warned off by stories of savage mosquitoes and our previous dramas of navigating through the reef in a dinghy at night. The girls form Seaquest enjoyed the trapoline as us adults managed to dispense with some banana coconut rhum smoothies (yum)! After cheese and dolomades, Janet brought over some dinner and we finished the evening with a couple of Gran Marnier digestives. All this obviously worked - because Magali and Houp Jan where dancing on the sun deck! Strangely I haven't seen anyone up yet this morning... everyone must be tired from all the sailing!
Later today we plan to leave to do an overnight to Rangiroa for a day or so and then overnight to Papeete.
Cheers
Dave & Magali
13Apr2012 014