Greetings from yacht Ensemble.
After our snorkel in the Aquarium yesterday, we spent the day on domestic chores, cleaning the boat, doing laundry and scrubbing down the hull. The anti-foul has clearly reached the end of it's usefulness - with 4cm of sea grass growing from an inch above the waterline - and a return of the barnacles - and we'd given the hull a complete clean just over a week ago. So much for the promised 2 years!
We've scheduled to have the boat hauled out and new anti-foul put on in Papeete on the 18th - so timing is good. We are also hoping to work through our long list of minor repairs and servicing using Laurent's help (the local World ARC agent).
'At Last' arrived in the morning - and we decided to go back to the resort restaurant. They kindly offered to give us a lift - and saved us the row ashore. 'Zoe' arrived shortly afterwards - and we all met for Sundowner cocktails (the Pino Caladas were great!). We went for dinner with Mark and Janet - a local BBQ - that included NZ oysters, Intestines and Blood sausages (as well as the more traditional sushi, beef, fish and ribs) - and a local troop of island dancers. The crew from Royal Leopard was also there. Janet had an adventurous night, trying oysters and intestines - and then getting up and dancing with the locals (video to be posted later...).
It was a good night - but we all ran out of steam at about 9:30pm. It's hard work in paradise!
This morning we got up at 6am for an early start towards Papeete. The wind is slight but building - and we're hoping to get there by lunch time on the 17th.
Cheers
Dave
16 April 2012 003