June 6

After dive yesterday, noticed that Anthem was much closer to boat aft. Discovered that anchor chain had wrapped coral close in and surge of bow from wind blown waves had parted both primary and secondary snubbers and run out through gypsy all 270 feet. A bit of line from bitter end of chain to clip in anchor locker had prevented the whole caboodle drifting down on leeward reef. Yowsers! Attempt to weigh and re-anchor was unsuccessful, so a dive to free chain had to await return of filled tank this morning.

After two snorkels, a dive to the 45 foot bottom and thoroughly abusing windlass to recapture chain and anchor, decided to try southeast corner of lagoon for calmer location and maybe a touch less coral. Wind had backed north previous afternoon using the 30 miles of Fakarava's fetch to raise a pretty good (here defined as not good - don't you love English?) swell. Gentle, slow, six mile sail found requisite conditions and ten other boats. Celebrated super-human effort to avoid sure death (here, it might serve to point out that 'hyperbole' is not the same as 'lie') by preparing chili Ramen for lunch then napping until 1730.

A box of biryani masala mix has been floating around, getting in the way for a year and a half, so decided to fix it. Additional required ingredients are rice, meat, onion, tomato, ginger paste, yogurt and oil. Hell's bells, it's not a mix, it's just flavoring and requires Martha Stewart's kitchen. Does an OK job of spicing up plain brown rice except that nutmeg curry isn't a favored essence. Tomorrow's fish and cheese omelet will assuage cranky taste buds.

Jack