Rotoava Resort

Sunday 6 July 2014

Early, for us, start preceded a beautiful sail through the atoll to Rotoava. Remaining in a clear, marked fairway full length of lagoon foiled any bommie attempts to sneak up on us as they are sometimes wont to do. Fortunately coral is notoriously slow and can be easily avoided if you see them coming. Incidentally, why is anyone afraid of zombies? They're almost as slow and not nearly as sturdy as a reef. It's a quandary. Anyway, as channel runs along windward side of motus and breeze was around 16 knots on the beam we had a smooth, fast, 29 NM passage up north, arriving just after noon.

As this is Sunday, a critical citrus deficiency will not likely be resolved today. Not only is scurvy a constant concern, but the specter of sobriety hangs like a sinister cloud over the timorous crew as drinking gin & tonic without lime is just not done. Wining will follow whining and happy hour will suffer accordingly.

Internet is theoretically available here, but we're in a race with the next ice age to get all downloads. Did, however, receive a message from Kiwi friend, Ken Clark, requesting that I explain to readers origin of the term "bommie" - assumed I knew - didn't have a clue. Probably suspecting some such, helpfully included answer that it's an abbreviation of the aboriginal word "bombarra" for reef. In common usage it's a column of coral that rises from the bottom to near the surface, sometimes as in Makemo and here, from over 40 meters. Although given to loitering as previously explained, they unaccountably, like vampires for women (at least for actresses who don't read ahead in the script), have a mesmerizing attraction for keels, so we don't go out in their vicinity after dark.

Dinner ashore at Rotoava Grill, accessible by dinghy, was excellent, but serves no adult beverages, not even wine! Mon Dieu!

Jack