wallis island
04 November 2008
captain steve
another day ,another passage....we left apia harbor mid morning to a 20 knot breeze blowing from the east
with intermittent squalls.the plan was to take a course around the top of savaii island, the more northern of the two main samoan islands,
we would have a bit more of a roll getting to the top of savaii but the ride should be a little more comfortable after we rounded savaii.the distance was about 250
nm,only about 2 days with a good wind but as fate would have it,we had a light wind the second day which made us have to hove to a third night and wait to
enter the pass at wallis in the morning which would be high slack tide which will give us minimal current in the pass.
the cruising guide warns of up to a 6 knot current so we planned our entrance accordingly.
we made it through the pass at about 10:00 hrs and followed leading lines and bouys to the gahi anchorage which is about a mile out of town in a small village.we were the only boat in the anchorage
May was happy to hear a local house blasting some solomon islands music,a nice welcome to her i think.
wallis is a french territory and has all the advantages/disadvantages of being so.the bouyage
system is spot on and the check in check out is no fuss,every one wears very fashionable clothes and smells of perfume and colognes but as in all french territories,everythig closes from 12:00
to 2:00 or 3:00 pm which can really put a monkey wrench in your errands for the day.also everything is bloody expensive
and eating out is prohibitive unless you can aford a 50-100 bucks din-din....i can't but treat ourselves occasionally anyway.
wallis is a lovely island with lots of tropical fruits and vegetables growing everywhere.the problem is there is'nt any local
produce for sale in the markets!there is only overpriced imported veg from FRANCE belive it or not!
our friends trinda and larry on the "katey lee"i belive,spent about 11.00 u.s. on about
6 small zuccini!!!that's what i'm talking about here!anyway we kept our cool on our purchases and
made due with the basics....ice cream and baguettes did us well...lol...
as far as activities it's definitely a make you'r own un kind of place.walking,kayaking swimming,the usual
we did take a day tour with trinda and larry n a rent a car and had a great timechecking out the crater lakes at the top of the
"mountain".checking out an ancient tongan fort from like 1200 ad when the tongans were having thier way with the wallicians
driving around the beautiful island at a VERY leasurely pace....we took lots of side roads and saw
tons of churches,got attacked by mosquitos....i think if you just drove right around the island on the main
road it would'nt take more tan an hour.all and all we had a very nice tour.the rest of our week on the islands was spend lazeing and relaxing on the boat.
....ahhh the simple pleasures."katey lee"joined us in gahi coming from the main town at a rumor that a french navy ship was coming and would need the anchorage
we had a great dinner on larry and trinda's boat of barbeque overpriced zucchini,pasta salad and pork chops(may's fav)
trinda is a great cook and put's on a great and generous spread....ironie was happy and grateful....after we lazed and soaked in the water enough
we started to think about making our next passage which would take us to tuvalu,and funafuti atoll about 450 nm to the n/nw.yup time to go on the move again
just when ya get all relaxed...lol so off we sail again .....