The wind increased on Friday, and we decided to leave our beautiful islet and seek more shelter. We went to a very small bay opposite a small hotel and sandy beach. The sea was pretty flat, but the wind funnelled down making swimming unattractive. Spent a pleasant night before leaving early next morning to travel up to another recommended anchorage.

We had a wet and bumpy couple of hours as we were traveling directly into wind, but worth it when we arrived. It was a beautiful and very sheltered anchorage, surrounded on three sides by a pretty island and looking out across a reef to open sea. As we entered the bay we were greeted by a naked, bearded, long-haired man in another boat who stood to attention and saluted us while making some sort of horn noise.

Managed some good swims in flat sea and watched our friend do his evening yoga on the beach (wearing shorts on this occasion and quite impressive headstands.) Marina called us up to say they had a space, and we decided we would return to the marina in the morning and take the berth as we needed to re-provision, get ourselves ready and check out of New Caledonia. Had an early start and listened to our neighbour playing his morning Raga on Pan Pipes for half and hour, followed by what sounded to be an Alpen horn. Did not salute us as we left though.

Now back on a marina berth and about to go shopping and other exciting things. Southern Princess is here, but Harmonie and Storyteller have had to anchor in the bay, as no more spaces on the pontoon. We are all studying weather forecasts at the moment, deciding when to set off for New Zealand.