Gone Aground
26 July 2019
Diane Brown
25 July 2019
Bora Bora - Gone Aground Now
And it was all my fault too. I was right up there in the bow looking for mooring balls when the boat slid to a halt. Geez, only good part it was a soft white sand shoal. John did all the normal maneuvers including pushing the bow with dinghy —to no avail. We were about to throw out an anchor and try to pull ourselves off when a kind snorkel guide came over and with three of us were able to haul up the main sail and with our savior pushing off in the rear with our soft dingy and me in full throttle reverse. Clapping all around by his snorkel guests and ourselves as we began to move!!! Adrenalin rush still tasting on my tongue we went in for a mooring ball and with sighs of relief anchored in a gorgeous turquoise lagoon.
Lots of snorkeling spots around here and a junior sail camp nearby with dozens of Opti’s and Hobie 16’s. Dan would love coaching here in 80 degree sea temperatures. It is so peaceful here compared to the village even with the resorts and jet ski’s during the day. We are also enjoying watching the catamarans full of children that have congregated in this lagoon. They move from boat to boat and play Tarzan from the roof of the cabin swinging on halyards to dive into water, sail one tiny Opti with five chattering girls or just take the dingy or boards to our shoal and play in five foot of water and sand. I know the parents are watching but it is amazing the freedom and confidence these kids enjoy. I think they get the children good and tired as they go to bed as early as we do.
We snorkeled in a small reef yesterday looking for rays but I think they were all over being fed by the tourist boats. We did see a small ray last night in the underwater lights playing beneath our boat.
Heading back tomorrow to turn in our exit paperwork and maybe have lunch at Bloody Mary’s!!