Koro Island, Dere Bay
21 October 2020 | Koro Island
Diane Brown | Overcast and winds from every angle
12 October 2020
Koro Island, Dere Bay
Well that one day of fine sunshine for the crossing to Koro was the last we would see for our six days at Koro Island. The freehold bay was full of very nice homes and a resort with almost nobody home- maybe some caretakers. There were two substantial looking moorings so we finally tied up on the third attempt of being blown off by strong gusts. So glad nobody around to watch that entertainment! There are other spots to anchor around Koro but all are too exposed with the winds changing directions radically each day.
Despite the constant wind and rain, inside the bay was a calm anchorage and the only people we saw were small groups of fishermen in these very small narrow boats out all day behind the surrounding reefs. One little boat finally came in close enough for us to understand what was going on. John said they were each made from a single 26 inch wide sheet of corrugated roofing seamed together at the ends. The middle bowed out just big enough for a bucket between the legs of the person fishing. When they reeled in the hand lines they had to lean back in the boat to haul in a catch so as not to capsize. There was less than three inches of freeboard so they only fish when the water is fairly calm. Inside the bay, they launched several lines of soda bottles set with a hook then sat back and waited for a hit. Or not. Hours of this fishing daily makes me realize I need to learn way more patience.
Finally there was supposed to be a small break in wind and sea conditions so we made a run back to Taveuni.