It's a Sunday and there must be a dozen or more boats at Herves BBQ. I haven't got enough social withdrawal that I would go there and listen to Corona conspiracy
stories.
We left Aukena and quickly got stuck in some submerged pearl lines. They sink them down just so you can't see them and bang : you are stuck in the rudders or
dagger boards or both. Lucky the wind pushed us back out, because with all the lines in the water we could not use the motor anymore. You can't go pearl hunting
and complain about those half sunken lines. It's part of Gambier and it might get worse. I have a feeling the person in charge doesn't care to leave a clear channel so
yachts can move freely.
Yachts are a nuisance anyway. They bring the Corona death now to the poor Polynesians. When they bring money it's ok. But some islands show a nasty side of fear
mongering. In Hiva Oa yachts can only go ashore if they wear a patch that clearly identifies them as yachties and that they are healthy!! Every body is really pissed off
about this. It reminds the older people of the yellow star Jews had to wear in Germany.
No way in hell would I ever wear this.

I hope it stays peaceful here. New arriving yachts are still not allowed to stay and the government emails them that they should sail to Tahiti. Everybody still refuses
politely.
We are now at the northern end of the airport motu. It's a pleasant day, a little choppy but I can still get FM radio and internet with text only.
We tried to score some pearls, but the message that pearls are worth very little has not gone thru to all producers. Some might have enough cash to last for the next
two years. I believe it's going to be a blood bath soon. Many small ones will go under. Only the big wealthy ones can pay wages and fixed costs for 2 years. The
others will have to sell whatever they have for next to nothing. I was told to be NOT too sentimental about this. Its only business and I should not pay prices that are
a dream of the past. So we left empty handed and if ever we find a deal, it's going to be sad for the pearl farmers. They wanted 1200 FPF for lousy quality and the
price is down to 200 FPF(2 US$) in Papeete. Thank god I am not in this for a business; I wouldn't be tuff enough to squeeze them to death.
And it's the same in Switzerland; now they have to eat their watches for breakfast. Nobody is buying now. And nobody is crying for them either.
Live is good, I still limp. But what the hell, we still have yellow fin tuna and other food for 3 months. Movies for a year. I like the �" IT crowd�" its British and funny.
Pakois pigs were a delight in Aukena and he gave us a good size heart of palm, bananas and limes for the 3 mile trip to the motu.
The people in the outer islands are great. Sadly, that some of the island majors don't like us anymore. This might change if they realize that we are the only ones that
bring in some cash, know-how and parts. We see a lot of yachties helping the locals with their technical problems.