Noumea and Loyalties - October 2007

Bonjour to all

We have just come back in to Noumea after three wonderful weeks sailing in The Loyalties. We sailed in the company of two other yachts – Tropical Cat and Aurielle both with couples aboard. We were all pleased we had buddied up before leaving because we hardly saw another cruising boat the whole time we were away.

The weather and seas have warmed up since I last wrote, so water activity is back on the agenda. With no dive buddy Daryl hasn't done much diving but we have snorkelled. The waters were so clear were sometimes seeing the bottom from the boat when we were in 100 ft of water.

The Loyalties are made up of three main islands, each quite different in its geography, so the scenery has been varied. I have decided Daryl has a thing for caves, especially those bordering the sea. I think he has been a pirate in a previous life and is still looking for the treasure!!!

I, however, have to own up to getting a little addicted to shell collecting. It all started with these remote islands offering the opportunity to find a perfect nautilus shell, which incidentally we didn't find. Sue from 'Aurielle' was already a skilled collector, so we spent many pleasurable hours combing the beaches.

The last island we visited was Ouvea, a sweeping curve of white sandy beaches and turquoise water, about 50 kilometres long. We thought we had arrived in paradise. Never had we seen such a postcard perfect place. The local stores sold the most gorgeous bread, so we were set. The guys took turns at doing a dinghy run in to the shop at 6.30 in the morning to get the bread.

There is no daylight saving hours out here so we have adopted the local lifestyle. We have been getting up soon after daylight - 5.30ish and in bed around 9pm. We still haven't got used to everything being closed between 11.30 and 2pm though. Someone recommended a patisserie that I trudged my way to one day in Noumea only to find it was closed between 11.30 and 3pm. Isn't that when you'd be most likely to want it? I don't know!!

We are now heading back to the marina to reprovision, charge the batteries, use the internet, wash the boat down inside and out and stock up on fresh fruit and veg. If the weather is kind we would like to do one last trip down to Iles de Pins before being back in mid November to prepare for the sail home. At the moment I haven't found an excuse to take the easy route and fly home, so it looks like I'm one of the crew for the passage back. From Noumea to North Cape is only 700 miles – no sweat.

Hoping everyone back home has shaken those winter blues and is enjoying the spring sunshine. We are both really looking forward to being back ourselves.

Au revoir from Laurel and Daryl.