Back to Noumea

0630 position 22-14S 166-21E. Underway powering back toward Noumea.

Yesterday was spent messing about at anchor in Maa Bay. The entire crew turned to on projects during the morning. We've been unable to start the main engine without first starting the generator due to a faulty switch. Rob and Zappa pulled a new wire and installed a new switch to correct the problem. Rob also changed the engine oil. Michael baked two loaves of bread. Geoff cleaned the grass off of Van Diemen's water line. I polished stainless. Marie did laundry and cleaned up after five boys. After our boat projects were completed the crew went ashore to walk the beach. The area behind the quarter mile long beach fronting the bay looked like it was a park, but the sign on the beach was faded so we couldn't read it.

The afternoon was spent reading, napping, and socializing. A forty foot Bavaria, "Distracted", joined us in the anchorage so we wouldn't be lonely. What kind of a boat name is "Distracted"?

After a couple of Van Diemen cocktails before sunset, grilled lamb chops for dinner, and chocolate for desert, we had a movie night and watched "August Rush".

At 6AM we pulled the hook to sprint back to Noumea before the trade winds fill in down the coast. We need to do some final provisioning and check out of the country. It is looking like we will have a great weather window starting tomorrow to get down to Norfolk Island, 480 miles to the south and spend a few days there before the next bit of bumpy weather fills in.

This blog is going out a bit early today. We will be busy once we arrive back in Noumea in an hour or so. We are hoping to get a slip in the marina today so we can give Van Diemen a good washing, make it easier to provision, and deal with the officials.

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