Yesterday we made our rounds to the customs, immigration, and port captain's offices to get our papers stamped, clear out and get our permit for duty free fuel. We spent the afternoon preparing the boat for the sea. After a month in port, there were lots of loose ends that needed strapping, shutting, and tucking away. Our friends, Brian and Claudia on S/V Skylight along with a crew friend Jack left for Oz before noon.
We bade farewell to our yachtie and land friends and enjoyed happy hour at the local pub with Lila and Claus on S/V Comedie, and dinner with Lori and Ken on S/V Trim. Comedie is leaving Wednesday, and Trim was venturing out Tuesday with us along with Danny and crew on S/V Regina, and single-hander Jacob on S/V Mewa.
Our take off was planned late morning on Tuesday. After one last trip to the morning market, coffee with friends Kay and Steffan on S/V Fruity Fruits, and the last gasp on the Internet to check our mail and weather report, we were ready to leave at 12:00 noon. Several folks helped us to cast off. It's always hard to part company with people we have grown fond of and hope to see again in the future.
After a short pit stop to top off the fuel tanks with 400 liters of diesel, we were truly on our way. Trim was anchored outside of the marina temporarily while a little low blew through with 30 knots of wind. The four boats wove their way through the lagoon and islands to Dumbea Pass and started to chase down the sun. Once we were outside of Noumea, the wind died to about 5 knots. The seas are incredibly gentle with less than 1 meter swells. Everyone is motor sailing on slightly different rumb lines. Trim is heading to Bundenberg. The other three of us are heading towards Brisbane. We spent the afternoon chatting on the VHF radio with one another.
GREEN FLASH!
One of the most remarkable sights we have seen at sea is the green flash. I had only seen it once before on the Baja Ha Ha 2009. The conditions were perfect today for one to occur. The sun was setting over a calm sea with few clouds on the horizon. Just as the sun dips out of sight, a visual phenomenon occurs. Russ and I had our eyes glued to the setting sun and then.....there it was. The best green flash ever. A greenish glow arcs around the sun and when it dips POP! a bright green flash like a camera flash goes off. Amazing. What a treat to see.
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| Moments Before the Green Flash! |
All is well with the 2 Sail R's on SV Worrall Wind
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