So our short leg some 42nm was SE to Rua Sura Island one of hopefully few SE legs.The last 2 or 3 hours were a battle with about 4 knots SOG towards our destination. Not fun. Mollie was going further but decided in these conditions to stop, as it was unlikely she would make Tavadipupu Island before dark.
9/9/2011 RuaSura The wind was still up and it was a bit of a rollie anchorage. The Island is small and unmanned, with a rather large radio mast on it. We guess its carrying Microwave, and Cell communications, and wondered how it was powered what was there etc. We found what was about an 8kva Generator with a fuel supply of some 3000 Litre’s that we guess would run the generator continuously for 3 months. The whole thing was located within a large barbwire fenced in compound, and it seemed no one tampered with it.
We decided to have a shot at leaving for Tavadipupu Island around 2:00am when hopefully the wind had dropped. unfortunately it didn’t drop, so we tried again at 5:00am which was boarder line but we gave it shot.
10/9/2011 Tavadipupu Island is on the South East end of Guadalcanal about a 24nm trip of which we motored most of the way. It is certainly one of the best spots to date in the Solomon’s. We are stoped outside a very nice resort, and while it doesn’t have all the toys, its certainly right up there in most other ways. The water really is quite clear and we carefully placed the anchor in the sand looking down through 10m of water to see where it landed. Where we are anchored there is around 1 knot of current, so one needs to take care when you dive off the boat for a swim. The area and surrounding Islands are truly quite beautiful.
Late that afternoon I received a phone call from Bundy Shore Station to advise me that Rod (Skipper of Nemetona) and very good friend with whom Gypsy and I have spent great times with, died over night from what is believed at this stage to be a heart attack. Words cant describe the loss or shock, and at 10 years my junior, it seems so unfair that such nice person should pass. Our heart goes out to Elaine who loves him like they had only started a relationship a few weeks ago. I will miss him dearly, and it was a very rare thing that the Gypsy and I both felt the same about both sides of another couple, plus we had sailing as a common interest, and Rod was one of a few people like my brother, and the Gipsy who in a number of ways helped me to do this, and as we move on he will not be forgotten.
We went to the outer reef where Ken & Louise did a dive while Crash & I snorkelled. The local guide waited in the tender keeping an eye on us , while we drift snorkelled in about 0.5knot of current along the reef drop off. With my new goggles and snorkel it was much more enjoyable, and there was lots to see, from Gropers through Sharks and Coral.
In the afternoon we gained access to the internet at the bar, and I cringed seeing the ASX down around 4100 mark, and no doubt that’s not the end of it.
Ken (from Mollie) and I have been doing some route planning try to figure where to from here. The wind is on the nose and we have 200 odd nm directly east to go at some stage. Mollie will likely motor into it, if Ken can get 48 hrs under 10 knots of wind. Screensaver will try not to do that, but sooner or later Easting will have to be done.
The next day we had the owners of the resort Paul & Pamela as well as Ken and Louise on board Screensaver for a few drinks. Paul is currently having a relapse of Malaria which he got here, and now both Crash and Louise are having second thoughts about their stand on malaria medication. I have about 10 days worth of medication left. The night slowly disappeared and the wind dropped a bit,so we shall see what tomorrow brings.
14/9/2011 Screensaver sets track for Malita Mara Masike Passage, which is part of the strategy for tacking south in steps. Mollie was staying put, but shortly after we left they head directly SE motoring head-on into it, something I’m not mad about doing nor have the fuel to do to often. Six or so hours later we arrive and stop at the southern end of the passage. Not bad spot and as usual canoes come as we settle in for the night. We have had bad reports about Malita so are on our guard. Crash pretends there are 4 people on board and a man eating dog then decides to sleep outside in the hammock. I get my first level persuader out at the ready for the first time (a baseball bat) but I note that all the long boats still have there outboards on, unlike Hunda, where they even locked up their crockery, so I wasn’t concerned. My second level persuader remains quietly tucked away. Crash was well and truly asleep in the hammock by 8:00 pm, and everything was still there in the morning including Crash.
We went for jaunt up the passage, but when we came to this rather large rock already positioned to eat Screensaver, we decided not to push our luck. It was all unchartered and quite murky water with a 6nm trip which added to our risk.