We thought we’d check out the undocumented chart anchorage at  Falefatu and it turned out to be just our type of place.

We dropped an anchor on either side of a sandy patch flanked by fringe reef in 20 ft of gin clear water and settled back in a consistent 10 –15 kts of blessed trade wind that makes all the difference between paradise and hell within 10 degrees of the equator.

 

The old dinghy made its last trip into the beach after 7 years of trusty service. The patches of Savusavu were re-leaking, signalling that it was time to deploy our new NZ-made inflatable.

But our Zeitoon’s last trip let us take a look at the beach life.

We watched our old Polynesian friends the acrobatic noddys wheeling and diving though the palms.

We walked all the way to the end of the island. The atoll pass in the sunset had lost all the intimidation it held for tired sailors at dawn.