Port Moselle Marina, Noumea
After 700 nm sailed in 4 days 7 hours from Fiji, Dragonfly tied up in the marina in downtown Noumea, New Caledonia. The passage was a bit rough at times, peak winds of 30 knots giving us some beam seas of 3m causing Dragonfly to roll through 40 degrees in 6 second intervals. We each wondered how long the hydraulic stabilizers could continue with the serious workout. Riding in the “trough” was a bit eerie at times when we would look out to a vertical wall of water the height of the boat. But survive we did, and along the way managed to learn some new limits for our new boat as well as the crew.
We arrived yesterday and after a thorough biosecurity inspection were given the blessing to wander about. It being the weekend we have yet to clear customs and immigration, so technically we are in “no man’s land” until we can complete formalities Monday morning.
And what a glorious “no man’s land” it is! New Caledonia retains much of its colonial influence and is now a French overseas territory. True to form, on passage we were unable to get local marine weather from Meteo-France Nouvelle-Caledonie, since they were on strike. The first person we met ashore was a Frenchman at the ATM, who could only complain about France. Other than that, the joie de vivre is in full force!
This morning (Sunday here) we enjoyed wandering the nearby municipal market filled with fruits, veggies, pastries, flowers, fish and craft goods. Sunday is a big day for the locals to be out and about with their families and friends, which made for fun people watching while sitting at the local cafe with our breakfasts of “croque-monsieur and croque-madame” sandwiches.
Now we are back aboard for an afternoon of boat cleaning, napping, and resisting the generous pile of pains au chocolat that call to us from the galley. Until we write again, “bonjour de la part de Dragonfly!”
22 16.6 S 166 26.4 E
Noumea, New Caledonia
Sounds glorious! ( maybe not the passage, though!)xx
You two seem to know it all . How many of us can say “on our last trip to New Caledonia…” I was heading to a map when I saw Vanuatu close by and then knew where in the world you are.
Are you able to vote by mail or any other way from literally over seas?
You have prepared so well for this journey, put so much $ into Dragonfly for safety at sea and still the seas can be menacing, but you managed, new lessons learned and still happily enjoying “ retirement.” Truly the good life as happy wanderers. Live it up, and thanks for providing the welcome opportunity to live vicariously!
Do you generally stay in one place till done then decide to move on or do you have some semblance of an itinerary??
Thanks for your kind words. In terms of itinerary, we are bound for Australia by the end of Nov, flying home to spend a white xmas at home with Sophia! xoJ
So great to follow along on this journey! Clearly a stout little ship. Thanks for the updates and enjoy your well earned rest! 😊
– Bill
Thanks for watching over us out there – that extra slice of peace of mind was much appreciated on this passage!