Ouvea … Loyalty Islands
We departed Toupeti at 5 am one week ago for the Loyalty islands, leaving Grande Terre behind us for the last time. It was a vigorous sail to Ouvea averaging 8.1 knots, arriving at midday, much earlier than we anticipated. Nothing better than a quick passage!
Waow! Ouvea.
Turquoise waters, 25 kms of soft white sand. This really is “the island closest to paradise”!
With the weather keeping us here, we have managed to fill in our time with … a guided tour around the island, several meals at the Paradis Ouvea Hotel (where are anchored), a coconut crab feast at our local beach cafe, shell collecting walks along this pristine beach, kayaking and swims, sunset gatherings, a hire car revisiting our favourite island lunch spot and finishing yesterday with a snorkel adventure at at an outlying island.
Ouvea is quite a depressed island. There are 4,000 or so inhabitants and it seems tourism and their soap making factory are the only source of income. However, tourism is very limited, with an expensive flight from Noumea not helping. People are scarce and with cyclone damage evident, most areas are in a sad state of neglect. However, it has been nice just to ‘sit’ for more than a few days and enjoy this magnificent beach.
Today we are preparing for our 36 hour passage to the island of Tanna in Vanuatu, where we will discover Mount Yasur, Tanna’s active volcano.
New adventures!
My photos can do the talking …
Our trip around the island …
Our sunsets …
Our last snorkelling in New Caledonia …
Love following your journey – your photos are stunning!
Thanks Kerry! Appreciate your comment. We have been to some stunning locations on this trip. Off to Vanuatu next. Are you a sailor? Amanda
colours are stunning John
Gorgeous
Hi the pictures and log of stops are awesome and you have sailed a passage my wife and I plan to do!!
Were thinking of a fusion 40 as a starting point due to speed and reputation,
just wondered if you had any thoughts on the boat size wise and sea worthiness
would you buy the same or bigger if you were going to do it again.
thank you so much for sharing your trip
kind regards
AJ & kelly
Hi AJ & Kelly. Sorry its taken so long to reply! Just spotted your comment. We had a great trip to New Cal. Most of the cats we travelled with were around our size. We love our Fusion & its plenty big enough for us & the trip offshore. Good luck with your shopping! A