Noumea

Port Moselle is a modern marina in a western French town … no remote adventures yet but a good place to recharge our energies, repair boats and restock on fresh food.

I completed all the arrival formalities (customs, immigration etc) at the marina office, then we waited on board for customs to arrive and check our supplies. Technically until they have visited and stamped us in, we aren’t allowed ashore; a bit like coming through customs in an airport when entering a new country. After their two hours had passed with no sign, we were OK to explore. First thing was a celebratory drink and meal out with the Santana crew!

Everything on Songline was damp after a week at sea with no opportunity to dry things out, so we made a basic attempt to tidy up, to make room for bodies to sleep, and turned in for a deep sleep – the first one for 8 days where we weren’t being rolled around.

Next morning, at about 7am, there was a tap on the hull … “Bonjour!”. All of us were deep asleep. I poked my head up through the aft cabin hatch and remembered we were due a visit from biosecurity! I thought I’d be awake well before 7, but no – sleep was very needed. Being an island, New Caledonia is strict about what fresh produce and animal products can be imported, and the official line is that they take much of your left over food away from you at this point. Either the rules have relaxed, or the biosecurity lady wanted to turn our job around and get off the damp, stinky mess of a boat as soon as possible! Anyway, she took some rubbish and fresh fruit and left us to it.

The day was dry enough to hang some wet stuff out, make use of the local laundry, and of course get a coffee and fresh French croissant! I switched the spare autopilot pump in without any trouble, made a few other minor repairs and made Songline ready again.