Left Nouméa Monday and arrived at ilot Mba after a brisk 40mile day sail. Just enough time to go ashore and explore before dusk. Tons of sea snakes coming out of the sea to spend the night in the rocks and bushes ashore. First sighting of reef sharks, tiny ones in the shallows. Windy, so not great for snorkelling.
One night last week Santana had a sea snake slither aboard through a sink drain into the heads (bathroom!). Not dangerous though. Venomous, but mouth not big enough to bite a human and quite placid.
Decided to make the most of the rare westerly weather to continue down to Ile de Pins next day. Arrived Kuto bay in the afternoon, exactly where I had anchored 7 years ago on Rafiki!
Spent a few days on the island, walking up Pic Nge, the main hill, swimming, tow surfing behind the dinghy, playing on the beach. Then decided to continue out to the Loyalty Islands, another overnight passage.
Road and Ocean 