This morning the strong winds had not stopped blowing and unfortunately the sun also did not show up. I had hoped that the wind would decrease, but then I spotted the first small palm islands and I gave up my hope that it would. Instead I was welcomed by a school of dolphins one of which jumped three metres out of the water right in front of the bow, it was really great. Slowly the islands became larger and I saw waves surging onto the reef. We approached with a reef on the lee side and windspeeds still at 25 knots [46 kilometres or 29 miles per hour; force 6 on the Beaufort scale] and a high swell… The anchorage is located between the reefs and the small islands… By VHF-radio I asked if someone could pilot me in. I received an answer immediately and a short time later I was sailing behind a dinghy through the reefs towards the cloudy version of a “Bounty advertisement-trailer”. The islands are just full of palm trees and pristine white beach. It is so beautiful.

Laura