Wednesday May 21st
Pidgin island, Reef Islands
Pidgin is one of the Reef Islands, a group of coconut
covered sand cays on elevated coral plates. Pidgin Island
is in fact leased by an Australian, Ben Hepworth,
whose parents were given the island in exchange of
them staying around with the resupply boat for the
local villages. Ben's parents colonised this tiny
coral cay by building several houses and lived
amongst the locals, running a old North Sea trawler
as a resupply ship. They later lost the boat for
being late in changing its mooring spot when North
Westerly unexpectedly winds came in the cyclone season
(so I was told the story). They are buried on the island
and Ben who grew up there with his twin brother,
stayed up there, marrying a local woman and evolved
into a true islander though maintaining comms and
emailcontact with the real world!. Both Ben and brother
Ross' local knowledge has been great logistic help
for the BBC shoots as they know the local and are
pretty much the only one who can provide canoe transport,
fuel if needed.
The anchorage behind Pidgin Island is in 20-25 meters
coral and sand. Amuzingly, Ben told me to drop the
pick on a 8 by 10 m wide coral bommie at 8 m depth,
for which he gave me the GPS position
(S 10deg17.868' E166deg17.810'). The chart
(UK 17) which it was out by 1km in the past,
appeared to be accurate! Reluctantly tried
the bommie, as apparently all ships do it,
but the anchor dragged (as predicted) so the
deep sand and coral were the go. In anything
west of south, the anchorage is very rolly
and wind leeshore but this spot would be perfect
in the SE-E trades. Hoping to visit it again!
