The anchorage in Noro is just in front of the Market (S8º 14.314 E157º 11.825 but the entrance is located a bit to the South, marked on its port side by a red elongated rectangle. The passage in the reef tongue which extends from north to south is threaded at 90 degrees about 4m depth then turn right (north) towards and slowly go across a second reef bar which comes up at about 2.5 m on the sounder. The chart survey is accurate (WWII was useful for something!). It is possible to anchor in about 6-7 m before this second bar or in 9-10 m after, in front of the market, which is well protected. Lots of canoes traffic but no problems and Noro people are overall more friendly than in Munda. The market is well ressupplied and cheap, and happens even on Saturdays. There is an new internet cafe too owned by philipinos, though connection does not work when it rains!
Time for a bit of fixing on the KUNA. Might have been that the rig was too loose during the last passage (resulting in shock loads) or that simply the stainless was old and it simply broke under the load (or the combination of both: but here is the result: two broken tangs (now I’ve learned the proper word!) on the lower shrouds.
Note the split in the stainless
The 15mm bolt had just snapped too!! Given the light loads of tropical sailing, it definitely is old age!
It turned out that the Harbour town of Noro in the Western Province (New Georgia) is the right place to fix things. It is a major shipping harbour, with lots of cargo and fishing boats pulling the for resupply and it is a port of entry.
Logging ship refuelling in the background
A few doors down from the Noro Delly, 15 minutes walk from market walking on the main road at the back is the very well stocked Island Enterprise hardware store. It is managed by a bunch of tikopians (they seem to get around the country and always be very industrious Polynesians). Everything from a sealed maintenance free truck battery to galvanized rod to Rimula X diesel engine oil and even CRC spray could be found and if not found could be ordered from Honiara! Very unusual for the Solomons.
Lenny, an industrious Australian builder who’s been in the Solomons forever was kind enough to organize re-welding the tang with a local fellow. One piece of advice: travelling with one’s own stainless welding rods is very worthwhile as they are impossible to find , whereas welders can be found anywhere.
Reinforced welds inside the tang too...
