Flat windless waters and a dismantled light north of Noro. None of the lights charted are functioning as their solar panels get stolen, but they make good day marks!
There was no wind but it was possible to catch a light katabatic of the gentle slopes of New Georgia for most of the night, until the SE trades decided to pick up by 5 in the morning, right on the nose as KUNA was rounding the last double barrier islands outside Morovo lagoon!!!!! The poor 24 HP Bukh of KUNA was struggling to keep 3 knots of headway and I wished I had thoroughly navigated Lumahile passage and through the lagoon before, to be able cut inside in protected waters despite the low light. Next time…
The cliffs from the outer barrier islands of Morovo
Meeting new science folks was great: Simon Albert and Jame Judy from UQ have been enthusiastically running a community based monitoring and conservation project in the Morovo lagoon. The main reason why they originally came to the Solomons was to investigate water quality issues related to logging activities on Vangunu Island. After several years of conducting a research study using similar methodologies as those used with nutrient/eutropication issues on the Great Barrier Reef (my old trade!), they found out that the impacted state of the reef inside Morovo lagoon is probably due just as much to unsustainable fishing practices as it is to logging. The study has produced a lot educational material in Morovo language (booklets, etc) but the use of a very powerful media such as moving pictures is needed for further awareness raising, which will lead to the production of a DVD. What a nice excuse to order a whole bunch of underwater video/photo gear and stay in the Solomons and but now, visa becomes an issue!!!
