Salacia: Brooker Island

Monday 7th October.

Brooker Island 11 02.9S, 152 26.4 E

Left Bagaman Island 0930 this morning after completing negotiations for our pre-ordered wood carvings.

Avante left shortly after us and we headed for Brooker Island 28nm to the west.

Arrived at the reef entrance to Brooker Island 1230 but low visibility and strong tide (+ 3knots) caused us to abort. We went past the entrance turned around to return uptide with Ronny in the spreaders. We were still reluctant to make the entrance until two Sailau's came out guided us through. We proceeded with great trepidation (heart in the mouth) but were successful with a minimum depth of 3.9m over hard coral.

Once in the anchorage it was all worth while, including the screams of delight from the numerous young children on the shore shouting "yachts, yachts". We were then inundated with young children in their dugouts coming out to greet us.

We went ashore after lunch and were made very welcome. We visited the school and library, met one of the teachers and some of the locals. Population of the Island 6-700 people.

Very neat village but everything very dry as no water for 5 months until the last couple of days.

We ordered crayfish shortly after arrival and 4 lobsters arrived around 1600 in exchange for sikaflex to repair Sailau's leaks.

Delicious on the BBQ for dinner. Also traded for limes, eggs and coconuts. Very protected anchorage, we will sleep well tonight.