Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
“Say what?” drawled the harbormaster, “What were those two last letters?” He sounded as
though he was thoroughly enjoying himself at my discomfort. By that time, I had managed
to find my card that had the ciphers on them and was able to repeat Victor and Uniform
to him. I was still smarting with embarrassment as Gavin and Penny had a good laugh at
my expense. “Nyaars, I are a world class sailor!” joked Gavin in a heavy Afrikaans accent.
Penny howled with laughter.
“It's OK; I'll get even!” I smiled. “Come on, let's get the hell out of Dodge!”
Ironically, this time there was very little wind as we motored our way out of the calm
and overcast South Pacific harbor. We had an engine now and could motor out. We waved
goodbye to the familiar faces as we puttered slowly by. Even the Frenchman came out and
smiled as he waved us farewell. Penny had done what she had promised and had even worn
a bikini when she touched up the scuffed varnish work on his dinghy. He had obviously
been charmed into agreeable silence. We puttered past the strange looking coconut tree
sprouting out of its potty little island; Gavin took some photos of it and of the big cable that
snaked across the harbor way above carrying the cable car we had taken one day.
About two miles out at sea, I had figured our new compass course and yelled it out to Gavin
at the helm. The little breeze that had accompanied us from Samoa now blossomed into a
reasonable trade wind bringing with it the sweet smell of the tropics. The sun burnt off the
island cloud cover, and the deep purple ocean confirmed that we were on our way. Sails
were hauled up; sheets were secured; the steering vane was set, and the walker log spinner
was ceremoniously thrown over the stern. Little bird Déjà vu heeled over slightly to star-
board as she rose and fell under the seduction of the gentle Pacific swells. “Hooray!” sang
out Penny as her fluffy, blonde hair swirled about her young shoulders, “Tonga ahoy!”
