A Close Encounter!

Daniel's Bay, Nuku Hiva

May 19
Daniel’s Bay –Per has a close encounter....

We had some time to kill while waiting news about the availability of the repair shrouds ordered from Tahiti. We, Per, Sabina and Ella on s/vBreeze decide to"buddy boat" over to Daniel’s Bay again to play in the water, paddle in the waves and snorkel. Activities we can’t do in Taiohae Bay because there are sharks and the water is too murky. It will be fun to get away from the “crowds”of the busy anchorage.

The Big Wave hits and devours Per!

12:30am – Anchor down in Daniel’s Bay.  Time. We decide to go explore the tide pool reefs. The surf is really big and Sabina is trying to capture a picture of a really “BIG WAVE” when one crashes on the rocks by Per and picks him right off into the water! Down he goes into the  tumultuous water chute! -OMG! He disappears for a moment and then the wave recedes. He is trying to hold on and scramble back up the rocks! He is injured in several places and blood is dripping from the wounds where the wave drugs him across the coral. Not good. He has to get back to the boat and wash these wounds with antiseptic. Sabina has to take some pictures first! Good for pictures, but not good for Per!

Per's injuries

 Later, bandaged in several places, Per, now can’t snorkel or paddle or get into the water for fear of infection. At least for a few days. He can’t do the things he came here to do! Bummer.  C'est la vie.  Ella, his 11yr old daughter gave him a “tongue lashing” for being too close to the water’s edge!

Later that night, we gathered aboard s/v Breeze for a communal potluck dinner and shared some good times, in spite of Per’s accident. Just goes to show, you never can tell what each day will bring. So close an encounter!