Envy

I've read Wooden Boat magazine for most of my adult life and, like most of its readership, dreamed of sailing the worlds oceans but never got much beyond dreaming. Since arriving in the Solomons we have been eating at the Honiara Yacht club occasionally, not so much to further our yachting interests but because they have cheap meals, cheap beer and you eat right on the beach watching the amazing sunsets. It being a yacht club you do also have the opportunity to meet genuine ocean going Yachties. At times they can seem a bit intimidating with their long unkempt hair, salt bleached clothes and habit of mumbling to themselves while staring into the middle distance.

The other day we saw a yachtie with his dog outside the club filling up some jerry cans with fuel. To be honest it was the dog we saw first because he was fully twice the size of any other dog we'd seen in the Solomons (ie full sized). Solomon islanders don't like dogs at the best of times so it was a little hilarious to see them giving such an old harmless pooch a wide berth.

Back at the club later we got chatting with Gerald, from Germany, and his ancient dog Boomer. It turns out Gerald has been sailing the Pacific for the last 12 years, mostly just with Boomer. He actually wants to settle down in New Zealand for a while but because of the strict quarantine rules prohibiting Boomer's entry he told us he will just keep sailing around until old Boomer sets his final sail (or hoists his anchor, or what ever metaphor you would like for dies).

Gerald generously invited us out to look over his 46ft cutter, the Momo which we gladly accepted. It has certainly inspired us to do more than just read about sailing.

As we approached the Momo looked enormous. Once on board it seemed a lot smaller, and that was at anchor in sheltered water. I can't imagine what it must be like on boats we have seen at least 10ft shorter than this.

Boomer kindly showing us around, salivating madly all the while.

Below decks was spacious but absolutely full of, well stuff you accumulate after living in a relatively small space for 12 years. About the size of a generous caravan.