The depths of the sea and of life

When you jump off the boat into the water for the first time and can't see the bottom despite the crystal-clear water, you can feel quite queasy at first. This usually disappears after a few swims and you can enjoy the cool water on your skin. However, you may also find this clarity and the deep blue, which turns black at a depth of fifteen meters, oppressive. At the moment, the water in Musket Cove, with its crystalline sparkle and the depth into which you can look down, is like a mirror image of your own soul. Even in water this clean, you can only glimpse the bottom at eighteen meters, just as you can only glimpse the soul in your body. You know it's there, but you can't see it. As I said, it's a queasy situation for some untrained people. That's why I dropped our guests off in the non-swimmer's pool at Musket Cove Resort today. Knowing Walle, the first thing he'll do is inspect the pool bar. Maybe he can persuade Bärbel to have a drink with him. I'm indisposed as I'm writing these lines at the moment. Unfortunately, the weather isn't as nice as forecast, which will prevent them from sunbathing, but I think they'll be able to keep themselves occupied until I pick them up again.

Water and sky as blue as your soul, Fiji

Gaby has stayed on board. She's a little weak after we celebrated my birthday extensively yesterday. Hers was only a few days ago and at our age, celebrations like this in quick succession are exhausting. We celebrated at Dick's with the crew of the Tuvalu, whom we met again here in Musket Cove. The buffet was themed “barbecue” and was excellent. There was a varied appetizer buffet and a large selection of grilled meat. The Riedele beer, a wheat beer, naturally cloudy, made according to German brewing methods, rounded off the evening perfectly.

Birthday Gaby, Denerau Fiji

Birthday Ralf, Musket Cove Fiji

My birthday did not go unnoticed by the staff, as Roswitha and Gottfried once again came up with a large gift basket. Among other things, a 7-dollar note as official currency, which was issued in honor of the bronze medal at the 2020 Olympic Games by the Fiji rugby team.

7 dollar note, official currency in Fiji

And so I was presented with a small cake, while the cook, the waitress and whoever else could be found serenaded me. On this evening, I realized once again how deeply we immerse ourselves in the traditions of these people and how valuable they are to us with their zest for life. Especially when you look at developments in Europe. Perhaps the European leadership should also visit the islands of the Pacific to find the right path again. Or they could jump into the crystal-clear waters of the Pacific and look into their deep black souls. For some, this will certainly be very insightful.

In the meantime, our guests are enjoying life on the Katinka Enjoy. After a good week, Bärbel in particular, who was rather skeptical about the adventure, has really slowed down and is enjoying life on board. Walle knows my teasing and is not put off by it, otherwise he wouldn't be on board with us for the fourth time. On the Katinka, still quite cramped, he enjoys the space on the Katinka Enjoy and is already making plans for the next time he will visit us. Bärbel is not quite ready yet. Although she has not yet been struck down by the feared seasickness, she is still skeptical about the whole thing. The sometimes wet crossings with the dinghy to get ashore and getting in and out of the dinghy are unfamiliar challenges for her. On the other hand, she is very surprised by the helpfulness of other sailors and the community that we sailors form. While the days after her arrival in Denerau were relaxed with shopping and shore excursions, the first challenge was the three-hour crossing to Musket Cove. In fifteen knots of wind, however, this was very relaxed and the colors of the water were very impressive. After the skipper had caused a huge commotion in the anchor field by getting caught in the anchor chain of an anchor berth, Brigitta and Hannes from SY Maria Noa greeted us. We spend another lovely evening together before they set off for Vanuatu, New Caledonia and Australia. We probably won't see them again for a while. But that's what we thought on the Canary Islands, in the Caribbean and in Colombia. The paths of sailors are unfathomable and the reasons why plans are thrown over again and again are as profound as the blue of the ocean when you look into the depths while swimming.

Shore excursion on the main island of Viti Levu, Fiji

After a somewhat unsettled day with lots of wind and sometimes heavy rain, which Bärbel coped with really well, we now have nice, calm weather again. But now I have to pick them up from the non-swimmers' pool and finish my report here. Oh, can the soul of some contemporaries be deep dark blue, as dark blue as the depths of the ocean, or at least as blue as the water in Musket Cove. Until next time, I wish you always fair winds and keep a stiff upper lip.