Norfolk Island, Australia (kind of)

Friday, February 25, 2017

Discovered by Capt. Cook in 1774 and named after the Dutchess of Norfolk, this remote isle midway between New Zealand and New Caledonia is a largely autonomous territory of Australia. Once a penal colony for the most hardened offenders, the island was eventually settled by descendants of The Bounty mutineers and their Tahitian partners.

The plan was for us to arrive at around 11:00 AM, and to spend two days here. But alas, we were not to visit it after all.

I began my day on the 12th deck at a TRX class. Next up was the golf simulator and a round against the ship's pro.

Shortly after that, the Captain announced that we were not going to be able to land at our appointed anchorage due to heavy winds.

Instead, we were going around to the other side of the island to see if the waves were more welcoming. Once we got to the leeward side of the island, we set the anchor and waited to see what was going to happen. After not too long, it became obvious that the seas were too violent to allow us to make shore.

The unfortunate thing is that many people had planned to get on board today. The change in plans means that they had to scramble to arrange their own transportation to the next island, or country.

A bit later in the afternoon, the Captain formally announced that reaching shore was an impossibility and we pulled the anchor and headed north to Noumea, New Caledonia. Originally, we were supposed to arrive there three days hence, but it now appears that the Captain will be able to make up significant time and we will arrive tomorrow evening. After all, it is still a 485 mile trek.

So on board, we enjoyed a sea day, with the promise of yet another one tomorrow.

The tailor stopped by the apartment a little later in the day in order to repair one of my golf club head covers.

I enjoyed a relaxing dinner on East terrace with friends. They peppered me with board questions, but they are just curious types and they are great friends. People like that can ask me anything anytime.

It was a perfect evening and when it got a bit breezy, the shawl master went around to the various tables where he opened his box of 6 cashmere shawls from which women could choose one to match their outfits. Only on The World!