Nick lands a hooligan fish

When we sailed into Opunohu bay we had an 18kg Wahoo in tow, nicely timed to feed the four of us plus some other cruisers in the bay. Sid and Pat could not resist leaping off the boat, the water is so inviting plus the heat was not what they were accustomed to.

Swimming off the boat is one thing but hand feeding eager stingrays in chest deep water is quite another. Near the motu Tiahura the side of the boat channel broadens into flat white sand. This is where it has become popular to feed the rays. It’s popular with the rays too; they launch themselves up onto your chest, some of them weighing in at an estimated 40 kilos. There barbs are intact and there tails like 10 grit sandpaper. It’s terrifying - if other cruisers hadn’t expressed their delight at the experience there is no way we would have jumped in. We found that if you grabbed their flaps you could fend at least one of them off while another four or so jostled for a bite. Their skin is humanlike in its softness. Outside of the frenzied rays a constant merry-go-round of sharks circle. Sid was mawed on the chest when he lifted the fish morsel too high for the ray to gulp. That evening we organised a sun downer on the beach with the boats in the bay. Rick and Judith plus Vanessa, Dominique and wee Gaelle were there so we were able to say good health and goodbye to some of our longest cruising friends.