Saturday 4 October Minyaifun

Eventually we've made it to Minyaifun.  Almost two weeks ago we left Halmahera planning to come here and then we diverted and delayed in Wayag.  Today we sailed, tacked and motor sailed 55 miles to wind and current to cover just 35nm distance.  Our reward is a perfectly still, perfectly protected anchorage on the north shore of Minyaifun with Batangpele to the north.  Effectively we're in a big channel between two islands.
A big plus for the trip was we caught two barracuda fish.  We caught fish!  For the first time since Australia we've caught our own dinner.   Dorados and tunas have studiously ignored our lures or they're simply not there to be caught.
In the past, and certainly in the Caribbean, if we'd snagged a 'cuda we'd have set him loose because they are often bad news for eating being full of cigurterea toxins.  Eat an affected fish and your lips go numb, hot things feel cold, cold things hot and you get very sick, sometimes fatally.  It's builds up in the predators at the top of the food chain which feed on the smaller fish which live on the reefs.
In this less populated, more remote part of the ocean we have been reassured barracuda is good eating and doesn't present a health issue.

We can now attest barracuda is indeed good eating – a firm white flesh which cooks well on the barbecue.
While we were reeling in the bounty of the sea we missed crossing the equator.  To atone to Neptune we drank our toast to his Magnificence before dinner.
Anchor position 00 19.50S 130 12.17E   17m sand