As we have finished there is no point in just sailing around enjoying the place. It is a 14 – 15 hour trip back to Honiara. We have to arrange for the Kiwis to be picked up so give an arrival as 1700. So this means we have to leave at 0300.The 10 Kiwis go ashore on the nearest island to bed down. They have to be ready to be picked up at 0245. This is done then the RIB is hauled onto the upper deck and the tinny onto the deck. All the army gear is placed in the tinny so there is enough room to move around on deck.
We do a little fishing on the way back so we can eat lunch. Some fishing company has placed some floating devices in "The Slot". From the devices a net is attached. This attracts small fish, bigger fish come to feed on them. So you are generally guaranteed a catch. We slow down and do a couple of circles around the float. We catch a couple and that is our lunch!
We are now steaming down “The Slot”, the same waters the Japanese steamed down under the cover of darkness to attack the Allied forces on Guadalcanal nightly. As we approach Guadalcanal we sail between Pt Esperance and Savo Island. This was the exact spot the first Japanese attack took place, sinking the Aussie ship Canberra and several others. We get back to Honiara and I ring home to let everyone know I survived.
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