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Showing posts from July, 2023

Off to Treasure Island ( Passage to Suwarrow)

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Day 1. - 28 Jul ‘23 I started the Pacific crossing clearly stating that I’m not one for superstitions, portents and the like. That passage started with me being eyed by five feasting vultures….. and the crossing seemingly reflected that ominous beginning. This morning, I’m happy to report, has a slightly different beginning. Today started with a beautiful vibrant rainbow. It’s pot of gold end dipping down exactly at the point where the pass goes through the reef. We’re leaving Raiatea, off on our way to Suwarrow, hopefully a week away. A day ahead of us are the Salty Gingers and Cerulean - both of whom we’ve developed quite an affection for over the last few months. The morning has a light (barely a breeze) of wind, so for now we’re motoring in a low frequency side on swell. Midday we passed Bora Bora to Starboard, then spent a large chunk of the afternoon sorting through rubbish which we hadn’t been able to offload in Raiatea.. not a pleasant task. Afternoon nap was followed by a dinn

Last of the French Polynesians.. (Moorea, Huahine, Raiatea)

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  I’m writing this as the rugged peaks of Moorea slowly shrink behind us. In front the sun is setting on an almost cloudless sky. We’re headed for Huahine. We set off from Cook’s Bay around 2pm this afternoon, motored out through the pass in the reef and motor sailed until the wind rose sufficiently to have us gliding along under wind power alone. 6ish knots as I type. We’re in for a starry night: no moon and no clouds - could also be a little colder than we’re used to. Not that I’m complaining - we quite enjoy the close to permanent summer we seem to be be having…. Despite it actually being Winter here! Just after dinner we got buzzed by a Learjet - an exhilarating break of the monotony - albeit a very fast one! He dipped down to what seemed like one or two hundred meters above us, then whizzed on rapidly rising as we waved at his disappearing tail. Other than a very minor squall around dawn, we both had a good night and snatched a little sleep. Breaching whales in the distance greete