The Nuku-Hiva Loop

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It’s an island with one road around it, so the fact that you don’t have Google telling you which way to turn is irrelevant. When I was renting the truck I was handed a map, which the lady set in front of me and then proceed to scribble off a … Read More

Marquesas Friends

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Tiki Tuhiva overlooking those of us anchored in Taioha’e Bay. This statue stands on a small hill right above the bay behind the pier. Another beautiful spot to just sit and enjoy the island that’s surrounding us. Photo credits to Lowe for the next few shots. I’ve mentioned the dogs … Read More

Above Taiohae Bay

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Giant manta rays are always around the boat here in Taioha’e Bay, but until the drone went up we didn’t have any idea just how many there really were. These guys will also let us swim with them, getting within a few feet, but because of the silty water (due … Read More

Nuku-Hiva

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We pulled into Taiohae Bay after dark and dropped anchor out beyond the boats in fifty-five feet of water. Way deeper than I’d normally like, but it’s a muddy bottom and there wasn’t much wind, so we’d worry about getting into a better spot the next day. In the morning … Read More

Tahuata to Nuku-Hiva

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We spent a couple of days in Tahuata, and would have hung out longer, but boat issues continue to plague us. Another water pump failed, and I spent way too many hours shoved underneath the kitchen table trying to fix it. After tearing pumps apart multiple times I eventually figured … Read More

Tahuata

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First step upon arriving in a new country is getting cleared in. Atuona is a pretty two-mile walk around the bay and down the hill into the next. There isn’t much there—two small restaurants, a couple of magasins (stores), a post office, a bank, and a gendarmerie. We arrived just … Read More

Landfall

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We bought this boat nearly a year ago. Didn’t move aboard for a couple of months. Then it was dead of summer in Mexico and we were holed up inside most of the time waiting out the heat, looking forward to cruising season. When the weather cooled, and we were … Read More

The Dark Clouds

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We’re getting close now. Close enough to list the things that have gone wrong on this passage. Blown our Code Zero sail. Would have been nice to have, but really wasn’t a big deal. Will look at getting it repaired, but realistically I think we may be due for a … Read More

Pollywogs to Shellbacks

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Throughout the doldrums (ITCZ), winds became light, but the angle became less conducive to being able to fly the Parasailor. Progress was steady, but slow, which frankly, is just fine with us. We’ll all take a 110 mile flat seas day over a 170 mile roller coaster day every time. … Read More

In the Doldrums

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About twenty years ago I likened sailing across the Pacific to driving from LA to NY by getting in your car, putting it in drive, and then coasting at idle speed for three or four weeks without opening the door. That still seems about right. We reached the northern edge … Read More

Easy Sailing

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Couple of quiet days without any major mishaps—just more typical minor ones. My business partner was joking with me the other day about the fact that we never even did a shakedown cruise with this boat. I reminded him that, A) we never do shakedown cruises with our boats, and … Read More

Flying the Kite

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Weather continues to cooperate nicely. For another day or two we plugged along at about 5 knots in light winds on the beam. Comfortable, safe, and stress-free. Can’t ask for much more than that out at sea. One afternoon the wind piped up a bit and we were flying along … Read More