After the three and half day delivery down we were very happy to arrive in Raiatea. We did try and aim to arrive during daylight hours but with the heavier weather we made it a bit earlier and averaged over 11kts. Because of the heavier weather we decided to just get into the place pick up a mooring and settle in. I had contacted the yard CNI a week or so before our departure from the Marquases. It was refreshing dealing with great people that responded to our emails promptly and gave us confidence with they're no worries approach. The rates for hard stand storage are pretty good and they have a few services located right there in the yard. We'd looked at going to Tahiti but the yards there are more expensive and also looked to be more commercial. I prefer the smaller more personal ones as it's much nicer to build a relationship with the yard this way. We rounded the northern tip of Raiatea about 10pm and then motor sailed down the western side of the island. We had another 15nm further to go once we were at the northern waypoint. The wind died out once we were in the lee of Tahaa and we thought we'd have a nice calm motor down to the pass and in. The wind came back up again once we got out passed the lee of Tahaa and in the bay in-between the two islands we had a not so nice 25kt headwind and short sea. This made the last hour or so very slow and we finally got in about 2am. Once inside the reef we motored slowly up between the reef and coast of Raiatea. With the laptop running c-map, iPad, iPhone and radar all corresponding to each other it was fairly easy going even though it was pitch black and unfamiliar territory. Once we'd found a mooring and shut everything down we cracked open a couple of beers and then hit the hay. Next morning we popped out and took the photos above of the passage entrance and surf break on either side. About a 5 min dinghy ride North from the CNI yard was the marina Apooiti where Sunsail and The Moorings are based. There two small restaurants, sail loft and also the local yacht club based here. It's a nice marina with simple amenities and extremely clear water. Also looked secure when it came to protection from the weather. At marine Apooiti Johnny and I enjoyed a cold beer some great food. We also discovered a young women here called Violetta that works for the Moorings and also does laundry. So we dropped the laundry off early the next morning before doing some provisioning in town. We enjoyed a great sunset later in the afternoon and had another a meal ashore with a few cold beers. Given we had a few days before being hauled out we decided to do a sailing trip around the islands to check them out before we both flew out. After provisioning some more the next morning we were off around the east side of Tahaa where we planned to stop at a resort that we were told had moorings and a restaurant. Once we got up to the north of the island it seemed a little open as the moorings were located a fair way off the island as it was shallow for some distance off. We sailed further on and found a spot to anchor around the western side of Tahaa in the lee. It was gorgeous and as you can see above it was the perfect postcard setting with crystal clear water and that perfect Pacific island in the background. Johnny trimmed his beard while we were there and we ate well and enjoyed a few beers in the evening. There was an awesome spot here to snorkel that the locals call the coral garden. Heaps of fish and colorful coral everywhere and nice clear shallow water to swim through. After spending a day and night here we sailed around the southern side of Tahaa to the eastern side of Raiatea. The sail around was awesome! Heading up the south side of Tahaa and over to Raiata. There was a nice 10-15kts of breeze and we were doing wind speed or more with some fine sailing right along the coral edge and as the sun was high we had great vision into the shallow waters making it possible to sail right to the edge of the shallows. We ended up sailing to some moorings off a resort on Raiatea that had a nice little restaurant with bungalows perched over the water. Once again we enjoyed a nice meal ashore at the restaurant with Johnny ordering a fine looking Lobster accompanied by some great cocktails and a small desert. We lived it up for a final few days on the island and as it had been a few months since we'd seen some half decent food it was much enjoyed. I woke early to a super sunrise and enjoyed the quiet time of the morning to myself just watching the colors change in the sky and the life around me awaken. It was a beautiful start to the day. We had a nice swim and took it really easy enjoying a long slow breakfast and then worked out what we'd do for the day. Something you miss when shore based is the amount of time you seem to have on the water. I don't know where the time goes but everything just seems so much more enjoyable and less rushed on a boat. We have time to cut fresh fruit at breakfast each day and to watch the sunrise and dry ourselves by the sun with no need to rush about and nothing of importance to do that can't wait. It also just feels so right when not being rushed. Your body feels good, mind is at rest and everything so peaceful. On land our days are filled with large amounts of things we think are important that actually have nothing or very little to do with our wellbeing. For me being on the water makes things very clear I feel like doing nothing but sailing and filling the days with the normal rituals of eating, reading and looking after Spirit. There is always hard times though when your tired on watch and the weathers not being so kind but they always pass and make you appreciate the easier times. Hauling our anchor onboard as well tests my very short amount of patience constantly and so much so it's one of the big jobs I will see to on my return. It's a safety issue as well as we can't do it fast and easily so we're leaving ourselves open to getting caught out. With a nice 10-15kts blowing again we decided to head down south inside the lagoon then to head back around the northern side of Raiatea and back to the CNI yard to pick up a mooring before lunch. We threw up the full mainsail and unfurled the jib and off took Spirit. It was another great sailing day with the smooth waters inside the lagoon and nice steady breeze. Spirit was constantly doing 12kts or more so we headed out through the reef opening and decided to go up the eastern coast and enter back in again at the entrance just to the east of Tahaa. It was a good move as it gave us some more sailing time even though we did get a bit wet and were towing the dinghy. It was a fast blast up the outside and when we came to enter the passage off Tahaa we saw there was small breakers as we had a slight outgoing tide. We shortened up the dinghy so she was tight in behind on the transom and headed in. Once inside the water flattened out we were off again. Sailing alongside the reef edge is such great fun. Smooth water and the feeling of flying when your sitting out on the windward float. We sailed around a few of the shallow reefs areas inside the lagoon and when we got nearer Raiatea we hardened up on the breeze and Spirit took off hitting 19kts. It was just perfect sailing huge smiles all around and a day we'll not forget. The next day we got Spirit into the yard and positioned her on the trailer that they use to haul the boats out. It was an easy process with some fiddling around she came out without too much fuss. The guys there are very experienced which shows in the lack of communication they have with each other when the works being done. Bit of a tight fit but they were certain we'd get out and we did but it was very close in the end with only inches on the port side. After getting all the sails off, stowing everything away inside nice and neat, changing the engine oil, washing the tender, and giving her a thorough clean. We hired a car and did some driving around the island. We did a full circuit around Raiatea in the car which was another great experience. It's such an unspoiled and beautiful place with the locals taking great pride in their properties. They have wonderful clean gardens with massive amounts of flowers planted all over. Very similar to the Marquases in that respect. On the drive around we stopped at some of the historical sites in the south and popped into a very pretty resort for lunch. If you get to Raiatea it's expensive but I'd highly recommend getting a car for the day and looking around. There's some wonderful spots. Johnny flew out in the afternoon after our drive around and I was to go on the Tuesday after some final jobs on spirit were done. We spent a few days in a little resort called Sunset Beach just around the corner from the yard. They have small bungalows on the waters edge and a large jetty that is a great spot to watch the afternoon sunsets and to cool of from during the day. Spirit will now be left in Raiatea for the following 6 months while I head to Italy to do some work. Plan to then head home in December and spend a long overdue Christmas with family and friends before heading back in March. There is some great equipment we have onboard that we'd like to review so while away from Spirit I'll try and get this done and will update it on the blog. Happy sailing to all!
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On arriving in the Marquases and finding Internet I'd received an email regarding some work back in Europe. As Spirit needs a few more upgrades I was interested in earning some more money, also helps to pay some of the numerous bills that quickly add up along the way. Anyway one thing has led to another and I've decided to head to Raiatea where there is good haul out and storage facilities for boats. Spirit will be hauled here next week and stored ashore while I head over to Italy for three months. I'll plan to head back in February/March to do some work onboard and will soon get underway again. Waiting out the cyclone season here before making the rest of the trip home. Never ceases to amaze me how you can't plan a thing when it comes to boats and the water. Would never have guessed a few months ago I'd be heading back to Europe for work and would never have guessed a year ago that the dream of sailing the Pacific would come true so soon either. Here's a break down of our passage to Raiatea from Hiva Oa. Departure Day 1 - 27th July Woke about 0600 and spotted Butch getting the "Racket Roller" ready for departure. After waking Johnny from his light sleep of tree felling we had a nice muesli and fresh fruit breakfast while enjoying a massive 12ft wide Manta Ray swimming around the boat. It was the perfect wake up nature at it best and right beside us. Very cool to see such massive creatures swimming right by in crystal clear water. After getting the pick (anchor) up we then did the usual pack it all away scenario and got off about 0800. It was a beautiful morning slight breeze coming from the south east but not enough to sail in so we motored out a few miles until it started to fill in some more. Butch was a few miles in front and on his way. We decided to put in two reefs and go with the full headsail. We're getting too used to having reefs in and find that if we don't we tend to be putting them in during the night anyway and with the small speed increase it's just easier to have them in all the time. The breeze filled in to around 12-15kts and off we went soon sending the Roller to the horizon behind us. With the breeze being light and us needing to make good time to arrive at the other end during daylight hours we decided to haul up the mid-sized reacher. It wasn't long before we were doing the usual windspeed and making a good 10-14kts consistently. The first day was just perfect light breeze, cloudless deep blue sky and warm wind on our faces what more could you ask for? Cold beer! Ah and this we had, one each at sunset to say thanks for such a wonderful day. Day 2 The wind stayed light all during the night and we made good time. The seas slowly flattened out even more and we had a day with winds of 10-12kts from the south east. Spirit rompt along at wind speed and in the smooth seas it felt as though we were just floating on the ocean with her sitting on 14kts and the windward float suspended above the water like the wing of a bird. It's such a beautiful thing to be able to experience days like these that just go on. Making great time, perfect weather and smooth seas.... Bliss. Today was more of the same with light airs warm sunshine and ghosting along at windspeed or just above. We managed over 260nm for our first 24hrs or about 10.8kt average. Tonight the winds have just started to increase as forecast to about 20kts bringing our apparent around a little with the waves now just kissing the windward float every now and then. We're making well over 12-14kts with 15-18kts true breeze just aft of the beam. Stars are out in full force and Raiatea is just under two days away. Johnny and I put the reacher away earlier and popped out the full jib getting us a better nights sleep with the reduced power and worries. Day 3 Gorgeous sunrise this morning with wonderful orange colors and clouds on the horizon with the fingers of god showing through in bright streams. Had some more wind today with it going from 13-40kts in the squalls. Went right round to 140 apparent but towards the end of the day it settled in at 100-90 degrees apparent and has settled there for most of the afternoon unless a rain cloud and squall come through which makes it vier in either direction. Have made some good time with the wind on the beam and constantly sit on 10-14kts. Seas have built a little though and the beam waves and occasional small breakers make it uncomfortable. Have to say the major down point and something you tire of quickly on passage onboard a trimaran is the windward float slapping. It has been great the first two days as the seas were calm and we had enough apparent breeze to keep the float high. But now with the larger seas she sometimes rolls into a swell and then slaps hard on the float. It's not alarming as you get used to it but it does tire you out hearing the boat slam a few times every minute. Not much fun at all and will be glad to pull into a safe and calm anchorage where we and the boat can relax a little. It's now 0400 I've just come on watch after Johnny and before I went off at 0001 we had put the very deep 4th reef in an furled most of the jib. The forecast change arrived as we were passing the Tuamoto group and while I was on watch I had 4-5 squalls pass with nearly 40kts of wind in the last one. Spirit took off with the three reefs in and small headsail doing 22kts into the dark. It's a black night out here with nothing not even stars about and doing those speeds isn't fun at all. We were also heading between two of the most western atolls in the group with a large distance between them but it's still nerve racking going those speeds into troughs of darkness. Reminded me a little of the passage down from Newport where we did it for over 1,000nm to St Maarten hand steering, having Rameses (autopilot) really helps. All day it was one squall after another. We were glad to have put the deepest 4th reef in as the boat without a jib can handle big gusts well this reduced. With the squalls a few minutes to half an hour of constant 32-38kts of wind was experienced. Spirit shot off down waves with a fair amount of water coming onboard at some stages. Our arrival to the waypoint was for around 2200 at night giving us a passage of about 3 days and 14 hours, which isn't bad for over 850nm. We entered the western passage just south of the CNI yard facility at about 0100 by the time we motored down the lee coast of Tahaa and Raiatea. Picking up a mooring and having a beer by about 0200. Had fun trying to find the mooring in the pitch black but in the end we did ok. We didn't want to enter in the night but the passage we came in was well lit with leeds and was also over 1000ft wide and recommended as an all-weather entry. We found it to be exactly all that. With the radar on and three independent chart plotters all agreeing it was incredibly simple to enter. No large swells on the entrance even though there was a good few meters running up the shore. The next day we poped around in the tender and had a look at the entrance and saw that it was indeed as the guides said. There some guys surfing waves and the waves were a solid 10ft at times while the entrance looked tranquil and glassed out. Spirits going to be based here now for the next few months while I head back to work and maybe home for some time with the family and friends. Before we hauled Spirit Johnny and I had a few days sailing around the area. I'll post some amazing photos and info about this real soon as this area has to be the most beautiful sailing grounds we have been too so far. Our first anchorage in the Marquases was Fatu Hiva, which is the Southern most Island. The Marquases consists of 6 main islands Starting from the south they are Fatu Hiva, Tahuata, Hiva Oa, Ua Pou, Nuka Hiva and west of that Ua Huka. The islands were first discovered in the 1500's by the spainish and then after visited by most explores to the Pacific including Cook in the mid 1700's. Johnny and I decided to stop off in Fatu Hiva first as it was the windward of the group and made more sense to pop in here first. We couldn't clear in here as there is no Gendarmerie so we just did a quick pit stop to check out the amazing "Bay of Virgins". It lived up to all the hype with massive steep rock faces that seemed to fall into the sea surrounding us. At the end of the bay was the small village of Hanavave where we were able to purchase some simple supplies. During the first night of our stay we were accompanied by loud drumming and chanting from the shore. We were later to see through the binoculars the locals both men and women practicing there native dances. It really was a site after spending nearly the last two weeks at sea far from civilization and land. The next day we were joined by Bill and Cathy off Terrwyn from Canada. A lovely couple whom came by to say hi and see what we were up to. They came onboard and Bill was promptly stung by a wasp that seem to in most places here. Luckily he is a doctor and had all the right ingredience to fix he's allergic reaction to it. Later on Johnny and I popped around the corner to Omoa the main town on the island, if you could call it that. Here there was a break wall and concrete dock that must be used by the supply ship. We walked around a little and passed the school where the kids were practicing there traditional dancing as well. One of the main issues with the Marquases is that they are all steep sided islands and only have small bays to anchor in that aren't very deep so they offer little protection to most sailing boats from the trade winds and seas that build up this time of year. We did find the "Bay of Virgins" to be well protected and it did offer some protection to the swell. We had very little wind in here as well but it was only blowing 15kts outside so there wasn't much to protect us from. I have read of yachts experiencing gusts of wind up to 40kts frequently here but we didn't see anything like it. After two days here I felt we should head down to Hiva Oa and clear in. Luckily for us Bill and Cathy had informed us that it was Bastille day the following day so we upped anchor early and headed for Atuona in Hiva Oa, which was a 45nm blast! There didn't seem to be too much breeze on departure so we went full rig but soon after we pulled up and threw three reefs in. It seems we only know either full rig or three reefs? Anything else seems too much or not enough? Anyway it was a blast down there and we made it ashore for lunch and the Bastille day celebrations. After our normal anchorage palava we got into the end of the bay where it seemed to be well protected. As it's open to the sea with only a partial break wall everyone puts out there stern anchor to keep stem to the seas. We did the same as Spirit doesn't roll she flops! And then we preceded to head into town and to clear in with the local Gendarmerie. Many of the guides here mention that the locals are friendly so out went Johnnies finger to hitch a ride and after a few false starts we had a lift into town. It was in a old beat up Landy with a cool young chap at the wheel called Alex, I think? Anyway he informed me to lock the door as it had a habit of opening around bends and then we tried to make conversation with our pathetic French and his not so flash English, was better than our French though, pretty easy to better our three words! He told us he like Vino! And also asked us if we like to smoke. No I replied but then he held out a pipe and insisted we try some of his local herb while we were enjoying the view from a lookout spot above the bay. Then we were off to the local shindig where he dropped us off. Johnny and I found the Gendarmerie and also found out you can only clear in from Mon - Sat from 0730 - 1130. So we headed back to have a million beers and enjoy the festivities. It was a great afternoon with the locals, watching them dance and also sing some amazing tunes. The kids and all the families were having a ball. It was great and really showed the small community feel these places have and enjoy. The next two days we hired a car and drove around the Island. It was an experience with Johnny at the wheel but we made it and along the way visited some wonderful bays and villages on the northern side of the island. The town of Atuona on Hiva Oa is flanked by an enormous ridge that used to be the volcanos crater. It was rarely visible while we were there and was main hidden under the clouds. The whole island has this dark feeling high peaks through out and a very wet green and lush windward side. After a few days anchored there the breeze started to fill in and we felt it in Spirit with her wild dancing during the nights. She was saying get me the hell out of here. As we had seen some of the island and provisioned we decided to head to Tauata about 8nm from Atuona across a passage to the south. My guide mentioned some of the best beaches (something rare around here) were located at the northern end and the bay looked pretty protected? it couldn't have been any worse than where we were so off we popped for the wet and wild short passage over beating out of Traitors Bay and through passage while surfing the 3-4m waves. With only the jib up we managed surfing down some of these steep waves at over 12kts. Is was great fun as the wind really funneled through here along with the waves. As long as it's all aft of the beam it's good fun! We rounded the headlands and spotted Bay Hanamoena where there was seven yachts at anchor. We'd found or spot but it was crowded! So we headed to the next bay south Ivaiva Iti where we had the bay to ourselves. The land behind the beach is private though so we didn't venture ashore here. Johnny and I carried out some jobs we had like moving the bow rail forward to give more clearance to the headsail as it was chafing when eased for downwind sailing. With the rain that came through the boat received a great wash and she was again looking tiptop. About two days later our good friends onboard Terrwyn sailed passed and anchored in Hanamoena. We headed around in the dinghy and had a few rums with them. While there we noticed how much more pleasant the anchorage was. It seems as though Hanamoena has better protection compared with Ivaiva where you get some major bullets coming down the valley into the bay. The next morning we upped anchor and moved around to Hanamoena where we anchred about 200ft from the beach in about 20ft of water. It was bliss and well worth the hassle of re-anchoring onboard Spirit we compare it to giving berth ;-). My local guide to the area mentioned that the town to the south Vaitahu had some very nice artists there. One being a tattoo master called Felix Fii, the other we found was Tekie the bone and scrimshaw artist. Along with these two interesting characters there was good provisions to be had and a church named the "Wholly Mother Of God Catholic Church" that was a donation from the Vatican in 1988 to commemorate the first catholic missionaries arriving in 1838, crazy bastards they were cannibals here then! The islands is also very traditional with a monument in front of the town hall that declares in French that after 1995 the islands of the Marquases will be known as there original name of Fenua Enata or Land of Men. Another next to it commemorates Chief Iotetes rebellion against the French in 1842, the Tauatans are very independently minded. The town of Vaitahu is beautiful flanked by an old volcano crater that rises up behind it with superbly steep and green sides that fall down onto the town. As I love tattoos I thought it very necessary to investigate Felix Fii and to see some of his work. Cathy wanted to head ashore one day so we met the local school headmaster whims spoke great English. He called around and got Felix to pop down and see us. Teiki was also rung and popped down to pick us up and take us to his home and small work space looking out over the bay from hundreds of feet up on the mountain side. His home was surrounded with fruit trees of which we were allowed to take all we wanted when we departed along with some truly beautiful works of art we bought from him. Felix had even tattooed the local head master so we figured he must be pretty good! His work was very nice and he only worked from inspiration which was the only worry! Cathy even got excited and decided to get a tattoo as well. We made a time for 0630 the next morning then headed back to the boats were we informed Bill and Johnny of our plans for the next morning. It didn't take long and before we knew it we had four people being branded by Felix. It was quite a laugh with everyone wondering what they'd get and where. I was to go first to make sure he knew what he was doing. Then it was Johnny, Bill and Cathy. All in all we got out of there by about 1530 so it wasn't too bad a day. Below you can see how things turned out. Felix was a true master with his motifs and art work creating beautiful designs that are in a sense a work of art for each of us. Bill got a wave shaped tattoo that has a teki head within it and traditional motifs through out such as fish and the local Marquasan cross. Johnny got a traditional Manta Ray tattoo that looked great along with Cathy whom had hers done on her left foot and it looked great also. Always wanting a Balin I had one done on my palm and filled with traditional motifs of manta ray, turtle, tuna, teki head and eels. The following morning Johnny and I had planned to head down to Nuka Hiva to catch up with Butch who arrived a few days before after his 21 day crossing from the Galapagos. We upped anchor early for the 85nm passage over and hoped to arrived around 1600. We motored out a few miles then raised the sails and took off. With a fresh breeze from the south east we were off to a flying start. It didn't last long though dropping out within an hour to nothing! Johnny and I couldn't believe it as our 8 hr passage had just become an over nighter! We'd planned beers on the back deck at sunset. I rang Butch to let him know we were on our way and that the breeze wasn't being so nice. He stated the wind down there was blowing 25kts and that the beers were in the fridge. The calm didn't last long and within an hour we were off again smoking down the waves averaging well above 11kts. It was a fun ride down there and we managed to get in about 1630 after 9hrs sailing. By the time we arrived Butch had had a few beers and we were knackered so we put off the party to the following night. The next day Butch came by early and picked up Johnny. They spent day driving around the island with another couple of Aussie blocks from YOLO (you only live once) a nice big 50ft Catana Cat very roomy compared to Spirit but we're at the bar first which counts most in Johnnies and my book ;-). We all met in town for lunch about 2pm had a million beers then headed back to the Racket Roller with all the gang for a million rums. It was an awesome day and night with Butch and the gang and we also met a nice fella whom had just crossed from South America on his own and had been at sea for 31 days! awesome to see as he wasn't the youngest of chaps either. He was sailing around the world fulfilling a dream and had his business back home up for sale. The next day with Racket Roller following us and after we had bought pretty much the best fresh provisions we'd seen since leaving Panama we headed to a little bay on the western side of Nuka Hiva. It's called Baie Haahopu and with the strong winds and large seas from the east it turned out to be a wonderful stop before we headed to Raiatea. The water was so calm and clear we had a great walk ashore on the beautiful little beach and Johnny dove on the anchor as the bay had heaps of coral bombes so the chain was rapped around them all doing nice figure 8's After cleaning the bottom of the boat, doing some laundry and odd jobs we had we had a nice dinner with Butch on the Roller and then a perfect nights sleep. Another thing about these trimarans is there fast fun and have heaps of deck space but man at night if there is a side swell she loves doing the flop and when we find a nice bay where the water flat it's such a pleasure to be there. Quiet great nights sleep just perfect! Next morning we had a Manta Ray swim around the boat right next to us about 12ft across while we ate some fruit and Muesli following this we then set sail for Raiatea about 9am. |