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Day 2 - Marquesas Islands, May 7, 2010
When we left Fatu Hiva, we could see the white caps just beyond the lee of the island. After the fierce winds through the night, we raised our main with a double reef, raised the mizzen for stern balance, and pulled out about 1/2 of the jib in expectation of the blow. Turned out that 1/2 of the jib was too much once we hit the wind line. Once we turned off the wind to a brorad reach, eased off the main, and pulled in the jib to about 1/3 handkerchief, we had a great downwind sail all the way to Tahuata.
We sailed to the west side of Tahuata which is the lee side and anticipated that the wind would subside. Well it didn't! Instead the wind blew over the peaks and funneled through the valleys with increasing velocity over 30 knot gusts. I got really nervous at one point, when I was hard to port trying to get the wind behind us and the boat continued to round up and head straight for the cliffs of the island.
Since we were far enough offshore, there was no immediate danger, but we couldn't take many blows like that one without getting way too close to the cliffs for comfort. We rolled in the jib, furled in the mizzen, and turned on the iron genny (engine). The wind continued to hit us randomly from all direcetions. We passed several coves until we reached Hanamoenoa which is reported to be one of the three best beaches in Polynesia.
We pulled in and set our anchor in white sand in about 30 feet of water about 3:45 p.m.. There were five other boats in the bay and some snorkelers in the water who checked our anchor after we set it and gave us a thumbs up. The water was clear and inviting. It tdidn't take us long to get on our fins, masks, snorkels and go overboard into the 80 + degree water.
In order to get into the water for snorkeling, we first lowered the rubber dinghy around to the side steps, and used the dinghy to put on our gear. It makes a swim platform for us. After a lovely swim where we saw la wide variety of reef fish, we came back to the boat and did a little bottom and side clean up. Garryn made his way around the waterline with a plastic putty knife and scruffy. Not too many barnacles. The aniti-fouling paint did a good job. And maybe the bowline drag helped too.
After fresh water showers on deck, we pulled out the barb-b-que, drank red wine, and had beef kabobs for dinner as the sunset. After dinner we turned on the audio book, layed around in the dark listening and enjoying. About 8:00 p.m. I could hea,r both Garyn and Russ making sleeping noises...snoring. Time to go to sleep. We'll finish the book tomorrow.
Day 3 - Marquesas Islands, May 8, 2010
We had our best night sleep yet. There were some winds, but not as fierce as the night before, we were confident in our anchor set and those of our few neighbors, so we all slept very well.
After a few morning chores, attaching window shade screens, preparing the stern anchor for Autona, swabbing the decks, and putting the bar-b-que away,l we were ready to weigh anchor about 7:30 a.m. Knowing that it would be an upwind beat around the north west corner of Tahuata through the straight to Autona we decided to motor. The wind is on our nose as are the ocean swell.
Once we arrive in Autona, we will go into serious boat cleanup and repair mode. Jessica arrives late this afternoon. Garyn is already cleaning up the V-berth stateroom, and looking forward to taking Jessica back to do some snorkeling at Tahuata.
All is well on Worrall Wind.
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