Latitude: 16 13.450 S
Longitude: 146 10.082 W
Course Over Ground: 240
Wind Direction: ENE 15-21 knots, broad reach, port tack
Sea Swell: 8 feet, 6 seconds from ENE
Sky: 50% cloud
Barometric Pressure: 1017
Day 1 - Society Islands Bound
Update:
Last night was our last in Fakarava. The wind blew with a 20+ knot fury most of the night and it was squally. We got up early and were at the post office by 8:00 exchanging dollars for francs, the boulangerie for chocolate croissants by 8:30, and the Hanani Pearl store by 9:00. Gunther the proprietor of the pearl farm picked us up in his car and drove use about 12 kilometers out of town to the pearl farm. Gunther is a German ex-patriot, married to a Tuomotan. They harvest pearls from their 150,000 oysters, and have two show rooms, one in town and one at the farm. We had a very interesting tour and learned how pearls are seeded, grafted, grown, and harvested. The pearls from Polynesia range in hue from shades of gray, green, and lavendar. Naturally, when the tour was over, we all had to buy some pearls.
We were back on Worrall Wind by noon and and had weighed anchor by 12:20. There was an ebb tide that we wanted to ride out of the pass as it was beginning to slack. We motored through the lagoon at about 6 knots. The current was about 1.5 knots accelerating our outward passage to 7.5 knots. We really loved Fakarava and the friendly people we encountered. It was difficult to leave. By 1:00 p.m. we were out of the lagoon in open water.
It is very dark, warm, and humid tonight. We can see occasional lightening in the clouds to the north. The moon will not rise until much later. The wind is on our port stern and the waves are close together rolling us from side rail to side rail, not comfortable. We have a triple reefed main, reefed jib. The wind almost at our back seems minimal but we are moving 5.5-6.5 knots. On our current course and speed, we should be in Tahiti in 2 days. Russ and I have first watch. It is hard to believe that we left Mexico almost 2 months ago and tomorrow it is the first of June. Garyn and Jessica will only be with us for a few more weeks.
All is well on Worrall Wind.
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