Tag: Pacific Ocean

  • Vaitahu Bay and Project Days

    April 27, 2024 (Saturday):  Vaitahu Bay, Tahuata We moved only a few miles south to Vaitahu, the largest village on the island of Tahuata, which sits in a stunningly steep and lush valley.  The dinghy landing situation here is notoriously challenging, as there is a cement wall, metal ladder, and lots of swell; necessitating some…

  • The Pacific Crossing by Cora Hyer, age 12

                  The story began, many many years ago, when my parents saw a boat and a dream formed. They didn’t want a house like most people would want, no, they wanted a boat. In the dream the boat was supposed to be their house, and then a moving home to explore the world in. Many…

  • Day 20: Pacific Crossing to Marquesas; Crew Commentary

    View from the Portside Crew Quarters: Wanted: Crew needed for Pacific crossing. Principal duty to stand watch in the middle of the night. Other duties as assigned. Room and board provided. Must play well with others. As we near the Marquesas we’ve spent more time reflecting on the passage behind us and prepping to be…

  • Day 19: Pacific Crossing to Marquesas, French Polynesia

    A tired crew this morning after last night’s squall line that played with us until it finally spit us out around 9am.  Seas calmed, winds calmed, sun out and patchy white clouds on blue sky background.  We are motoring along today on one engine, ensuring fuel conservation. Regarding fuel, we have two 60 gallon tanks…

  • Day 17: Pacific Ocean Crossing to French Polynesia

    We have started to see some random flotsam in the water, a plastic bottle here or there, not much thankfully.  Yesterday, I saw it – the glass fishing ball I’ve been seeking…wait, no, that’s not a glass ball, it’s a ship in a bottle…nope, look closer, it’s a massive…lightbulb?!  Must have come off one of…

  • Day 16: Pacific Ocean Crossing to French Polynesia

    Morning deck count: 3 flying fish and 1 squid. Continued our progress south, steady winds 14-18 knots.  Our day went by with reading, watch shifts, naps, read alouds, weather checking, cloud watching, cooking, doing dishes, visiting. People have asked me how it “feels” to be out here.  Today I am ready for land…just a moment…

  • Day 15: Pacific Ocean Crossing from Mexico to French Polynesia

    All of us woke a bit late, except for Chris still at the wheel, from our 2am Equator ceremony; he is now thankfully napping in Southern Hemisphere bliss.  Seas a bit on our beam, winds light, we slowly sail along at 4 knots.  We are trying to head more south than west at this point…

  • Day 13: Pacific Crossing from Mexico to French Polynesia

    Chris barely touched our sails for the remainder of the night; we are indeed in the Southeast Trade winds, which are unusually high north right now.  We have a joke with the couple helping us with weather that, after the ITCZ, we’ll pop out into the Trades – “Poof!”  It was indeed “poof” – magically…

  • April 5: Day 6 of Crossing from MX to FP

    Woke up to light winds, motored for two more hours until I did a wind dance, resulting in the wind slowly increasing until we could sail.  Okay, so likely not my dance, but still the timing was great.  Great brunch of burritos from Emil.  Put the asym out and have been sailing happily downwind.  Captain…

  • Day 5: Crossing from MX to FP

    Woke up after a great night’s sleep of calm Code 0 sailing at only 2-4 knots overnight.  We hit our 500 miles overnight and celebrated this morning by opening our 500-mile treat bag titled “Out of the Wash Machine.”  Listened to the song “I Would Walk 500 Miles” but changed to “I Would Sail 500…