Tag: sailing

  • Nuka Hiva: Muddy Buddy Adventures

    Chris off to the bakery today to bring home fresh croissants for our 26nm journey to the island north of us, Nuka Hiva.  We made excellent time on the journey motor-sailing.  Nuka Hiva (population 3,151) is the second largest island in French Polynesia (after Tahiti). We pulled into Taioa Bay with its two coves of…

  • Ua Pou: A Cathedral of Cascades, Chocolate, & Croissants

    Ua Pou is sheer craggy basalt rock coalesced into various patterns and formations that we could not take our eyes off, as we rounded the southern tip up the western side of the island to our destination of Hakahetuau.  Into the anchorage, huge basalt pillars jut up out of the valley reaching into the clouds. …

  • Snorkeling, Tropical Homestead, & Night Passage

    Moving to our new anchorage, a gust of 47 knots hit us; one of the top gusts we have ever experienced!  Tucked happily into Hanatefau anchorage on Tahuata island, anchor buried in sand, steep green-covered cliff walls blocking much of the wind.                Into the water we went, clearly seeing our anchor dug and hidden…

  • Sharks, Fruit, Friends, & Nightwatch

    We continue to explore the Marquesas islands, planning to spend about 4 weeks here before our next passage to the Tuamotus, about 500 miles away.  Our trip across the Pacific Ocean is only about 1/3 complete and the next 6 months will be passage-making between island groups, each passage with its own challenges.  Thankfully, we…

  • Hiva Oa Cultural Tour

                  Cruising is best balanced with 50% work and 50% play; today was a day of play, a land tour with Kaoha Excursion Yoan (WhatsApp: 689-87-200-459) on Hiva Oa, which we highly recommend.  This all-day tour was in a 4-door diesel manual transmission Toyota Hilux open back canvas-covered rig with double-bench seats (vehicle details from…

  • 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…

  • Hanamoenoa Bay, Tahuata Island

    April 25, 2024:  Hanamoenoa Bay, Tahuata Island               We had a “learning experience” this morning after we picked up our very full, dry bag of clean laundry including all our clothes, sheets, and towels from the last month.  We placed the bag in the dinghy then went to the store for a few items; the…

  • Atuona, Hiva Oa, Marquesas!

    April 23: LAND HO!  Atuona, Hiva Oa               Anchor down in the notoriously rolly and crowded Taahuka Bay, Hiva Oa outside the boat-filled breakwater bay, though the swell didn’t bother us much due to our last month on the ocean and our giddiness at arrival.  After enjoying a celebratory glass of champagne, we dinked to…

  • Crossing 1/3 of the Pacific (by Calder Hyer, age 14)

                  On March 31, 2024, sailing vessel Terikah left the safe harbor of La Cruz, Mexico with a destination of Hiva Oa, Marquesas, French Polynesia. Onboard were the Hyers, Cora, Calder, Dadu, and Mama, along with the crew, consisting of Emil Tucker. After large provisioning runs and filling up our water and diesel tanks, we…

  • 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…