Hi Folk,
The
breeze picked up a bit and we ended the day on 139mile, leaving us just 71 to
go. I fact we deliberately started slowing down for the last two hours, as
there is no point in arriving in a difficult new anchorage at night. As it is,
we will have to dawdle through the night, to arrive at first light.Yesterdays
gribs indicated a squally night, which is the last thing we feel like, so lets
hope they prove to be wrong! There is a
rocky island about 17miles out, which we shall give a wide birt, and I would
expect the same wind acceleration zone around the Northern tip of Fatu Hiva,
and plan to go around the top with reduced sails in case.... not that one can
reduce 3 reefs much further, anyway. We have poles out on both sides, and I
also dont feel like taking them down at night, with squalls threaening! We will
probably take them down before dark, and change our point of sail so that we
can go the rest of the way ,off the wind, Both Steve(Scott Free) and I have
been trying hard to catch some more fish for the freezer, before we get to the
islands, where fish is expensive, and rules are unclear about cruisers fishing.
In the last two days, Steve has hooked, fought , and in each case, lost
alongside the boat, 3 enormous Dorado, and
a six foot sailfish! I have had two lines out for 3 days, with not the
slightest touch! Still a few hour left today to get lucky! Mary and I are
really looking forward to getting there, setting the anchor, and just letting
go!!We know that it will take a good 2 to 3 days to handstitch and repair rhe
main, but think that a bit of sleep and a swim or two are more important now!
The sides of the boat are streaming bright green weed, and the rudder is
encrusted with gooseneck barnacles. It's amazing how all this stuff can grow,
while we are sailing pretty fast. It gives us a good excuse to swim! A funny
time change here!! 30 minutes!! We are currently 8 hour behind UTC, and 10
behind RSA. In Marquesis, we will be 10hrs 30 minutes behind!
There is no
internet on Fatu Hive, and so we will have to use the satphone, which ,I'm
afraid means no photos.. even little ones, as they take too long ,and often
block all our coms.
Next message from the Bay of Virgins !
Love and regards
to all,
Rod & Mary
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