Nuku Hiva................tikis and majestic mountains

Anchored in Taiohae Bay, Nuku Hiva, where we were told we'd be able to get our torn mainsail repaired

 Scott-Free leaving Hana Moe Noa en route to Nuku Hiva. We left sadly as this was the best anchorage we had found in the Marquesas thus far

           Just before sunset we caught a couple of Skipjack    Tuna............makes delicious ceviche!

Our priority was to get the mainsail repaired. This was done in a manner of speaking with a bit of help from Rod and his sail repair kit. He handstitched all the bits and pieces missed by the machinist.

We discovered that the whole problem was caused by the luff rope pulling out of the headboard which put undue strain on the leach. The machinist didn't secure this rope so Rod stitched in the yellow webbing and we are hoping that it'll all hold together until we get to Tahiti.

 This 18 inch section of the tear was also just left unstitched!!! Someone was having a bad day at our expense. More handstitching required. Not beautiful but hopefully strong enough.

We needed a calm flat anchorage for a few days and found it in Daniel's Bay (Taioa Bay), just a few miles from Taiohae Bay, the main anchorage. It was not only calm but breathtakingly beautiful. The bay is the crater of a volcano with a small hidden entrance.

The entrance to the bay.......well hidden behing the rocky outcrop in the foreground.

                                    Just beautiful!

        Leaving to return to Taiohae Bay with our mainsail up! 

With the worry of the mainsail repair over, we were able to enjoy and explore a bit of the village and the culture of Taiohae.

The island of Ua Pou in the distance........we won't be going there, we'll be leaving from  Nuku Hiva for the Tuomotus quite shortly.