We are definitely leaving today but first we go to get some last minute provisioning. I call Marie-Ann on Noeluna to see if she wants a lift over in the dinghy. She does – she has just discovered that water has got into her supplies of flour and pasta. There’s always something with a boat. As she climbs into the dinghy she tells us that their brand new water maker, which has been fitted for all of three days, has now stopped working, just after the engineer has left. I can’t believe the bad luck some of these boats are having, and Noeluna, just like Dreamcatcher, is a new boat.
We go to the supermarket and the fresh produce market then drop Marie-Ann back to her boat, passing Judith, Joe and Jared in their dinghy on their way into village. They are leaving to visit Fatu Hiva when we leave for the Tuamotus as Judith hasn’t seen any of the other islands yet.
Photo: The best fresh fruit and vegetables for ages
We end up leaving about midday, circling round the bay to say goodbye to the few WARC boats that are left; Brown Eyed Girl, Chessie, Dreamcatcher, Noeluna and Wild Tigris (who also have problems and are heading straight for Tahiti to have their prop fixed). As we pass the large motor boat with the helicopter, we can’t help but be impressed by the expertise of the pilot who lands the thing in such a tight space.
Photo: Not much room for error
Once out of the bay, the wind picks up nicely to 15 knots and we get the mainsail and the genoa out, our speed picking up as we go until we are getting an average of 7.5 knots, roughly in the right direction. Things go smoothly until the late afternoon when the wind dies right down and we plod through a calm sea at a much less respectable 3.5 knots. Normally at this speed, Mike would put the engines on but as he has obviously worked out that the quicker we get there, the more time I have to search for a pearl necklace, on this occasion, he doesn’t!
Photo: Beautiful sky as we leave Nuku Hiva behind
Our position is: 09 deg 47 min S, 140 deg 56 min W
Distance so far: 5843 nautical miles
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