Tahiti-Taha’a and a birthday
1626| 17 32.38’N 149 34.20’W
In-Port
Leg 6 crew are on board and ready to go see some islands! With new regulations in French Polynesia that require booking anchorages (I’m all for this idea as it protects the reef, but it would be nice if it was on a website that works more than 12% of the time), we’re having to be slightly more regimented than the ideal of moseying around and popping in wherever looks nice. That being said we have quite an exciting itinerary ahead of us.
As the intrepid crew we are, we’ve decided to forgo the well know Bora Bora in favour of exploring some of the other less famous islands- namely Taha’a and Huanine. Today we’ll set off for Taha’a once we’ve finished safety briefings. I was initially nervous of the crews reaction for the incinerate proposed- this is after all the Tahiti- Bora Bora cruising trip. However the allures of a drift coral snorkel, manta ray feeding station and vanilla farms available from the anchorage at Tapuamu bay was met with very positive reactions.
The wind, as seems the usual on my passages, isn’t playing ball with us. It’s looking like those lovely east trade winds and deciding they’d like to come from the NW today, i.e. exactly where we want to go. It’s a chance to dig our upwind sail out of the locker though and give it some fresh air. A first for all of us on board! The trade winds do immediately plan on switching back to their normal direction once we’ve arrived, so lucky us get even more upwind sailing when we make our way back in a couple of days!
Happy birthday to Maddie today!
Mary
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Passages and Purposes
As of today, Falken has taken us over 1800nm across the North Pacific. We’ve learned about water-makers, starter motors, furling, taking in and letting out reefs, easing and grinding, weather and wind, helming by course and by wind angles, and the difference between rest and sleep. For now, the latest challenge is to stay in the moment. The memories we’ve made here are priceless, even if we only connected for a few moments on our various paths in this world. So few people get this opportunity to “go dark” and live simply for a moment.
Baptism Off Ka’ena Point
For the ancient Hawaiians, O’ahu was the gathering place. On day one of Falcon’s passage to British Columbia, we were to pass this headland. In short order, the winds built to well over 30 knots on the beam. Below deck I took a seat on the low side and became drenched in sweat. I had finally rounded Ka’ena point.
Turning the corner
Yesterday found Falken on a Northward course, still heeled to port, climbing and falling over waves. Sunrise this morning found Falken in an entirely different condition, one familiar to her, but not yet to the current crew. And then a truly magic moment, a pod of dolphins at least fifty members strong came to dance on Falken’s bow wave. We are now joyfully headed northeast, on course toward our eventual destination of Prince Rupert. Falken has turned a corner.