In-Port
Instead of the daily brief, I thought I’d sum up this trip from the eyes of this land crab. As a total novice sailor, this trip has constituted a lot of firsts. Among many, it was the first time off-shore sailing, first night watch, and first time on a sailing boat with what at the start of the trip were a bunch of strangers.
Starting off - after 4 days (for me) on the dock, getting underway was exciting. Seeing Papeete shrink into the distance, with the open ocean in front, was quite something. Being a Disney nerd, Moana’s “How far I’ll go” was blaring in my head. Awesome feels!
First night watch was a total novelty, and a breeze without kids to put back to bed. It also came with the consolation prize of the most spectacular night sky I have ever seen. Miles and miles away from any light pollution whatsoever, the Milky Way was clear as day, and the depth and magnitude of the starts felt immersive. No picture could ever capture that, but I made a pale attempt.
Sailing around the islands we’ve been spoilt rotten by spectacular sunrises and sunsets. We’ve seen dolphins frolicking, swam in pristine waters, drifted over coral in the best snorkeling I’ve ever seen. We’ve seen octopus and sharks, and tropical fish in every color and shape.
Waking up to roosters crowing and the sounds and gentle rocking of the ocean has been topped only by a cup of coffee on deck in the first morning light. I’ve slept like a baby on this boat (bar one travesty of a night), despite the heat and the noise. Maybe having a 4 year old and a 7 month old at home makes any child-less sleep appreciated?!? Nah, I miss my boys like mad by now, and can’t wait to get home and give them a huge cud.
I have to say though, out of everything, the thing I was the most nervous about before beginning this adventure was being trapped on a boat with a bunch of strangers…and it was worse that I could have ever imagined.
Jokes :) Vastly different personalities somehow learn to co-exist and thrive even on this very intimate setting. I would like to extend my heartfelt thanks to each of my fellow crew members, our stalwart and luvleh Skipper, and our very enthusiastic OHMYGODAMAZINGGG Mate for this grand adventure. You’ve each brought your own totally unique perspective and companionship, and we’ve shared a lot of laughs, weird games and crazy stories. Just remember guys, that da coconat-nat iza giant nat, and if yu drrink alat yu get verry fat.
Now, does Bermuda or Madeira sound better for next year?
Tack för mig,
Natalie
View more passage logs
The sun sets on another journey
The hardest part of sailing across French Polynesia wasn't the night watches, the heat, or the open ocean — it was the prospect of being trapped on a small boat with a group of strangers. First-timer Natalie boards as a self-described land crab and discovers that the sea has a way of reshaping both your sea legs and your assumptions. What follows is dolphins, sharks, the Milky Way in full technicolour, and a crew that somehow made the whole thing better than she ever imagined.
A Day in Huahine
Hitchhiking with Mormons, hunting for Pareos, and saying goodbye to crew — all before most people finish their morning coffee. A pina colada hangover is no match for a full agenda on a small island where the only taxi has already left with your friends. The question is whether you can pull it all off and still make the tide.
Going Coconuts!
From a muddy anchor bow to a heeling, wind-charged run past Taha'a's reefs, Falken's crew earned every knot of the passage to Huahine-Iti. Scooters, a near-miss dog, a mosquito ambush, and a crocodile lurking at the dock rounded out a day that had no business being as good as it was. The coconut nut is, in fact, a really big nut—and somehow that tracks perfectly.