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We are back

  2026   WE ARE BACK   March 27 2026   Ken flew back to Raiatea via Australia on 25 February to prepare the boat to go back in the water and like last year Mitzi and I arrived a week later.  WM was launched on 4 March and we arrived an hour later – perfect timing! We spent the next week re-stocking the boat and fixing the things that needed fixing like one engine, the air con, the new Raymarine autopilot etc.  Most of which was working when we left but we are in the Tropics and the conditions here are not kind. We then spent another week on anchor outside the marina where we discovered the pump for the watermaker had decided that enough was enough!  Unfortunately we could not get another in French Polynesia so Ken managed to rig up a bit of a Heath Robinson affair that works and will have to suffice until I can get a replacement from UK. So finally on 25 th  March we raised the anchor, bade farewell to Raiatea and headed north to Ta...
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Season's End

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  Sunday 8 June   Season’s End                                                                       Opounohu Bay, Moorea   After a lovely few days on Moorea snorkelling on the reef we had a pod of about 15 dolphins come right up to the boat and were playing and jumping right by our stern – Mitzi was fascinated!!     If you look closely you can see dolphins!!!!                                                  Then it was time to leave so we lifted the anchor and headed north west towards Raiatea.  The 100 mile passage was straight forward and we entered the pass at 6 am on Wednesday.  We droppe...
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Tahiti and the Society Islands

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  Sunday 1 June   Tahiti   We spent few days in Rangiroa and on Monday 19 May left at 0900 to get through the pass at slack water. The 150 mile passage was brisk and we were averaging more than 7 knots.  Unfortunately the swell was broadside on so was not very comfortable.  It was a very dark night and we could not see any of the numerous squalls that hit us – finally at about midnight a watery moon appeared and we caught up with another boat we had been following all day – we would eventually arrive about 40 minutes before them!!                                                                                                          ...
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Last Days in Tuomoto Islands

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  Sunday 18 th   May   After a wonderful drift snorkle on the south pass we spent the rest of the day preparing for our departure the following day, but not before one final dinner at a seafood “restaurant” near the pass.  It turned out to be in a private house that offered accommodation to divers visiting the dive sites.  All local fish – it was delicious.                                                             Our last supper together as a group   The following morning we waved goodbye and headed back to the town to get fuel – a success – and groceries which was not.  It was finally time to leave Fakarava.                                     ...
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Spectacular Snorkelling

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  May 11 th   2025     The following day we headed SE to the beautiful anchorage of Harifa, but not before a few quick prayers as we lifted the anchor!!  Amazingly someone must have been listening because it came up with no more difficulty that usual.   There are numerous pearl farms in Fakarava so we had to keep to the narrow channel close to the reef to avoid the pearl farms and the hundreds of bommies that letterd the route.  Thank goodness the sun was shining and it was a beautiful day so we could clearly see under the water.  When we arrived we were lucky to find a sandy patch to anchor but we still floated the chain to be safe.  Fortunately the water is chrystal clear so we could clearly see the anchor and the chain.                                                   ...
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  Sunday 4 th   May   The Beautiful Tuomotos   After a very windy final night when Ken woke me at 2am to tell me that we were doing 11.7 knots and to suggest that we put a reef in we arrived  at the pass in Kauehi at about 4pm.  It was a relatively simple entry on a flood tide.  Unfortuntely that is where our luck ran out because once in the lagoon the dark clouds gathered and we motored up to the anchorage in driving rain and zero visibility.  Fortunately as we arrived the clouds parted enough for  us to drop the anchor safely then it poured again until the early hours.   The followig morning, after catching up on sleep we awoke to blue sky, sparkling seas and a spectacular view of palm trees and sandy beaches.  We took Mitzi ashore for her first walk in 4 days and she absolutely revelled in it – running on the sand, digging for crabs and swimming in the calm water – no surf – perfect.   Beautiful...
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Easter Sunday

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  Easter Sunday   Sunday 20 th  April   On Monday mornning we motored the few short miles back to Atuona on Hiva Oa.  Ken was able to get a second hand replacement propellor from Vincent at the boatyard for $50 (more than you would pay for a new one in UK – but needs must!)  At least it works now and we can use the dinghy again – essential in Tuomotos where we are planning on going next.  We topped up on groceries and fuel and took Mitzi for a cople of walks along the headland then at 4pm on Wednesday afternoon we headed off on an overnight passage for the 60 mile trip to Ou Pou.  We started off really well with both the old and new headsails out on either side doing about 7 knots with the wind behind us.  Unfortunately like all good things, it was not to last and by the time we had cleared the pass between Hiva Oa and Tahuata the wind had died and we motored under headsail for the rest of the way.  The sea ...
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