We have returned to the big city, Taiohae, on Nuku Hiva for the new year’s eve parties. We wish you all a fabulous, happy and healthy new year!
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2015
31
Dec
2015
30
Dec
Amazing Hospitality
After we had cleared the boat after the passage, cut the tuna and had breakfast it was still only 9 o’clock in the morning, so we contemplated what to do. Head straight for the bunk and catch up with sleep or use the sunny weather to explore the island? We decided to seize the day, launched the dinghy and headed to Vaipaee’s dock. There was… Continue reading »
2015
30
Dec
Merry Christmas
We had a very merry Christmas indeed. There was a fun international fleet of cruising boats anchored in Hantefau, we had a dinghy raft-up with drinks, tapas on different boats and for the 25th we asked the friendly people of the neighbouring village Hapatoni whether we could have a pot-luck at their little artisanat hall. They didn’t only agree with our plan, but decided to… Continue reading »
2015
30
Dec
Ua Huka
We wanted to sail up to Ua Huka on Sunday, got the boat ready, were set to go–but then the engine didn’t start. Not even a cough, just a sad little clacking sound. Christian found the faulty connection on the starter the next morning, so we decided to sail with one day delay, even though the forecast predicted very light winds. In the end we… Continue reading »
2015
21
Dec
HAKA!
The last two days were long, exciting, vibrating and exhausting. We had a fishing boat rented to take us over from Tahuata to the neighbouring island Hiva Oa and after a calm period the wind was up to 20 knots, the waves accordingly high and the 1 hour ride in the small boat quite adventurous–especially as we had a similar boat following in our wake,… Continue reading »
2015
17
Dec
Festival des Arts des Iles Marquises
Every 4 years cultural festival takes place alternately in one of the six populated islands of the Marquesas. Tomorrow the 10th Festival will kick off on the island of Hiva Oa and dance and drumming groups, choirs and artisans from the Marquisian islands of Nuku Hiva, Ua Huka, Ua Pou, Fatu Hiva and Tahuata, but also groups from Tahiti, the Gambier and even Rapa Nui… Continue reading »
2015
14
Dec
Dolphin show
The sea around the Marquesas is dark because of the black volcanic bottom, the water often murky and notorious for sharks, so it’s not too inviting for swimming and snorkeling. But sharks aren’t the only big predators around here–today we’ve had a large group of dolphins visiting the anchorage. Locals also call Hanatefau the dolphin bay, because they come here so often. It was exciting… Continue reading »
2015
11
Dec
The world is standing still
…at least our little world on Pitufa We sailed just 2 miles south to the next bay Hanetafau where we’ve found the first calm spot in weeks. It’s amazing how your energy comes soaring back when you sleep through the whole night and no longer constantly bump head and toes on the rocking boat. We used this rush of energy to explore the island per… Continue reading »
2015
09
Dec
Full bays in Tahuata
We sailed up from Fatu Hiva to Tahuata the day before yesterday, using the last puff of a good easterly breeze before the calm arrived we’re having now. The last days in Fatu Hiva were wonderful (except for the sleepless nights because of the rolling on the boat and the terribly starved dogs ashore), we hiked to the gorgeous waterfall even twice and enjoyed swimming… Continue reading »
2015
02
Dec
Back in Fatu Hiva
We have returned to spectacular Baie des Vierges where we made our first landfall in the Marquesas two and a half years ago. The picture of this bay adorns the cover of Ocean7′s current edition
2015
01
Dec
Sailing to the southern group
We left Nuku Hiva this morning, will sail past Hiva Oa and Tahuata this night and reach the souternmost island of the Marquesas, Fatu Hiva, tomorrow morning.
2015
30
Nov
Diesel days
Our Pitufa plus gear is generally very benign–when things break they usually do so at a suitable time (if there’s ever a good time for that…). E.g. the windlass stopped working just before we sailed to Tahiti where spare parts could be found, the clew of the genoa ripped off just 4 nm before we reached Huahine and the fuel line of our Yanmar engine… Continue reading »
2015
20
Nov
2015
18
Nov
Sauna
When we arrived in the Marquesas, the islands looked brownish and withered. Locals told us that it had been unusually dry (even for the dry season) and we moaned in the relentless heat of the sun. Our white (!) deck was so hot that you couldn’t step on it barefoot, the 30 degree warm sea acted as underfloor heating and the whole boat turned into… Continue reading »
2015
10
Nov
Taiohae, Nuku Hiva
At the moment there’s still southwesterly swell coming up (but that should become less frequent and violent as summer comes to the southern hemisphere), at the same time northerly swell comes down (and will become more with winter setting in up there) and in combination with predominant wind plus windseas from the east, finding a calm spot in the open bays of the Marquesas is… Continue reading »