Finally we’ve got all our stuff together and can get ready to leave Papeete! After keeping us waiting for dinghy parts for 2 months (the rubber attachments of the mercury we bought here last year broke off after a few months and we wanted handles instead of the attached cord that had turned out to be far too weak to carry the dinghy) we got… Continue reading »
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2015
13
Aug
2015
07
Aug
Got our Polynesian Stamps
When the first explorers arrived on the Polynesian islands they were fascinated by the ‘paintings’ the locals had all over their bodies under the skin. The sailors soon got these body decorations too and the Polynesian word ‘tatau’ (or ‘tatu’ in the Marquesas) entered the European vocabulary as tattoo. The missionaries later discouraged tattoos (along with all other forms of traditional culture), but in the… Continue reading »
2015
05
Aug
Don Quijote in Tahiti
When we arrived more than two months ago in Tahiti we naively planned to get a few things done that need the infrastructure of the big city and to be off soon again. Since then we’ve been put off with delaying tactics and lame excuses. There’s a general unwillingness to take responsibility, blame others instead and of course the hope that a problem that’s ignored… Continue reading »
2015
28
Jul
Just got a new mattress
When land-based people want a new mattress they just go to a shop and buy one. For cruisers like us, that’s just the first step. Then comes the explanation where the thing should be delivered to (what, you have no address, what do you mean, just come to the parking space of the yacht club?), to be repeated several times a few days later on… Continue reading »
2015
20
Jul
Plants overboard
We’ve been stuck in Tahiti since last week, struggling with delayed appointments, unfriendly staff at chandleries and a general feeling that the world’s not cooperating with our plans. Somehow the herb garden under our spray hood got infected with lice and some strange, mould-like disease. My frantic efforts at cleaning the leaves and fighting the lice manually had not much effect, so with a very… Continue reading »
2015
12
Jul
New railing netting
The last couple of days, in-between the hiking trips with more and less luck (we still have not found the track from Paopao to Vaiare…), we replaced the netting of the railing around Pitufa. Sounds easier than it actually was–in total we spent 3 full working days cutting, attaching, stretching, swearing, undoing, reattaching and tightening the bloody thing. The old one had started to disintegrate… Continue reading »
2015
08
Jul
Operation pathfinder
Last year we did lots of hiking in Moorea and usually found our way (even though sometimes in circles) to our destination (or at least A destination) despite the fact that most paths have no signs (we suspected that tour guides with entrepreneurial spirit removed them to support their business…). The two hikes last week to the waterfalls on the eastern side were also simple… Continue reading »
2015
05
Jul
Wahoooooo
After a series of fare-well dinners and drinks with Liesbet from Irie, we motored from Vaiare to Cooks Bay on the northern coast of Moorea on Thursday. On the way we caught a giant wahoo, so we’ll have fish for breakfast, lunch and dinner for the next couple of days (in addition to some pressure-cooked jars for some time later). Don’t worry, we’re having a… Continue reading »
2015
30
Jun
When to go where in French Polynesia
French Polynesia is a wide-spread and diverse cruising area. To make most of the different archipelagos it is essential to pick the right time. We’ve put together info on when to go where in French Polynesia here.
2015
29
Jun
Pleasant boat routine
We have finally settled back into the pleasant daily routine of boat life in a quiet anchorage. The Tahitian winter weather with hot sun, but crisp air is quite invigorating and we use our high level of energy to get jobs on the boat done and to explore beautiful Moorea. In the past few days we’ve reinstalled the deck light, made some adjustments to our… Continue reading »
2015
27
Jun
Catamaran for sale in Moorea (Tahiti’s sister island)
Our friends Liesbet and Mark have decided to quit cruising and their catamaran is waiting for buyers here in the little marina of Vaiare. We’ve met Liesbet here (Mark’s already in the US) who has the sad task of selling/giving away all their personal things that won’t fit into the airplane luggage (23 kg is quite a painful limit…). If you always wanted to cruise… Continue reading »
2015
24
Jun
Smurf reunion
I got back on Friday after an exhausting journey (31 hours from door to door…) enjoyed quite a jet-lag in the bouncy, uncomfy Marina Taina (seasick medicine in the anchorage, hurray!) and on Sunday we moved on to the much calmer and nicer anchorage off Arue. From there we ran some errands on Monday and today we left busy Papeete behind us, to sail the… Continue reading »
2015
11
Jun
Anchor windlass overhaul
When we were about to lift the anchor to leave Raivavae two weeks ago, our anchor winch stopped working and I had to crank up the chain manually. But with Tahiti as the next stop, the moment our windlass had decided to quit was actually not so bad. With the help of a good friend here in the anchorage off Marina Taina I took the… Continue reading »
2015
09
Jun
Snotty Pitufina
I had barely touched European ground when I met the fate of all happy, innocent, tropical islanders when they are exposed to nasty civilised viruses–I fell ill. At least I got away with a sore throat and a snotty nose and I hope to recover soon (unlike so many fellow islanders in the past…).
2015
05
Jun
Visit to Austria
After almost 4 years of boat life I flew to Austria yesterday morning local time Tahiti, so evening UTC or was it the day before yesterday(?)–the time zones got me all confused, at least I didn’t have to change the time on the watch thanks to 12 hours time difference Anyway, it took us 2 years to sail to French Polynesia and only 26 hours… Continue reading »