We find people who do extreme sports to see their limits and push their bodies beyond those slightly amusing. Why join costly competitions when you can also spend a few days in a boat yard? 12-hour shifts of doing hard work you’re not used to (sanding and painting overhead), in cool gear (overalls with hoods, Darth Vader respirator mask and constantly fogging goggles), in combination… Continue reading »
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2016
14
May
2016
10
May
Hard times on the hard
This morning we had an appointment for a haul-out at the Carenage in Raiatea and of course it was squally and gusting up to 30 knots when the office called us to come in. The approach went well despite the nasty weather and now Pitufa’s parked in a cradle waiting for a belly-rub and a few layers of antifouling paint. The weather forecast threatens with… Continue reading »
2016
08
May
On our way to Raiatea
We don’t see much sun today, but have a fast downwind ride.
2016
08
May
Pitufa’s atlas of prevailing ocean winds
New Zealand’s Weather Guru, Bob McDavitt, has stumbled over Pitufa’s blog and mentioned our interactive atlas of monthly-averaged ocean winds in last Sunday’s weathergram. Check out Bob’s blog for a weekly analysis of weather patterns and advice for route planning in the South Pacific.
2016
07
May
Leaving Tahiti
We spent the last month shopping for the coming sailing and cyclone season, using Tahiti’s big stores and good infrastructure to prepare for a year in remoter areas. Today we’ll head out towards Raiatea where we have an appointment to haul-out the boat (at the Carenage) for a new anti-fouling, so we hope for good weather.
2016
21
Apr
Another article of our cruising series in Ocean7 magazine
Birgit Hackl, Christian Feldbauer: Autark Cruisen, OCEAN7 03 (Mai/Juni) 2016, p. 36–40.
2016
20
Apr
Busy program in Tahiti
Leeloo was a bit sickish in the Marquesas, she suffered from stomach aches and seemed generally unwell and because of her age we were worried about the condition of her kidneys and liver. In Tahiti we took her to an animal clinic for a check-up and the vet declared her in excellent condition for a 16 year old cat–we’ll just have to be extra careful… Continue reading »
2016
18
Apr
2016
13
Apr
Finally, some Marquesas photos!
Our internet connection is good enough for uploading photos again!
2016
11
Apr
Article on Green Cruising
Birgit Hackl: Green Cruising, All At Sea Caribbean, April 2016, p. 56–58. Free download from allatsea.net.
2016
10
Apr
Arrived in Tahiti!
The slowest (daily runs of 85 nm) and comfiest (all hatches open…) passages we’ve had in the Pacific so far ended today with Pitufa rushing along with 6 knots under a steady breeze to hold the gennaker up. We anchored just behind Point Venus in Matavai bay (famous for Ct. Cook’s first landfall in 1769 and infamous for Pitufa’s first landfall without a usable engine… Continue reading »
2016
08
Apr
Slow going
Yesterday we had very light winds from the NE, we tried poling out the genoa left and right, put up the gennaker left and right, but for all that effort we just gained a few miles, but at least we managed to avoid motoring. During the night the wind picked up a bit again, but it’s still 100 nm to Tahiti.
2016
07
Apr
Sailing to Tahiti
We reluctantly left beautiful Kauehi yesterday at noon, but the gribs had changed and it seemed our only chance for some wind was to leave immediately. Going through the pass was a bit exciting, as we had 5 knots of incoming current against us, but Pitufa kept steady in the eddies that tried to swirl her around. We’re sailing in very light winds downwind, but… Continue reading »
2016
03
Apr
Stop-over in Kauehi
This morning we reached Kauehi after a very slow nightsail. We knew that the ingoing current would be strong, but the pass is so open and easy that we motored in without a problem. Kauehi’s lagoon is small and easy to navigate (almost no coral heads) and now Pitufa’s anchored off a southeastern motu on sandy patch–standing still like in a cradle ashore A turquoise… Continue reading »
2016
01
Apr
Squally night
After 2 great sailing days we got into a squally area and spent the night grumblingly dealing with windshifts, calm periods, torrential rain and strong winds in between. This morning we were becalmed with flapping sails and in the end reluctantly turned the engine on. We left the fishing lure out despite the fact that any successful fisherman will tell you that slow motorsailing (3-4… Continue reading »