We’ve just spent two and a half rather frustrating weeks anchored off the main village Rikitea. When only one out of 3 internet sources shakily works from time to time (the vini spot for wifi seems to be down and the internet via mobile phone network only works occasionally) organising and ordering things becomes slightly tedious, but now we’ve got everything settled. On the positive… Continue reading »
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2018
31
Mar
2018
30
Mar
Gambier’s Pearl Farms Increasingly Become Navigational Hazard
In recent years, the motto in the Gambier Islands seems to be “a pearl farm for everyone.” Many new concessions were granted, and the result is clearly noticeable. Not only were existing buoy fields massively expanded, but also countless smaller installations were deployed (and still are), scattered throughout the lagoon. Some of those new installations are made by one-man companies, lacking man-power, proper material, and… Continue reading »
2018
14
Mar
Relaxed flying
Today my Mom had to start her return-journey to Austria. We anchored Pitufa just in front of the airport, took the dinghy into the little airport harbour, checked in the luggage, went all back to the boat, had lunch, went for a swim and only returned to the airport once the plane had landed. Security consists of a friendly lady asking the passenger whether they’ve… Continue reading »
2018
06
Mar
Art gallery
Other mom’s may enjoy white, sandy beaches of the lagoon-side of motus, mine prefers the rough outer side facing the ocean. Yesterday we took a walk along eastern side of Puaumu (the motu in the north of the Gambier where we’re anchored now) where the ocean waves crash against the outer reef, which is strawn with big pieces of coral that were broken off and… Continue reading »
2018
02
Mar
Mom’s visiting
I took the plane to Tahiti two weeks ago to pick up my Mom at the airport. After three days of intensive shopping (I hitched 10 rides in 3 days) we flew together back to the Gambier. After getting over the jetlag (a heat wave here in the Gambier didn’t exactly help with adjusting to the climate) my Mom has nicely settled in and enjoys… Continue reading »
2018
27
Feb
Article about our passage from Tonga to Tahiti in Ocean7 magazine
Birgit Hackl, Christian Feldbauer: Ostwärts über den Pazifik, OCEAN7 02 (März/April) 2018, p. 24–28
2018
10
Feb
Gorgeous summer weather
In the past two weeks the weather has shown once more that the Gambier are just the most pleasant place during the cyclone season. A convergence zone has been sitting west of us, bringing lows with nasty weather to the Cooks, the Societies, the Australs and even the Tuamotus. While the poor people there sit in strong winds and pouring rain we’ve had perfect summer… Continue reading »
2018
28
Jan
New article in Ocean7 magazine
Birgit Hackl: Brillen für die Salomonen, OCEAN7 01 (Jänner/Februar) 2018, p. 40–43
2018
28
Jan
Article on Fishing in All-at-Sea magazine
Birgit Hackl: Simple Fishing and Canning Tips, All At Sea Caribbean, January 2018, p. 28–32. Free download from allatsea.net.
2018
20
Jan
Searching for the leak
When we were just outside the southern barrier reef outside the Gambier archipelago yesterday (all sails up, going 6 knots, 2 fishing lures out), suddenly the water alarm in the bilge went off. Rip out the floorboards–stick a finger in the brew–taste–freshwater–ooofff. So no immediate danger, but still not great to have the bilge full of water. We sailed up through the Southeastern barrier reef… Continue reading »
2018
18
Jan
Close-hauled
The day before yesterday the northwesterly died down and then the wind set in again from the east instead of the promised southeast, so we’ve been fighting as close-hauled as it gets to hold our course to the Gambier. A rough end to a pleasant passage–we should arrive early afternoon.
2018
16
Jan
Fish!
Usually we dread too little wind on passages, because that means rolling in confused seas and flapping seas. This time though, wind and seas gradually calmed down together, so this morning Pitufa is gliding over flat seas in only 8 knots of breeze. It’s sunny, no clouds in the sky and the sea has this peculiar shade of blue that is so dark it almost… Continue reading »
2018
15
Jan
Northwesterly breeze
The northwesterly breeze keeps blowing us steadily on a comfy course towards the Gambier. Sunny skies, calm seas–we haven’t caught a fish yet, but apart from that this passage has been really perfect so far.
2018
14
Jan
Comfy sailing
The wind has calmed down a bit, but we’re still sailing along with 4 knots, so we’re not complaining! 388 nm to go
2018
13
Jan
Steady sailing
The wind is blowing steadily from the North, because a small low moves by west of us and has shifted the wind conveniently for us. 500 nm to go!