Most people will agree that 2020 sucked. Seriously. For us it wasn’t just generally the dreadful covid situation with ruined plans, uncertainties and worries about future developments, but the death of my mum. It also seemed that we were unlucky with basically everything we tried, things broke, orders got lost, orders arrived damaged–just annoying. As we sail into our tenth year aboard Pitufa we wish… Continue reading »
Our Books
Order our books at Amazon
2020
31
Dec
2020
27
Dec
Anything but square
Worldwide the rainforest is shrinking, at least on Pitufa the jungle’s taking over. We’ve had unsettled rainy and windy weather for the last week, ideal conditions to work inside–and for a jungle to grow. While Christian is working on his programming project I’m slowly sewing my way around the salon. It’s not an easy job as each piece has a different size and format, many… Continue reading »
2020
24
Dec
Merry Christmas!
Our Christmas this year is quite special as we are invited to a Polynesian wedding. Our friends here in Anatonu (N side of Raivavae) have done their best to organise this big event according to the pandemic rules. A very traditional wedding with earth ovens (umu), Tahitian dancing, etc. in combination with disinfectant, masks and distancing rules The highest tree this year in Pitufa’s sprayhood… Continue reading »
2020
19
Dec
Change of mood?
Due to the Covid-19 situation most island states remain closed (Fiji is open, so a few boats went there and we hope they fared well in the cyclone that just hit Fiji badly…). Boats that would normally have continued west have stayed in French Poly, new ones have arrived, so there are more cruisers around this cyclone season than usually. Raivavae hardly ever sees more… Continue reading »
2020
14
Dec
Welcome to the jungle!
The alligator fake leather’s just a protective cover for the sofa mattress, on top of that (and on all the other 10 cushions around the saloon) we now have to sew fabric covers. Something unicoloured would of course look elegant, but a light colour’s waaay too easily stained and a dark colour would make the salon too gloomy. Thinking of cookie crumbles (especially on passage),… Continue reading »
2020
12
Dec
Wrestling albino alligators
Last time we did the upholstery in our saloon with low-quality fabric from Panama that went blotchy and ugly soon and had to be redone every other year. The mattress foam we got in Tahiti was even worse. Now, with new foam and fabric, we wanted to be on the safe side and decided to do the main seating area (and sleeping matress for in… Continue reading »
2020
07
Dec
Gorgeous Raivavae
Raivavae’s a gorgeous little island: tiny, with a spectacular mountain range, sheer cliffs and lush slopes. The lagoon is navigable, but rather difficult, because it’s shallow, very murky and a real maze of bommies. We’re good at navigating in coral-strewn waters, but coming to the NE corner feels like going through a mine-field, left, right, coral heads that come up almost to the surface lurk… Continue reading »
2020
05
Dec
Arrived in Raivavae
We reached Raivavae this afternoon with the gennaker pulling us along in a light breeze. What a view! Raivavae’s a seriously pretty little island Only one other sailboat’s here, we called the gendarmerie on VHF 16, let them know that we’ve arrived from Tahiti and will remain in quarantine on the boat for a week.
2020
04
Dec
Slow fairweather sailing
Yesterday we had the gennaker flying and it looks like we’ll need it again today in a veeery light breeze. 33 nm to go!
2020
03
Dec
Lighter Winds
The forecast shows lighter wind, we hope it will not die down completely in us. 137nm to go.
2020
03
Dec
Provisioning from Trahiti
The fast ride goes on. Still no fish, but we’re indulging in luxury food from Tahiti: for lunch we had a salad with ham (for Christian), with feta cheese (for me) and with ham and feta (without stupid green bits) for Leeloo 220 nm to go!
2020
02
Dec
The miles are ticking down
With 15 knots of wind from the East and steady conditions we are rushing along with 6 to 7 knots. The water temperature has already dropped from 29.1° C to 28.3°. 269 miles to go!
2020
01
Dec
Towards the Austral Islands
We are just motoring out of the pass S of Marina Taina–there’s not a breeze to be felt, but according to the forecast it’s blowing 15 knots out there. We just have to get away from the high mountains of Tahiti to find it… 390 nm to go to Raivavae!