Pitufa.at

Yesterday morning we checked the grib again and realised that we wouldn’t be able to set out during the following week towards Rapa. As we’re running late already, we decided to go to Raivavae (also one of the Australs) instead. We changed the small yankee against the big genoa (buried underneath all the secured stuff in the forecabin) and set out in the afternoon. Now… Continue reading »

2015
10
Apr

Article on Keeping Nightwatches in current (April) All-at-Sea

Birgit Hackl: Night Watches, All At Sea Caribbean, April 2015, p. 34–37. Free download from allatsea.net.

2015
03
Apr

New attractions on Taravai

Autumn’s gifting us with gorgeous weather here this year. Last year it was already cool and windy in April, but at the moment we’re enjoying perfectly calm, sunny and hot days. Just looking over the pastel shades of the lagoon in the early morning when the mountains are reflected in the sea like in a mirror with the corals gleaming through the crystal clear water,… Continue reading »

2015
26
Mar

Photos of Akamaru

2015
12
Mar

Pictures of the black pearls

2015
10
Mar

Article on our ‘Ten Cruising Boat Essentials’ in current (March 2015) All-at-Sea

Birgit Hackl: Voyaging: Needful Things, All At Sea Caribbean, March 2015, p. 34–37. Free download from allatsea.net.

2015
22
Feb

Our Tahanea article in Ocean7 magazine

Our article about our time in the uninhabitated atoll Tahanea has been published in the current issue (March/April 2015) of the Austrian sailing magazine Ocean7. Birgit Hackl, Christian Feldbauer: Acht Wochen Robinson, OCEAN7 02 (März/April) 2015, p. 16–21. download PDF (in German only)

2015
01
Feb

The life and death of islands

Out here in the Pacific geology isn’t something theoretical that happened in ancient times, but even to the untrained eye an obviously ongoing event. Continental plates are moving, the sea bottom rises and from a depth of about 3000 m a new, actively vulcanic island rises (like Fernandina at the western end of the Galapagos archipelago). The ragged cliffs rise higher and higher, developing a… Continue reading »

2015
16
Jan

New photo album: Motu Puaumu (Gambier Islands)

2015
11
Jan

Motu Puaumu

The weather here’s still overcast and changeable, which is a bit disappointing as the grib had announced the arrival of summer with fanfares and excitement-building-up-drum rolls–only to call it off last minute. Hmpf. We still used a sunny spell to find our way up to the northernmost motu, Puaumu, navigating through uncharted areas and coral heads and are happy to be in yet another new… Continue reading »

2015
07
Jan

Back to work

Today we dropped off Christian’s sister on the airport island. After two weeks of activity-filled holidays with snorkeling (her first shark encounters!), kayaking and hiking (up Mt. Mokoto) she has to get back to chilly Europe and for us it’s back to daily routine jobs (quite some maintenance jobs are waiting).

2015
06
Jan

Akamaru

On Sunday we visited Akamaru, the third biggest high island of the Gambier, for the first time (unbelievable, but yes, there are still new corners to discover for us around the archipelago ) and were really impressed. Only three houses are still permanently inhabited (10 houses are used on weekends), most of the population left during the 1950s and the school was closed in the… Continue reading »

2014
22
Dec

Photos of Makemo

2014
10
Dec

Another cyclone season in the Gambier

Protected anchorages, golden palm-fringed beaches, pine-clad mountains in the background, pristine waters and remote motus–yes, we’re happy to be back in our favourite corner of Fr. Polynesia!

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2014
08
Dec

Rushing along