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2021
05
Nov
The Compass is another popular magazine (next to AllAtSea) that’s available for free in all the bigger chandleries throughout the Caribbean. We are therefore happy that they have published our article with tips and tricks to keep feline crew happy! Download the magazine here
2021
03
Nov
Relying on other people’s waypoints for both anchorages and passage routes can be dangerous. Cruising blogs and compendia are full of bad or incomplete recommendations and generalizations from one-sample observations. It’s much safer to do proper research and practice the necessary skills to do your own route planning and make your own waypoints…
Birgit Hackl, Christian Feldbauer: Waypoints–Boon or Bane?, All At Sea Caribbean, November 2021, p. 50–52. Download the whole magazine for free.
2021
02
Nov
The South Pacific Convergence Zone is having some fun with us at the moment. Its tail end is pointing towards French Polynesia and it seems the weather people are finding it impossible to predict how it will behave. The American GFS model and the European model predict completely contradicting wind wind directions and what we get in the end is usually not predicted by either of them. South of the convergence zone the wind blows from the SE, north of it it blows from the NW and in an atoll as big as Fakarava it’s a long way to the protected side of the lagoon.
Last week we slowly sailed southwards in fickle winds to find a protected corner for the upcoming strong S and SE wind. It never showed up and instead we were pitching miserably in NW wind. We motored up for a few hours to find a sheltered spot, then there was no wind, heavy rain and two days later we sailed close-hauled back up N again… It looks like the SPCZ will keep bothering us for a while with grey weather and nasty wind surprises.
2021
25
Oct
Most people will agree that mass tourism is bad for the environment (except CEOs of big hotel companies maybe), because of all the pollution that comes with it. A certain amount of eco-aware tourism on the other hand really helps protecting nature. As soon as wild animals become a tourist attraction and the locals get some dollars out of that, they will refrain from killing and eating (or worse exporting) them. Fakarava is one of those places that has a nice balance: just a few dive operators and pensions and even though locals are still spear fishing in most parts of the lagoon you still notice that the dive sites for tourists are no longer touched. We’ve just come back from a snorkel with a mindboggling diversity and abundance of fish. Like an aquarium! And as they are not hunted they pose for cameras unafraid 
If only more of the Tuamotus had dive bases and small-scale tourism…
2021
23
Oct
Our usual advice to new arrivals in the Tuamotus is to arrive at an atoll in the morning and to watch the pass for a while to make sure that the conditions to enter are favourable (no wind against current, avoid the mid section of the pass where the current runs quickest, etc.). Of course we were going faster than expected (we did 6-7 knots in winds of 25+ on the beam), of course we reached Fakarava in the dark at 10 in the evening and of course we didn’t want to wait outside the pass all night, so we did not heed our own advice, but had a go anyway. The northern pass of Fakarava is huge, we’ve been in and out a dozen times, but I still got quite an adrenaline kick as we were surfing down the waves in the dark with no bearing lights except for the green blinky light on the edge of the pass. We made it safely in and anchored right next to the pass on the western side, to avoid navigating at night inside the lagoon.
2021
22
Oct
We set out a bit too early yesterday and had a slow start (as it happens quite often), but soon the wind picked up and we’re doing over 6 knots with the wind on the beam in northerly winds of about 20 knots. We’ve picked a course in between the atolls that shades us from the waves, so it’s a comfy ride so far. The weather forecast predicts stronger winds though for today, so we may have to reef down a bit.
2021
21
Oct
The predominant wind direction in the trade wind belt is east. The chain of the Tuamotus is stretched out eastwards from Tahiti, so in order to reach them and then to hop from atoll to atoll, it’s best to wait for a trough or low to move by close enough, to change the wind to the N and then NW. We’ve only been in Tikehau for a short while and would like to stay a bit longer, but the weather forecast shows a two-day window of NW winds–too good a chance to let it pass by… We’ll therefore head out towards Fakarava today!
2021
18
Oct
We arrived 2 days ago in Tikehau after a rough last day with winds well above 20 knots (feels more when you’re bashing into it close-hauled), went through the pass with first daylight and were glad to have tracks inside the lagoon from a previous visit. That early in the morning with the sun low above the horizon it’s impossible to spot coral heads under the glittery surface of the sea, so following a GPS track is the only safe way to make it to the protected side of the lagoon.
It’s been blowing hard ever since, but we managed to get the foresail down in between 2 squalls, dry it in between 2 squalls, so we can repair it today: during the rough passage the seams of a previous repair got ripped out–today we’ll put double seams that’s for sure 
2021
15
Oct
We had slow start and the wind didn’t pick up until the evening, so we won’t make Makatea in daylight. We have therefore changed course towards Tikehau instead. The wind is now steady from the ESE and we’re doing 5 knots. 108 miles to go at 7:00 local time.
2021
14
Oct
We’re finally off again! No more Facebook, no more i-net surfing, just emails and blog posts (which are automatically posted on FB) from now on AND lots of blue, turquoise, sharkies, fishies and hopefully some whales The little island of Makatea lies ahead, we should get there tomorrow.
2021
14
Oct
The animal shelter of the city of Linz (Austria) is also putting our book about Leeloo on display, 5 Euros per book are dedicated to support their wonderful work. Thinking about all those abandoned velvet paws there who are waiting for a new family makes my heart ache… If you’re considering enriching your life with a pet, don’t buy a kitten or puppy from a breeder, but check out your local animal shelter and give an abandoned cat (or dog) the chance to enjoy life again.
Thanks a lot to the folks at Tierheim Linz: https://www.tierheim-linz.at/
2021
14
Oct
Dr. Schneck, the vet in Graz (Austria) who helped us getting all our vaccinations, certificates and titer timings right, has agreed to put up “On Velvet Paws Towards the Horizon” in his veterinary clinic. 5 EUR per book go to a local animal protection organisation.
Thanks Dr. Schneck!
https://www.tierarzt-schneck.at/
2021
11
Oct
…just for Moorea, so not really a passage, but we had flat seas, a steady breeze and it was a nice sail! All the usually automatised moves took some remembering, but everything went well.
2021
04
Oct
Cruising World has been one of the world’s leading sailing magazines for 30 years, so it’s a bit of an honour to get published there Our article about atoll passes is in the current October issue: “Tackling the Pacific atoll passes” explains the variety of factors that determine currents and gives advice on how to enter and exit atolls safely.
2021
03
Oct
We already have a nice list of prestigious sailing magazines where our articles are regularly featured, but we’re happy to announce that from now on you’ll find articles made on Pitufa also Down Under! Boating New Zealand, NZ’s number one selling and largest boating magazine, has our article about the pitfalls of modern navigational aids in the October issue. “Blinded by Tech” warns that proper seamanship, watches and a look-out can’t be replaced by gadgets
Birgit Hackl, Christian Feldbauer: Blinded by Tech, Boating New Zealand, Oct. 2021, p. 124–127. Read online.
