WE CAN SEE THE ISLAND IN THE CLOUDS
Tahiti is a big high volcanic island and we could make her out in the clouds even though we were a good 60nm away. Very impressive.
ARE WE GOING TO MAKE IT IN TIME?
The winds were gentle last night and we made slow, but easy, progress towards Tahiti. No one on board complained, as it made perfect sleeping conditions. There looked to be a boat coming up behind us at dusk. We could see they were brave enough to have a cruising chute out and were catching up with us. Then a squall passed through, with a bit of extra wind, and their cruising chute was taken down. We never saw them again.
Now in the light of a new day the calculations begin. At our present speed will we make it before dark? We ask the question because entering the reef pass and negotiating the canal between the island and the reef is a bit difficult at night. If it does not look like we can make the pass before dark there is another alternative. Venus Point anchorage in the north. This is a wide open, easily accessible bay you can anchor up in for the night.
With light winds and 60nm to go…..Venus point sounds like the safest option to go for. So we will make it to Tahiti, but have another sail the follow day down to the reef pass and back up the island to the anchorage to meet up with friends.
CATCHING MORE THAN YOU BARGAINED FOR
I forgot to tell you a stupid mistake the humans made yesterday. They had the fishing rods out and both rods got hit by a fish. One of the humans was down below catching a nap. ‘Fish on!’ and all hell breaks loose on our boat. In the confusion they managed to loose both the fish and instead catch a wind generator. Need I say more? Half an hour later one of them is still up there turning the blades in reverse to get all the line slowly unwound. Stupid humans. Why do I trust my life to these guys? I guess new fishing line has been added to their long shopping list.
Now we are stopping at Venus Point anchorage the distance to go is only 42 nm. We are at 17 14.140S 148 50.740W (you can cut and past this into google maps)
END.
