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Author Archives: Jenny

tonga ~ lost a rudder!

September 27 – October 20, 2013 I was in the galley. Wil motioned for me to follow him into the cockpit and down the port transom. He grabbed me by the shoulders and turned me toward the starboard transom. I saw it instantly. Beneath the starboard transom there was nothing but clear blue water and … Continue reading »

Categories: boat improvement & maintenance, newsworthy | Tags: , , , | 2 Comments

suwarrow ~ a true treasure

September 2 – 16, 2013 Suwarrow, also known as Suvarov, is a nature reserve and small coral atoll belonging to the Cook Islands. It is located about 440 miles east-northeast of American Samoa, and there is not another island within 200 miles from Suwarrow. Every year, from April through October, the population of Suwarrow consists … Continue reading »

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maupiti to suwarrow ~ an unconscious captain!

August 27 – September 2, 2013 Passage from Maupiti to Suwarrow is about 660 nautical miles, and based on a 5-knot average speed, it takes about 5 – 6 days to sail between the two islands. Since we needed calm conditions to exit Maupiti’s Passe Onoiau, and to watch the whales, we began this passage … Continue reading »

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departing maupiti ~ sleeping whales

August 27, 2013 To begin a passage from Maupiti to Suwarrow, one must first be able to exit Passe Onoiau in calm conditions. Therefore, there was very little wind on our day of departure, and this gave us the perfect opportunity for some more whale watching just outside the reef of Maupiti. Our plan was … Continue reading »

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maupiti ~ final french polynesian days

August 23 – 27, 2013 Our final days in French Polynesia were spent in Maupiti. Since we were already fully provisioned, we were free to relax and explore the nearby village and mountain. Before doing any major land exploration though, we were eager to see if we could find more whales first. After our initial … Continue reading »

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bora bora to maupiti ~ humpback whales

August 22, 2013 Similar to the atolls of the Tuamotus, entrance through Maupiti’s only pass must be timed correctly with respect to weather, swell, and tidal current. This long and narrow pass can be completely inaccessible at certain times of the year, especially if the swell is southerly. If any south or southwest swell is … Continue reading »

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bora bora ~ beauty & a thief!

August 18 – 22, 2013 Before settling down for the night, Flour Girl gave us a call on the VHF to warn us that their solar powered mooring lights had been stolen off their stanchions while we’d all been snorkeling. We were shocked that anyone could have done that in broad daylight with lots of … Continue reading »

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bora bora ~ no eggs, wildlife & a toe

August 15 – 18, 2013 Our final days in French Polynesia had arrived. It was time to clear out, and time to say good-bye to friends we wouldn’t see for awhile. While still anchored near Mai Kai Marina, we spent time getting last minute provisions from town, and we finalized our clearance out of the … Continue reading »

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bora bora ~ mountain climbing

August 13 – 14, 2013 The Maramu winds finally relented, and we were able to come out from behind Toopua. We ventured around the corner to the main island, and anchored near Mai Kai Marina for easy access to internet and grocery shopping. For 7000 CFP (~$70 USD) for the week, moorings are available directly … Continue reading »

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