ende

2013
24
Dec

Photos of Tauna, Gambier Islands

Impressions of our visit of Tauna in December 2013 while Birgit’s mum was visiting us.

2013
24
Dec

Another Article in All-at-Sea Caribbean Magazine

Birgit Hackl: Cruising with Cats, All At Sea Caribbean, December 2013, p. 42–44. Free download from allatsea.net.

2013
24
Dec

Smurfy Wishes

We wish you all a smurfy Christmas and an equally smurfy new year!

2013
21
Dec

Magical Place

We are anchored off the little motu Tauna in the very east of the archipelago. It’s hard to describe how magical this place is. A painting with such a colour composition of all possible shades of turquoise, blue, and green would only be called kitschy. Indeed, what we get to see looks almost unreal. The motu is only tiny. It’s covered with palm trees which… Continue reading »

2013
19
Dec

Sugar Quest

The pre-christmas shopping frenzy has reached as far as the remote Gambier islands–everybody’s stocking up to bake and make pig champagne. The shops have been without sugar for a month, last time the supply ship arrived sugar was sold out within 2(!) hours. Yesterday the next one arrived and we started asking at the shops immediately, were sent away 3 times (not yet unpacked), but… Continue reading »

2013
15
Dec

Guest on Pitufa

Birgit flew to Tahiti at the beginning of December to pick up her Mom at the airport and to do some shopping (she bought lots of goodies at the big carrefour in Papeete and put them in a packet on a supply ship that will arrive here next week). After a whole week in hot, humid, busy Papeete it was just great to get back… Continue reading »

2013
03
Dec

Shadowmail for Winlink and Satphone users?

Sailmail offers a service called shadowmail to their subscribed clients. It allows users to monitor their land-based, non-Sailmail e-mail accounts via low-bandwidth Sailmail and to forward messages when requested. It even integrates nicely into the Airmail software, showing theses shadow folders like normal mailboxes. (See the official info page for more information.) For cruisers such a service is definitely a useful thing. I am not… Continue reading »

2013
02
Dec

Up Mount Mokoto

Yesterday was one of these incredibly clear days with southern winds (no longer chilly, but pleasantly cool) and a deep blue sky without a single cloud. We used it to hike up Mount Mokoto–apparently the second highest peak, but it looks exactly the same height as it’s neighbour Mount Duff (officially the highest mountain). The ascent wasn’t difficult, but extremely steep and despite the pleasant… Continue reading »

2013
29
Nov

Article on Las Perlas in All-at-Sea

Our article on the Las Perlas got published in the current issue (November) of the All-at-Sea Caribbean magazine. Birgit Hackl: Las Perlas — Unspoiled Nature Near Panama City, All At Sea Caribbean, November 2013, p. 36–38. Free download from allatsea.net.

2013
23
Nov

Paradise regained

Finally the weather’s sunny and warm and we’ve started making dinghy excursions. Yesterday we visited Herve and Valerie (the caretakers of the village of Taravai) and got news of all the boats that we met here last time around–Valerie’s good at keeping in touch with people. We brought them a few presents (cookies, books, etc.) and in return Herve took us for a walk in… Continue reading »

2013
17
Nov

Back to our favourite bay

Yesterday the front with rainy weather finally moved away from the Gambier, but despite the blue skies it was still freakin cold in the the southeasterly winds that howl right into the anchorage off Rikitea–this wind feels like it came straight from the antarctic… We moved to Baie Onemea on the western side of Taravai, where it’s wonderfully sheltered and finally warm

2013
15
Nov

Spending the cyclone season in the Gambier

We considered two options for our first cyclone season in the South Pacific: Staying either in the Marquesas or the Gambier Islands. According to weather records, both archipelagos are relatively save, particularly in El Niño-neutral years. We checked out both places and our choice was easily made since we’d totally fallen in love with the Gambier Islands.

2013
14
Nov

Back to soup-and-socks weather

Ever since we’ve got back it’s been grey and rainy, first because a front stalled and became stationary over us and then it left a trough behind. So we stay at home and get indoor projects on the boat done. In July all the locals assured us that the weather’d be great in spring and summer, so we feel like the weather’s taking the piss… Continue reading »

2013
11
Nov

Photos of Ua Pou

2013
11
Nov

Photos of Nuku Hiva

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