Pitufa.at

The slowest (daily runs of 85 nm) and comfiest (all hatches open…) passages we’ve had in the Pacific so far ended today with Pitufa rushing along with 6 knots under a steady breeze to hold the gennaker up. We anchored just behind Point Venus in Matavai bay (famous for Ct. Cook’s first landfall in 1769 and infamous for Pitufa’s first landfall without a usable engine in 2014…). We’ll stay here for a day of relaxing and swimming before heading a few miles down to Arue.

Yesterday we had very light winds from the NE, we tried poling out the genoa left and right, put up the gennaker left and right, but for all that effort we just gained a few miles, but at least we managed to avoid motoring. During the night the wind picked up a bit again, but it’s still 100 nm to Tahiti.

We reluctantly left beautiful Kauehi yesterday at noon, but the gribs had changed and it seemed our only chance for some wind was to leave immediately. Going through the pass was a bit exciting, as we had 5 knots of incoming current against us, but Pitufa kept steady in the eddies that tried to swirl her around. We’re sailing in very light winds downwind, but the sea is so calm that the sails don’t flap too badly and we’re happy as long as we keep moving

This morning we reached Kauehi after a very slow nightsail. We knew that the ingoing current would be strong, but the pass is so open and easy that we motored in without a problem. Kauehi’s lagoon is small and easy to navigate (almost no coral heads) and now Pitufa’s anchored off a southeastern motu on sandy patch–standing still like in a cradle ashore
A turquoise anchorage, little coral bommies around the boat, dazzling white beaches, palm trees and low shrubs ashore and birds circling above–that’s cruising from its best.

After 2 great sailing days we got into a squally area and spent the night grumblingly dealing with windshifts, calm periods, torrential rain and strong winds in between. This morning we were becalmed with flapping sails and in the end reluctantly turned the engine on.

We left the fishing lure out despite the fact that any successful fisherman will tell you that slow motorsailing (3-4 knots) is the least likely time to catch anything. Apparently the wahoo who bit soon after had not heard of that theory… At noon we had already finished the cutting and pressure cooking session (3 jars in the fridge for this week, 4 more as preserves for later) and treated ourselves to fresh sashimi in the cockpit (it was even calm enough for a table…).

In the afternoon a light breeze set in, not enough for the genoa so we hauled the gennaker out of its bunk and now we’re gliding along under the big blue bubble in sunny weather and flat seas.

We’re gliding along in steady conditions and haven’t touched the sails since yesterday–lazy sailing as we like it
200 nm done, 300 to go to Kauehi!

The cyclone season’s coming to an end, the grib files predict a breeze, Pitufa’s ready (and we’ve been ready for quite a while), so we set sail towards Tahiti. We have enjoyed the fabulous hospitality of the Marquesians (Kou tau, vai ei nui!!), but 5 months of rolling in the open bays in the heat of summer was a very long time and we’re happy to start a new chapter!