Ted's Log Stardate May 22, 2008

MESSAGE 7, MAY 22, PAPEETE, TAHITI


HELLO FROM TAHITI,


WE ARRIVED HERE TUESDAY MORNING AFTER A 3 DAY SAIL NORTH FROM TUBUAI. WE LEFT THERE SATURDAY AT 1030 HOURS. WHILE RAISING THE SAIL ON OUR FIRST ATTEMPT TO LEAVE, THE STEERING MECHANISM JAMMED. WE WERE ABLE TO LIMP BACK TO THE ANCHORAGE AND AFTER AN HOUR, DAN AND TOM FOUND AND FIXED THE PROBLEM--A CABLE HAD JUMP A PULLEY. WE HAULED THE ANCHOR AGAIN, RAISED SAILS AND HEADED NORTH.


FOR MOST OF THE FRIST TWO DAYS WE HAD 20 PLUS WINDS FROM THE SOUTHWEST (GOOD), HOWEVER WE ALSO HAD VERY ROUGH SEAS AND PASSED THROUGH ONE SQUALL AFTER ANOTHER (NOT GOOD).


THE FIRST NIGHT (ACTUALLY 0300 THE NEXT MORNING) WE WERE HIT WITH A SQUALL WITH WINDS IN THE 30 PLUS RANGE AND WITH SOME DIFFICULTY THE FOUR OF US WERE ABLE TO PUT A THIRD REEF IN THE MAINSAIL (REDUCED SAIL AREA). THE NEXT NIGHT WE HAD WINDS NEAR 40 KNOTS, AND A SUDDEN GUST CAUSED THE SAIL TO JIBE (WIND PASSING FROM ONE SIDE OF THE SAIL TO THE OTHER). BECAUSE WE HAD A PREVENTER ON ( A LINE HOLDING THE BOOM TO THE LEEWARD SIDE OF THE BOAT), THE BOAT WAS TURNED INTO THE WIND AND ESSENTIALLY PUTTING THE BOAT IN A HEAVE-TO SITUATION (STALLED). AGAIN ALL HANDS ON DECK TO GET THE PROBLEM SORTED OUT. WITH THE SQUALLS AND ROUGH SEAS THE FIRST 48 HOURS WAS LIKE A MR TOADS WILD RIDE.


THE THIRD DAY THE WINDS QUIETED DOWN CONSIDERABLY WITH SOUTHERLY WINDS IN THE 8-10 KNOT RANGE. WE HAD A GREAT DAY, NO SQUALLS AND CLEAR SKIES. DURING THE NIGHT WE LOST MOST OF OUR WIND AND WE MOTOR-SAILED THE REMAINDER OF OUR PASSAGE OVER FLAT SEAS. WE ARRIVE ALONG THE TAHITIAN COASTLINE DURING A BEAUTIFULL SUNRISE.


WE CELEBRATED OUR ARRIVAL WITH BLOODY MARYS AND SNACKS ON THE SAILING VESSEL “PEREGRINE”. WE HAD CONNECTED WITH THEM IN TUBUIA AND THE TWO OF US BUDDY-BOATED DURING OUR SAIL HERE. DAN, CAROL AND TOM HAD MET MIKE AND TRACEY, OWNERS OF PEREGRINE IN NEW ZEALAND. WE WERE IN E-MAIL AND RADIO CONTACT WITH THEM DURING OUR PASSAGE FROM OPUA.


WE ARE NOW MED-MOORED (STERN TO THE SLIP) TO A BRAND NEW DOCK IN DOWNTOWN PAPEETE. WHILE HERE WE WILL CLEAN-UP, FIX PROBLEMS, DO MAINTENCE PROJECTS ON THE BOAT, DO LAUNDRY ETC., KICK BACK AND ENJOY THE FRUITS OF PARADISE.


WILL WRITE MORE ON PAPEETE, AND TAHITI IN MY NEXT RAMBLING.


TILL THEN, TAKE CARE


TED