Galapagos to Marquesas –17 May 2024 – Day 16 -My Birthday!

Charles and I came on watch at 2.00am and I was met with a rendition of Happy Birthday from Keith and Ian from whom we took over which was nice. That was just the start of a lovely 62 nd birthday in the middle of the Pacific. During our watch I had a lovely message from my wife Jules wishing me a happy birthday etc. I had a call at 3.00am our time from my cousin Ben who did not realise what time it was, but it was good to talk to him and my Aunt Sally.  We were sailing on white sails and in a north-westerly direction to get west enough before we turned down to the Marquesas.

We went to bed after the shift and slept well getting up about 8.45am and we were still on the same course. Everyone was up and everyone sang Happy Birthday which was nice and I was given a great birthday card which Mark painted in watercolour of Stormbird sailing the ocean with a map of the world. I was then given various presents and Mark had also baked a chocolate birthday cake which we will have for tea.

We decided to gybe and put up the Blue Baron which we did and we were soon sailing directly for the Marquesas at a good pace of 8 plus knots. We then decided to have breakfast and Mark made pancakes which we had with lemon, cinnamon sugar and/or maple syrup which was a real treat.

My parents had sent me an ecard, so I spoke to them on the phone as well as speaking to my wife Jules. My brother Jeremy sent me a usual bawdy card which made me laugh. My children sent me a video which included a message from all 4 of them individually and which included a number of lovely pictures of various occasions having fun I also spoke to them on the phone. I had a number of emails and messages from friends and colleagues.

Charles and I took over at 12.00noon and we were still sailing along well averaging about 8 kts and the wind would vary from 8-15 kts and there was a little swell. There were two fish scares when clearly a fish came on the line but then were able to shake off the hook and we lost them. This was frustrating. We had a light lunch and passed the afternoon quietly with it being a warm day and like many days we have watched the ocean which is beautiful, but we have seen little life and we keep looking out for whales but in vain.

The boat still had to be run and I charged the batteries, made water and put the washing machine on as I had done no washing since we started from the Galapagos. The mainsail has been flapping due to the swell and the wind getting behind the sail and then when it fills again is slaps. This over time had gradually made a small tear right at the bottom which Mark and I have repaired by special sail tape. I will have to get it looked at in Tahiti.

Toward the end of our shift, we saw some rain clouds in the distance and over to the east of us. We watched these carefully and put on the radar to see if we can see rainclouds and thunderstorms. The radar can spot these and you can make them a target and it will tell you how fast they are going and in which direction. The concern about these clouds is the increase in wind and when flying the Blue Baron this could become a problem. We could see these rainclouds  on the radar and most were going on front of us but one looked like we may encounter its energy. We also had to decide whether to continue to fly the Blue Baron overnight. We looked at the weather and the predicted wind was borderline as to whether we should fly it although the gusts suggested we should not. However, that is if the forecasts were accurate and to date we have found the wind strength to be predicted above what we have found. We decided it best to be prudent and to take it down and I am sure that was the right decision. Once down we set the white sails and we are now on a northwest course again and we will gybe and turn round in the morning.

After we had done this it was time for tea and birthday cake. We enjoyed this in the cockpit and the whole cake was consumed. Thank goodness they did not have any candles!!. After tea we put on some music and chilled in the cockpit and chatted. We  then had a celebratory drink of a can of beer and Joyce had some prosecco (which we finished later).

Mark cooked some sausages and mash with vegetables and it was a good warming comfort supper. It had been a great day and I felt spoilt. The wind strength is now such that we made the right decision to bring down the Blue Baron. In the morning we should easily be able to set course for Nuku Hiva.

Crewing Opportunity

We will arrive in the Marquesas in French Polynesia about 20-23 May 2024 and we will then move through to the Tuamotu’s before getting to Tahiti about the end of July 2024. There may be some space on Stormbird during this period should any sailor/reader be interested in joining for this period or part of it in what must be one of the most distant and beautiful places in the world.

Year Two

In addition, in year two I will be going from New Zealand in early January 2025 across to Sydney and up the Eastern Australian Coast, Indonesia and probably across the Indian Ocean to Cape Town and I will need some more crew.

If there is any interest do email me at  hine.nick9@gmail.com  

The blog will continue as we head off to the Marquesas and beyond.

If you have any comments or suggestions about the blog do email me on hine.nick9@gmail.com  I can only upload one picture a day and visit our website www.stormbirdgoesglobal.co.uk