Marquesas –Hiva Ova 3 June 2024
It was a lovely morning when we woke and the sun came up over the cliffs and the bay started to light up like a stage set. Andy was up early and we had a cup of tea and just watched the bay and what was happening.
We had a breakfast of fruit and cereal and then Keith got up and we had sausage and egg on bread (which I had made the night before). Andy and I got the dinghy up and we started to prepare ourselves to leave. We planned to go to Hiva Ova which is one of the larger islands. This was about 45 miles to the north and we had passed it on our night passage south.
We upped anchor at about 8.30am and headed off under motor. The wind was forecast to be 10-12 kts from about the east. We had no wind until we got beyond the end of Fatu Hiva and then it started to fill in. Up went the sails and we were soon sailing quite nicely and we were doing 7-7.5 kts. There was a large yacht ahead of us who were just motoring. I think we shamed them as they put up their mainsail but we overtook them. They then put up a huge cruising Shute and then they pulled ahead of us.
We had a good sail toward Hiva Ova and Tahuata and it was a relatively flat sea. As time went on the wind began to die a bit and we slowed down and it was also moving around. I had put the generator on and filled the tanks with water. However, after a while the generator suddenly stopped and we had the same overheating problem again. The coolant issue was back so somehow it is still leaking.
We continued for a number of hours and we decided for the last hour or so to motor as we wanted to get in before dark. The books suggested that the bay was likely to be busy. We approached and saw lots of masts and we hoped we will get in. The bay was pretty full but we managed to find a slot and anchored. It was very crowded but we fitted in and once satisfied we had a drink and chilled. I made some bread and Andy cooked a chilli with rice.
We look forward to exploring Hiva Ova tomorrow.
Crewing Opportunity
We have arrived in the Marquesas in French Polynesia and will explore these islands and 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 move through French Polynesia 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