Rangiroa –Tuamotu 3 July 2024 -Strong Winds
The night was very windy and my guess was up to about 28 kts at times, which affirmed that we had made the right decision to turn back as the sea state would not have changed. I got up to check on things but we were fine and the anchor alarm did not go off. We therefore had a good night’s sleep and although I woke at my normal time the others slept in.
We had scrambled eggs for breakfast and it was a grey windy day. We could sit it out here at anchor and plan our next steps. It was a good day to a few jobs. I mended the front hatch window handle which had come loose and the middle hatch had leaked as it had not been closed properly due to the fabric of the hatch cover interfering with the rubber seal so we sorted that too. Andy mended the sitting out chairs for the aft deck with some new bolts. I went through my spares in my cabin and found in addition to the part which I fixed the hatch with, some spare cockpit table hinges which had broken so we fixed that. I checked the batteries and they need some more distilled water so that was done. I went through other spares and reminded myself of what was where. We tidied cupboards and sorted things out which is quite satisfying in an odd kind of way.
Andy made a loaf of bread and Joyce made some chocolate brownies (Mark usually makes these – so beware Mark!! -they are good) and above all it was a busy and filled morning. We had tomato and basil soup for lunch with bread and cheese etc.
We chilled in the afternoon and read and rested. Joyce suggested we go to an atoll on the way to Fakarava to break up the journey and especially if the weather is quite rough and so I looked at this. The most suitable was Apataki some 75 nm away. I looked at how we could get there as we have to time our arrival with slack water for the passes - both outbound and inbound. I worked out that if we left Rangiroa tomorrow at about 3.00pm then we could get to Apataki by about 9.30am and slack water is about 9.56am so that would work. The winds are due to die down a bit tonight from the levels we have been experiencing to about 18-22-24 kts so a slight notch down but not a great deal. This would hopefully mean that the sea state would lower a little. We therefore thought this would be a good plan and will review the weather in the morning and decide then.
The afternoon continued to be grey and we had some rain as we swung at anchor in the wind. I looked at the Society Islands in the pilot book as we will head to Tahiti in a few weeks.
We had thought of going ashore for a pizza but the conditions were not great and rain is forecast this evening. We therefore put on some music to cheer us up and make a sort of sunset!! Andy cooked a pasta carbona for supper which was good and filling. We finished it off with a chocolate brownie. It is now raining and will do so over the night it appears so good plan to not got ashore.
We hope tomorrow brings less wind and calmer conditions so we can move on to another lovely atoll.
Crewing Opportunity 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