30 September 2024 –Tahiti – Crew Additions

I was up early to go to the airport to go and pick up Carolyn, Joyce and Erika. This will make our compliment of six. En route I stopped at the garage supermarket and bought some croissants and I managed to get a few things we could not get in Carrefour, however, there were no eggs.

I drove to the airport and waited. Loads of people were coming out but not the girls. The plane had landed at 5.25am and I was there at 6.15am. I waited for a while and wondered whether there were issues with them being allowed in. However, before long out they came and were greeted by me in a Polynesian way wearing one of my Harrington Shirts!!

We returned to Stormbird and showed the ladies to their quarters and then had a good breakfast of fresh fruit- papaya, Pamplemousses, banana etc with the croissants. This was a nice welcome to Tahiti.

I collected the washing from the laundry and then Keith and I nipped up to Carrefour and got the eggs we had been missing. We were now fully provisioned.

I then went through a briefing of the outside of the boat and through our safety procedures. I then took the girls in the car down the west coast to show them a bit of Tahiti and to take them for a swim and snorkel at the beach which they enjoyed and saw lots of fish. We then had an ice cream made from coconut. I then took them to see a Marae so they got to see a bit of what we have been seeing for some weeks now.  Sean volunteered to stay behind and prepare a curry for one of our evening meals on the trip.

We returned to Stormbird and had lunch of salad, French bread and cheese. Some had a rest and the riggers came to look at the alignment of the mast.

Joyce then prepared a chicken casserole dish so another meal is prepared. We then all went ashore to Casa Blanca and had a drink and a good meal. The picture of the day is the six of us in our Harrington Dash outfits. At the table we want round everybody to introduce ourselves and to outline sailing experience and personal stuff etc. which was interesting.

We returned to Stormbird and had a drink and listened to Polynesian music. We are ready to leave subject to immigration procedures.  The Bimini needs to come back and we should have this in the morning. I tried the generator and ran it for at least half an hour and all looks good. Hopefully it will now be reliable going forward.         

Crewing Opportunity Year Two

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 then through Bali, Singapore and on to Thailand to end year two about the end of November 2025. 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 then do email me on hine.nick9@gmail.com