TAHITI TO GAMBIER ISLANDS about 890 nm
STATISTICS FOR DAY 5
Position: (can be cut in pasted into google earth): 22 23.600S 141 01.450W Distance traveled (as the crow flies): 68 nm
Distance left to travel (as the crow flies): 341 nm
Number of fish caught: Zero so far. The humans have finally got the lines back in the water, but the boat speed is so low the fish are laughing at our plastic plugs. More on that later
NEWS FROM THE CREW
Well I do not know about the humans, but I love this kind of gentle sailing. Working our way slowly to wind does mean the boat is heeled over a bit, but in these light airs, and the fact the humans are pointing so tight, it really is the gentlest of tilts…most of the time. The wind does pick up occasionally, and the humans get excited that we are making way, but then it dies back off again.
I do not know why they worry so much about getting anywhere. I miss the beach, but if I have to be out at sea it might as well be a pleasant trip, with gentle winds and seas, and best of all I have no waves crashing over my play area. Doing my best to insist the humans play fetch while the conditions allow. We all knew we would hit some light shifting winds half way along our route. So we will continue this lovely gentle sail until we hit some winds a little closer to the Gambier.
NOT THE BEST MONTH TO TRAVEL
The humans have been checking into the Cruiser’s SSB net twice daily. (See last blog for details). 8am and 6pm Tahiti time. Boats are calling in from all over French Polynesia. Society Islands, Tuamotus, Gambier but not much from the Marquesas. We are the only boat calling in that is underway. Most boats are staying put until the unsettled weather of season is over. Some awful weather blew through Tahiti before we left. They got similar weather at the time in the Gambier Islands, and we are using a settled break to make this journey. We all really want to make the protection of the Gambier Islands before the next system hits. So far the weather is holding and we have been OK.
WHAT CAN YOU DO?
In light winds, there is really not much you can do. If it was on the beam we could put up the cruising chute but, as we are traveling to wind, there is not much we can do to increase our speed. We just keep crawling along. The winds have also turned easterly, so we have left the rum line and are headed now more south. This may suit us better when the winds fill back in later in our journey.
Going slow is great for a relaxing sail, but rubbish for making progress. But we will just have to live with it. Going slow is also rubbish for fishing. Most species, including Tuna, Mahi Mahi and Wahoo, prefer their bait to be moving a little faster. In fact one of the humans was up the bow taking some pictures and spotted a group of tuna swimming along side. She thought at first they were dolphins, these were big boys, but so close to the surface the outline and fin shape was cleary tuna. They glowed with a sort of splotchy blue light in the sun. Could these be the highly valued Blue Fin Tuna so prized in Asia? Looking at the immense size of these powerful beasts, perhaps it was better they had no interest in our bobbing plugs. Perhaps they just came up to see if any fish were hiding under our keel.
SO ONWARD AND ‘DOWNWARD’ we go heading south toward the Gambier Islands. I looked on the charts and worked out that the Gambier Islands are on the opposing latitude of Miami, Florida. This would explain why they have a tropical climate most of the year, but can get a bit chilly in the winter months. Looking forward to visiting there.
You are getting this blog by the miracle of radio waves, so you will have to wait for the pictures to be added later ‘when’ we get some internet again.
END.
