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Firefly - On passage to the Tuamotus



Our final day on Nuku Hiva was spent doing jobs, provisioning and attending a feast and celebration put on by the locals for the World ARC rally. We were adorned in flower garlands and head gear from palm fronds. A number of dances were performed, some very elegant and graceful others more dramatic and warrior like, in fact very moving. We again tasted the local delicacies; this is definitely not a low calorie rally.

We have now said goodbye to mountains and waterfalls for a while and are heading South West to the flatter coral atolls and palm tree lined islands of the Archipelago des Tuamotos. These are still part of French Polynesia and probably even more remote than the Marquesas. Our passage is just under 500 miles and with a good Easterly breeze behind us of 20 knots should get there in 3 days. Our first land fall will probably be Fakarava. The currents at the entrance through the reefs can be strong caused by both tides and the amount of water out flowing from the windward side of the reef. To make life easier we shall time our arrival to coincide with slack water at high tide and of course daylight.

Paul, David and Peter

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