can we help
+44(0)1983 296060
+1 757-788-8872
tell me moreJoin a rally

Menu

American Spirit II - Day 130; Heading for Suwarrow Atoll, Another Giant Rainbow, Caught a Mahi Mahi, New Watch Schedule; & French Polynesia Summary; Tuesay, May 13, 2014



Up at 7:20 AM. Sent last emails and got last Passage Weather downloads; followed by breakfast and a last trip to the dingy dock to get rid of garbage. Saw another gigantic rainbow in anchorage.

We slipped our mooring ball at 10:45 AM, and noticed that the line we had attached to the mooring line was frayed all the way thru. Meaning that the mooring ball on our deck was what was holding the boat in place. We were lucky that we didn't float away during the night or when we were off the boat during the day time hours.

At the start of the leg at 11:00 AM we were 3rd across the starting line. A good start. We all 'raced' in the lagoon to the pass, then turned left and headed to Suwarrow, 690 nautical miles and 5 days away. We tried to set our spinnaker once we got out of the pass, but got a wrap and pulled it down. Went wing on wing instead. Jib on one side and mainsail on the other. Some boats motored during the early part of the day due to light winds. We didn't.

At 4:30 PM we passed the island of Maupiti. Lot of breakers along the reef. I also saw 2 sailboats anchored in he lagoon. Looked like a nice place to visit. Not this time, however. while passing this island I hooked onto a Mahi Mahi fish. After a 7 minute fight, which by the way is much harder when the boat is moving at a fast speed, I landed the fish. 3 1/2 feet long and weighing 12 pounds. However, in the process I made a mistake and broke the last 12 inches of the rod off. Not to worry. We can still use that rod.

Once I got the fish in the boat I had to use my feet to keep him from escaping thru the center exit way in the cockpit. Joel was asleep down below at the time, and I didn't want to wake him. However, he heard the commotion and came up to assist. After filleting the fish, we cleaned the cockpit. Because its our first night out on a new leg, we'll have Mahi Mahi for dinner tomorrow night, not tonight. Oh, and by the way, the lure we caught the fish on was one given to us by super master fisherman Brian Ramsey. Thank you Brian!

At 4:20 PM we had a panel issue with our refrigerator and freezer switch. Joel fixed it temporarily, but it looks like we'll need a 'new board' soon. It's absolutely amazing how may things 'break' or stop working on a boat. Imagine driving your car for 27,000 miles; while having to carry most of the car's spare parts in your trunk.

The sun set at 5:45 PM. Cloudy. Nothing to see. But the full moon rose behind us at the same time. So we had a setting sun on the bow and a rising moon on the stern, at the same time. Cool.

Dinner was freeze dried - Sweet and Sour Pork and chilled fruit cocktail for dessert. Not a bid meal tonight. Rough out and first night out appetites are sometimes less than normal. Getting used to the new routine again.

I took a nap from 6:30 PM to 8:00 PM, then stood the first watch from 8:00 PM to 1:00 AM. We were averaging 7 knots of boat speed, which is fast. Whenever you look at a small boat like ours yellow brick tracker, if we're moving at 7 or more knots, you can assume its windy and wavy.

During my watch I could see two larger boats ahead of us to port, Skylark of London and Circe. As the night wore on, they pulled further and further ahead of us...as they should. Much bigger boats.

The wind was dead astern, the wind was up to 20 knots and the waves 6-8 feet. Makes for a rock and roll night. At least with a full moon visibility was great. And it didn't rain. However, it was cool, so I wore a long sleeve shirt and pullover jacket, also. Lot of stars out despite the bright moon. , a

SUMMARY: We spent about 7 weeks in French Polynesia, visiting 11 islands: Hiva Oa, Fatu Hiva, Nuku Hiva, Ahe, Rangiroa, Moorea, Tahiti, Moorea, Raiatea, Tahaa, and finally Bora Bora. My favorites were Hiva Oa, Rangiroa and Moorea.

354 Days until home.

Brian Fox



Previous | Next