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Air Power - Mar 16



As more of the ARC fleet arrived in the bay in Hiva Oa, it was time for us to make room for the other boats. It was a quick hello as they were anchoring, and we departed for the northern part of the island. Pifa, our tour guide pointed out a protected bay worth staying for a couple of days. It was then time to move north to Ua Huka. We decided to leave the anchorage at night, to arrive at our destination in daylight. Since the wind (and all the weather), came from the east, we knew we had to pass a a band of rain squalls. We figured we'd only put out the jib and motor sail until we passed through it. The squalls hit us pretty hard, so we double reefed the jib and still moved in excess of 10 knots. (Unfortunately, not in the direction we had hoped). That was probably the most lightening we have seen since we first started sailing. Luckily, it was cloud to cloud and not cloud to mast.

Ua Huka is an island about 20 miles west of Nuku Hiva (our final destination). It had multiple anchorages on the south shore. We felt like Goldi Locks (and the 3 Bears). "This anchorage is too rolly. This one is too windy. This one too rocky". You get the picture. So we found one with a combination, that was rolly, windy and rocky. Just not too much. After a couple of nights, it was on to Nuku Hiva for a quick day sail. We got into the bay late afternoon and immediately went to shore in search of restaurant food.

This being the capital of of the Marquesas, a couple of full size cruise ships pulled in and anchored in the bay at the same time. We stayed on Air Power until they left. The islands was quite busy with the cruisers. Once they left, we got a tour guide (Richard) with another ARC couple and explored the island. The tour guides are certified and are not only really good at what they do, they appear to really like it. Marquesans consider themselves the origin of Hawaiians. The islands certainly have the look and feel. Maybe this is what Hawaii was like a hundred or so years ago. But in all fairness to Hawaii, the internet is atrocious is here.

Dave & Jill


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