Also usually visible on the Marine Traffic site
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From Toau we sailed to Rangiroa,
which is the most developed island of the Northern Tuamotus, with a
population of about 2500 spread around its 40 mile long lagoon.
We arrived in rainy weather and spent most of our time shopping for the
impending voyage to Hawaii.
We went on two dives. although it
was enjoyable, the dies were not up to Tuamotu standards.
Rangiroa
is also one of the few islands with customs and immigration services who
could give us the necessary check out documents for leaving French
Polynesia.
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Our sailing conditions on the
passage to Hawaii were a dramatic change from those we had become used to
since leaving Scotland 9 years and 10,000 miles previously. We had had
the wind abaft the beam for virtually all that mileage, but now we were hard
on the wind to be able to make Hawaii. |
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Both the SE trade wind we started in, and the NE trade wind we encountered
North of the Equator were closer to East than expected. We were lucky
to experience little no impact of the notorious doldrums between the two
wind systems.
We made quite good speed, with our wake looking like this
much of the time. |
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We had a few visitors, ranging
from this red footed Booby who perched on our dinghy for a day or so.
(Double click any photo to see full size, then use back button to
return) |
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We also a visit from a flying fish that Peter had to extract from the vent.
He was luckier than Heather who was awakened by a flying fish
in her bunk last year.
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After 15 days heeled over to port, we arrived in Kona Harbour on the West
side of the Big Island of Hawaii in the dark.
Docking was
quite awkward but a very helpful local sailor solved the problems.
Despite their reputation, US customs and immigration were very easy to
deal with. |
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