Tuamotu Archipelago

Have spent 3 days in Nuka Hiva the largest of the Marquesas Islands where Peter took the opportunity to get some more diesel for the empty jerry cans. Discovered another Pearl Lodge Hotel there just like the one in Hiva Oa but with a smaller swimming pool. Had dinner at the Hotel on 2 of the nights we were there and tried another local restuarant called Moana Nui which was good value for money with the Harold and Kristel the German couple from Sophie (another HR). Whilst here we discovered our yellowbrick had stopped working so we have to manually email our daily position.There has been a problem with some trackers and yellowtrick are replacing all the trackers in Tahiti.

Left Nuka Hiva on Wednesday and arrived this morning at Rangiroa which is the largest of the Tuamotus being 40 miles long and 17 miles wide and the second largest coral atoll in the world. We had a tedious motoring journey with very little sailing and it was so HOT!! When the engine runs day and night it really makes the boat very warm especially in the aft cabin where we sleep. The entrance to Rangiroa is not straightforward as you have to line up the leading lights and come through a pass which has rips and tides. You are supposed to wait for slack water but we entered on the tide so had to motor hard to push though and avoid the reefs either side! When we leave tomorrow we plan to leave at slack water to make it easier!!

The anchorage here is very still flat calm water and HOT HOT HOT!! The decks are so hot you have to wear flip flops otherwise the soles of your feet get scorched. It must be well into the 30 degrees C. In this lagoon Black Pearl farming is a major operation and you have to take care avoid underwater lines when anchoring.

So we leave at 10.30am in the morning and will head straight for Taina Marina in Tahiti where Peter intends to do lots of work on the boat and I want to do a load of washing and get all the cushion covers cleaned again. I need to clean out the fridge and defrost the freezer which has not been done since leaving the BVI last December. There is a good big French supermarket near the Marina so I hope to be able to do some proper good provisioning for our next legs to Australia.

Tahiti is 200 miles away so we expect to be in the Marina on Thursday mid day. The time difference now is 10 hours behind UTC.