Wow… 140 nautical miles in 24 hours😳

We’ve moved at a fantastic speed, even with partial sails up overnight! We have therefore average 5.9 knots despite of bucking a tide for half of our sailing time. I counted on arriving in four days to Mekemo Atoll however we may arrive in 3.5 days which could be a problem. We cannot go into the atoll in the dark as coral heads are present and they are uncharted. Usually, best time to enter Atolls is at slack and when sun is hitting the water from either behind you or above you, not infringe the boat. As well, if possible you should have someone at the bow or up on the mast preferably harnessed in and on the spreaders, in case the captain hits a coral head. 🙈 In fact, not long ago, cruisers avoided this area altogether. However with the introduction of high tech navigation instruments such as cameras, cruisers are now visiting the atolls regularly. I do not have cameras but with careful navigation at the right time, it will be possible. I picked Mekemo Atoll as it’s what I call an entry level pass. It’s well marked, fairly wide and few corral heads present. A practice atoll! 😉

One of the atolls, have a haul-out service for cruisers to be able to put their boats on the hard during the cyclone season.

Last night was uneventful! The sun set at around 17.45 and as usual it set beautifully …

I was awake until 03.30 and during that time the wind was up and down. I read, I reefed and I shook out sails all night. I slept decently in the cockpit between 03-06 with all alarms on! Easy night!

Day Two👩‍✈️

Much the same as yesterday… reading about the engine, reading about plumbing, reading about outboard motors, reading Charlie’s Charts and staring at the horizon! I had a surprise hail today from ”s/v joint venture”… they were ”just being nosey” and curious about where we were headed, as they were parallell to Sarantium they thought they should check in and have a chat! Other than that today is another day in paradise, nothing to report!!! Out!

At 10:42 Tahiti time! 11* 54.967 S/ 141* 18.04 W

Course on ground: 200*

speed on ground: 6knots