Day 2

The day has been about resting, sleeping and eating well! I’ve also communicated with one of the many WhatsApp groups here in the South Pacific. Each island seems to have a WhatsApp group that deals with various topics amongst sailors. The one I’ve been paying attention to is the “Welcoming to Aitutaki”group. This is my next island! Cruisers join the groups as they approach their destination and leave them as they leave! This particular island, the first to approach in Cook Island coming from French Polynesia, is a bit tricky, especially for a solo sailor. The pass into the atoll is long and extremely narrow, 12 m. The atoll that surrounds aitutaki is so low laying that the water from the Pacific Ocean just washes over the reef. So, as a result all that incoming water needs to escape somewhere, which is through the entrance pass. This can be a big problem for incoming and outgoing boats. At peak time the water rushes out at a speed of 9 knots. Luckily during its slow time, noon, it only moves at 3.5 knots. Needless to say I’ll be there at noon on Wednesday or Thursday. Can you imagine the giant standing created by an outgoing current of 9 knots hitting the outside waves. That’s the first hurdle! Below is a photo of the passage..

The second photo is the tie up inside the atoll. There is very little space and you have to do a Mediterranean tie up, meaning ass end in first amongst other moored boats after you drop an anchor. This will be a first for me so the Aitutaki Welcoming group will help me. From what I understand everyone helps everyone who arrives.

Back to sleep!