We sailed 3030 nautical miles in 18 days and 6 hours. WOW. We had planned on 25 to 30 days. We also planned on relaxing down wind sailing with lots of time to relax and enjoy. Instead it was a high speed sleigh ride, much of it in current up to 3 knots�... Many of the days were in 3 meter seas which did not encourage much lounging around! we found that we did what we had to do and that was it. Of course Lara and I were pretty intent on getting enough sleep to maintain a good watch at all times.

Isobel is raring to go to shore and to run around�... Lara and I are feeling a little shell shocked and ready for a peaceful meal and a good nights sleep. My first impression of Fatu Hiva�... wow, we are not in Kansas anymore! This is completely different from anything we have seen before. Green and very steep volcanic slopes dropping into the ocean. And from where we are anchored we can see a small church steeple and another roof. Well, maybe you should googol Fatu Hiva, Hanevave Bay.

There are two dutch sailboats here and a little white boat that looks abandoned�... Maybe by someone who had rough passage and realized that they didn't want to do this any more. We have had a couple of those moments this passage, but now we are here now and quite happy to be here. The bay is small and the water depth drops off rapidly so we wonder how it holds the many boats that visit when it is "high season".

The past 24 hours have not been as we pictured it would be�... The forecast was for wind dropping to 15 knots out of the East and seas dropping below 2 meters. Instead it has blown 20 knots and at time more out of the ESE with waves to three meters out of the SE. So, it has been a raucous ride with speeds above 7 knots despite trying to slow the boat down a bit by reefing sails etc. Of course, once we rounded the end of the island we were protected from the swells and now at anchor the boat seems strangely still, even though we still have gusts falling out of the mountains at up to 20 knots.

So, will have a simple dinner and go to bed early in hopes of a good nights rest. More blog posts later. Not sure when we will have internet to post photos�...

10 27.870S 138 40.100W