Mick Jagger hit the nail on the head when he sang, "You can't always get what you want, but sometimes, you get what you need...". An indecisive low, packing heavy winds finally set out on a course after stalling for a few days and passed about two hundred miles to the west of us- so we are once again on the move, bound for Tahiti after spending three days in Apataki in the Tuamotus, hunkering down from the anticipated north winds (that never materialized).

Apataki was a postcard perfect island in the middle of the Tuamotus. There is a small settlement in the south of the island but we entered the north passage and stayed there as the lagoon is littered with lines from pearl farming and traversing it is a hazard to propellers. We were the only boat when we arrived on Monday afternoon but our friends on "Wishanger" joined us Tuesday at daybreak, followed by "Atlantic," a privately owned 180 ft clipper. We enjoyed two days of snorkeling, reading, eating too much, completing a few needed boat projects and waiting for the low to make up it's mind. After racing through paradise, it was a joy not to haul up the anchor and be on the move every day. The snorkeling was fabulous- both the coral and fish were amazing even with the skies being overcast. Lots of pesky flies were the only downside to the anchorage.

We decided not to head to Rangiroa as planned because of adverse winds and are now bound for Tahiti after struggling to free our anchor and chain from the clutches of several coral heads- Sam on Wishanger kindly donned his dive tank and freed us.... We should arrive early Saturday morning and are all eager for a taste of civilization again! Internet, real supermarkets, fresh fruit, restaurants, and chandleries etc... Our lists keep growing!